Progress report: Milwaukee Brewers

MILWAUKEE BREWERS

• 2017 finish: 86-76 (2^nd in NL Central)
• Manager: Craig Counsell (220-241, 4^th season)
• Top baseball ops executive: David Stearns, general manager (3^rd season)

DOLLARS AND SENSE

• Highest-paid player: OF Ryan Braun ($20 million in 2018)
• Top returning position player: 3B Travis Shaw (4.0 WAR in 2017, baseball-reference.com)
• Top returning pitcher: RHP Chase Anderson (4.1 WAR in 2017)

THE MOVES

• Key addition(s): OF Christian Yelich (trade), OF Lorenzo Cain (free agent), RHP Jhoulys Chacin (free agent), RHP Yovani Gallardo (free agent), C Christian Bethancourt (minor league free agent), LHP Boone Logan (free agent), RHP Matt Albers (free agent), LHP Wade Miley (minor league free agent), SS Nick Franklin (minor league free agent).
• Key subtraction(s): 2B Neil Walker (free agent), RHP Matt Garza (free agent), RHP Anthony Swarzak (free agent), RHP Jared Hughes (free agent), RHP Taylor Jungmann (released), OF Lewis Brinson (trade), 2B Isan Diaz (trade), C Andrew Susac (trade).
• Baseball America top-100 prospect(s): 2B Keston Hiura (No. 47), RHP Brandon Woodruff (No. 61), RHP Corbin Burnes (No. 74), OF Monte Harrison (No. 75), OF Brett Phillips (No. 80).

STORYLINES TO WATCH

• The Brewers were as opportunistic as anyone this offseason in reshaping their outfield. First, they shipped prospects to Miami’s rebuilding effort to net Christian Yelich, who is guaranteed a modest $44.5 million through 2021. Then they took advantage of a slow free agent market to sign Lorenzo Cain to a five-year, $80 million pact. Milwaukee finished 2017 a game out of the NL’s second wild-card spot and two upgrades in the outfield could easily close that gap.
• Of course, two additions to the outfield will make it difficult to get Ryan Braun at-bats and reestablish his trade value. The 2011 NL MVP is 34 years old, coming off one of the worst seasons of his career (1.2 WAR) and is owed $60 million over the next three seasons.
• A rotation that ranked 10^th in the majors in ERA (4.10) is receiving a boost while awaiting RHP Jimmy Nelson’s midseason return from a shoulder injury: Incoming RHP Jhoulys Chacin (2.4 WAR with the Padres in 2017) is coming off his best season since 2013.

PECOTA PROJECTION

• 84 wins

AROUND THE LEAGUE

NL West

• Arizona Diamondbacks
• Colorado Rockies
• Los Angeles Dodgers
• San Diego Padres (Coming March 20)
• San Francisco Giants (Coming March 21)

NL Central

• Chicago Cubs
• Cincinnati Reds
• Milwaukee Brewers
• Pittsburgh Pirates (Coming March 19)
• St. Louis Cardinals (Coming March 23)

NL East

• Atlanta Braves
• Miami Marlins
• New York Mets (Coming March 15)
• Philadelphia Phillies (Coming March 18)
• Washington Nationals (Coming March 27)

AL West

• Houston Astros
• Los Angeles Angels
• Oakland Athletics (Coming March 17)
• Seattle Mariners (Coming March 22)
• Texas Rangers (Coming March 25)

AL Central

• Chicago White Sox
• Cleveland Indians
• Detroit Tigers
• Kansas City Royals
• Minnesota Twins (Coming March 14)

AL East

• Baltimore Orioles
• Boston Red Sox
• New York Yankees (Coming March 16)
• Tampa Bay Rays (Coming March 24)
• Toronto Blue Jays (Coming March 26)

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jeff.sanders@sduniontribune.com; Twitter: @sdutSanders