2017 Milwaukee Brewers player grades

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

SEASON WRAPUP CHAT: Tom Haudricourt at 1 p.m. Tuesday

PLAYER GRADES

INFIELDERS

Jesús Aguilar, 1B – The Brewers worked the waiver wire all last off-season and the claim of Aguilar from the Cleveland Indians on Feb. 2 netted their best pinch-hitter, a source of big-time power and a positive clubhouse influence. Aguilar forced his way on his first opening-day roster by hitting .452 with seven homers and 19 RBI in Cactus League play, then found ways to contribute, either when Eric Thames was out of the lineup or coming off the bench. He hit .250 with three homers and 10 RBI as a pinch-hitter, and tied a franchise record with seven RBI on July 7 in his first career two-homer game to spark a road victory over the New York Yankees. He was surprisingly nimble defensively as well despite checking in at 6-foot-3, 260 pounds. Grade: B-minus

Orlando Arcia, SS – The Brewers knew Arcia could be a standout defender at the major-league level and he proved them right. With good range, soft hands and a cannon for an arm, he can make all the plays. Arcia showed he could play walk-off defense, saving a game against Pittsburgh in June by ranging into shallow center, doing a complete spin and throwing a one-hop strike to first for the final out. He also routinely nabbed runners at the plate with strong relay throws, sometimes when it appeared he had no chance. Arcia was rated to have saved only a total of six runs above average over the course of the season, which seems low. The main question was whether Arcia would hit enough to be an above-average shortstop in the majors. He got off to a slow start but made some adjustments and raised his average to .295 in July. Arcia remains a free swinger who draws few walks (36 in 548 plate appearances) and his .324 on-base percentage needs some work, but he is headed in the right direction. His 15 homers were reflective of budding power that could make him truly special. Grade: B

Hernán Pérez, INF/OF – Pérez’s versatility makes him one of the most valuable players on the roster. He has played every position in the majors other than catcher – yes, he pitched an inning in a rout in Washington – and would gladly try that if asked. He started at six positions, including 34 games in left field when Ryan Braun was out with ailments. Once primarily an infielder, Pérez worked on his outfield defense and can be put out there, even in center, without trepidation. He is not an offensive liability and has power (14 HRs), but his production slipped a bit from the previous season, in particular, stolen bases (34 to 13). Pérez remains a free swinger who often jumps on the first pitch and therefore never will be a big OBP guy (.289 in ’17). As might be expected, he fell off at the plate as his playing time decreased (.632 OPS in the second half). Pérez has a strong presence in the clubhouse and exhibits leadership qualities that enhance his value, and raise his grade. Grade: B-minus

Travis Shaw, 3B – When the Brewers acquired Shaw from Boston over the winter in what became one of the most lopsided trades in recent history, they thought they might have to platoon the left-handed hitter because of struggles against lefties last season (.599 OPS). But he was given the chance to play every day, against righties and lefties, and never was moved from the cleanup spot. Shaw slipped at the plate toward the end of the season but still finished with 31 homers and 101 RBI, meeting his stated preseason goal of 100 RBI. Shaw was one of the few hitters on the club to deliver in the clutch (1.011 OPS with runners in scoring position) and also handled himself well in the field (nine errors in 143 games). And he did all of this while dealing with a family crisis off the field. His first child, daughter Ryann, was born with a severe heart defect that threatened her life before and after birth. She underwent three surgeries over the second half of the season and Shaw missed a few days to be there for them but otherwise continued to perform on the field as if nothing were wrong. It was a testament to his mental toughness as well as his baseball talent. Grade: A

Eric Sogard, INF – Finally healthy after missing all of 2016 following knee surgery, the veteran infielder failed to make the team out of spring training but took his assignment to Colorado Springs in stride and by May 12 was in Milwaukee. He got on base three times that night, highlighted by a two-run homer, to spark a victory over the New York Mets. Sogard went on to hit .331 and get on base at a .438 clip – displacing Jonathan Villar as the starter at second base – until going on the disabled list with an ankle injury. He missed 12 games and was unable to recapture the magic when he returned. Still, he hit .273 with a .393 on-base percentage in 94 games and was a capable utility man with 37 starts at second base, 20 at shortstop, two at third base and one in left field. The bespectacled Sogard also became a fan favorite in Milwaukee, as his “Nerd Power” carried over from Oakland. Grade: B-minus

Eric Thames, 1B – The Brewers did some out-of-the-box thinking in giving a multi-year deal to Thames, who compiled fantasy-league numbers during three years in the Korean Baseball Organization. He made them look brilliant when he bolted from the gate with a fantastic April, slugging a franchise-record 11 home runs, 19 RBI and 1.276 OPS. Then, as if someone flipped a switch, Thames began to struggle. His .791 OPS in May was acceptable but he slipped to .699 in June. Thames lost the plate discipline he had in April and began to struggle with high pitches, which weren’t called strikes in Korea. The left-handed hitter began to falter against lefties and manager Craig Counsell started using the right-handed-hitting Aguilar instead. The second half was a roller-coaster - .861 OPS in July, .691 in August, 1.004 in September. Thames’ high for home runs in a month after April was six in June. He was terrible with runners in scoring position, batting .180 with a .644 OPS, a reason why he drove in only 63 runs. Thames’ totals of 31 homers, 83 runs scored and .877 OPS were perfectly acceptable, but he struck out 163 times, one of the highest totals in the National League. Finally getting to converse with teammates after three years overseas, he was a solid presence in the clubhouse. It was a strange journey for Thames, who probably will be more comfortable in 2018. Grade: B-minus

Jonathan Villar, 2B – Villar rolled the dice and lost when he turned down a $23 million contract extension offer from the Brewers in the spring. The club went all-in on Villar by waiving Scooter Gennett at the end of camp, but after a breakout 2016 campaign, Villar experienced a miserable 2017. He hit .241 with 11 homers and 40 RBI and got on base at just a .293 clip, limiting him to stolen bases a year after he led the majors with 62. The former shortstop/third baseman also struggled at his new position, committing 15 errors in 84 starts. Villar was replaced at second by Sogard after a stint on the DL, and Milwaukee eventually traded for Neil Walker on Aug. 12 to shore up the position. Villar also struggled in brief trials in center, and started only one game – the season finale – after Sept. 5. The Brewers’ decision to stick with Villar as the starting second baseman made sense in February and March. But, with Gennett turning in a career year in Cincinnati and Villar regressing in a big way, the Brewers are left to ponder their future at the position. Grade: D

Neil Walker, 2B/1B – Walker lived up to his track record after being traded to the Brewers by the New York Mets in August – a steady, solid veteran who can still play at a high level. Walker made 24 of his 33 starts at second base, and also filled in at first (seven games) and third (two) while providing more left-handed pop. Walker provided quality at-bats, showing good plate discipline and compiling a marvelous .409 OBP with the Brewers. A switch-hitter, his production from the right side was negligible at best (.610 OPS for the season). Walker was steady in the field, making one error in 188 1/3 innings at second base. He also served as a positive veteran influence in a mostly young and inexperienced clubhouse. The Brewers would likely entertain a return, but at 32, Walker will be looking for one final big free-agent deal and the cost may become prohibitive. Grade: B-minus

CATCHERS

Jett Bandy – Acquired from the Angels in an off-season swap of backstops that sent Martin Maldonado packing, Bandy made his first opening-day roster and got off to a strong start while sharing time with Manny Piña. A horrid 2-for-42 slump combined with the waiver claim of Stephen Vogt led to his demotion to Class AAA Colorado Springs in late June. He returned not long thereafter in the wake of Vogt’s knee sprain but suffered a fractured rib that sent him to the DL for 25 games. Bandy was a non-factor the rest of the way as the Brewers battled for a playoff berth. His power is his best attribute, but he’s trending more as a backup at 27. He is popular in the clubhouse for his loosey-goosey attitude and off-beat personality. Grade: D-plus

Manny Piña – One of the biggest surprises on the club, Piña made the club in spring training as a 29-year-old rookie. He began the year sharing time with Bandy and both prospered offensively over the first month. After Bandy faded and was sent to the minors, Piña continued to make an impact. Behind the plate, he compiled a .992 fielding percentage, threw out 35.6% of base stealers and committed only four passed balls. Beyond that, he tied for the major-league lead with six pickoffs, including four at second base. Combine all of that and he graded out as one of the top defensive catchers in the league. Piña fell off offensively in the second half (.705 OPS) but delivered many big hits during the season, including the decisive homer in the memorable Mother’s Day comeback win over the Mets. He finished with 21 doubles, nine homers and 43 RBI, missing the final week with a sprained left thumb. Piña is No. 1 on the catching depth chart at present. Grade: B

Stephen Vogt – Oakland waived Vogt, an all-star the previous two seasons, in late June because his production on both sides of the ball waned and they wanted to go younger. The Brewers claimed him to add another left-handed bat and he shared time with Piña before suffering a knee injury in late July and missing a month. Vogt did a good job handling pitchers and provided a needed veteran presence, but his weak throwing arm was exposed by opponents, who stole 27 bases in 28 attempts. Vogt fared much better at the plate with the Brewers (.789 OPS) than with the Athletics (.644 OPS) and hit some big home runs, finishing with eight in 122 at-bats. In the clubhouse, he was a big plus. The Brewers have two more years of control with Vogt, but he turns 33 in November and general manager David Stearns said the club would reassess the catching plan over the off-season. Grade: C

OUTFIELDERS

Ryan Braun, LF – Braun had his worst full season since 2014, when he was plagued all year by a serious thumb issue. He missed more than a month in the first half with a strained left calf, and was plagued by other aches and pains after the break. He hit into some tough luck in the early months but not so much in the second half (.785 OPS). Hitting in the third spot in the order, Braun had many chances to impact games without doing so, batting a mere .207 with runners in scoring position with a .688 OPS. He always has hit when healthy but has become more fragile in his 30s and manager Craig Counsell gave him more days off. He played in only 104 games, his lowest total other than 2013 (61 games), when he was suspended for the final two months, and his 1.2 Wins Above Replacement (WAR) was a career low. Braun, who turns 34 in November, has three years and $57 million remaining on his contract, and has full veto power over trades. If he is going to partially block the advent of the organization’s promising young outfielders, he must make an impact. An .823 OPS is fine for most players but far below Braun’s norm, as were his .268 batting average, 17 home runs and 52 RBI. When needed most down the stretch as the Brewers battled for the playoffs, he rarely delivered. By his standards (career .905 OPS), it was a below-average season. Grade: C-minus

Keon Broxton, CF – Which player is Keon Broxton? The one who became just the eighth player in franchise history to record a 20-homer, 20-stolen base season? Or the one who was prone to lengthy slumps, struck out 42.3% of the time and was largely replaced as the regular centerfielder over the final few weeks by rookie Brett Phillips? That’s what the Brewers’ brain trust will have to decide this off-season, with not only Phillips but also top prospect Lewis Brinson waiting in the wings. Broxton struck out 175 times, fourth-highest in the NL, and batted .220 overall with a .299 on-base percentage, unacceptable numbers. He made one of the signature defensive plays of the season, robbing St. Louis’ Randal Grichuk of a go-ahead homer to clinch a Brewers victory Aug. 30, but in overall metrics rated much worse than a year ago. To his credit, he bounced back from an early-season beaning with no ill effects. At 27, it might be time for the team to sell high on Broxton’s potential as a speedy centerfielder with power. Grade: C-minus

Brett Phillips, CF – Phillips became a viral sensation in 2016 because of his crazy laugh. In 2017, he became a bona fide keeper for the Brewers – first putting together arguably the best season by any Milwaukee minor-leaguer at Class AAA Colorado Springs and then by making a difference down the stretch with the Brewers. Phillips flashed decent power with his left-handed bat, and if one goes by StatCast, he might already have the best outfield arm in the majors. He had four stints with the Brewers and made 14 of his 24 starts in center in September, finishing at .276 with four homers and 12 RBI. Affable yet humble, Phillips is a player teammates gravitate toward. Finding a regular spot for him might prove difficult considering the anticipated returnees, but it’s a good problem to have. Grade: B-minus

Domingo Santana, RF – If there were any doubts that Santana was a keeper in the rebuild, he did his best to squash them. After arm injuries limited him to 77 games in 2016, Santana broke out by setting career highs in every category. His 151 games played, 85 RBI, 73 walks and .875 OPS ranked second on the team, and his 30 homers ranked third. Santana, who at times can be too passive at the plate, led the Brewers with 178 strikeouts but still managed to post a .371 on-base percentage – tops among the team’s regulars. While many of the regulars fell off at the plate after the all-star break, Santana did not (.868 OPS). He was particularly good over the final weeks (1.046 OPS in September). Defensively, Santana can be frustrating for fans because, on occasion, he appears to not be hustling to get to balls. But that is more due to his loping gait, because the coaching staff says it isn’t a lack of effort. His throwing arm is plenty strong to keep him in right field. Soft-spoken by nature, Santana is a good foil to some of his more boisterous locker mates and another good clubhouse guy. And he’s only 25 years old. Grade: B-plus

PITCHERS

Chase Anderson, RHP – Counsell said after the season he thought Anderson took the biggest step forward of any of his players, a big compliment. It actually began over the final two months of the 2016 season, when he went 5-1 with a 2.56 ERA in his last 12 starts. Anderson showed up in spring training physically stronger and throwing harder (up from 91 mph average on his fastball to 93). He sharpened his cutter with the help of pitching coach Derek Johnson and also rediscovered a pitch from the past - his curveball. Just like that, Anderson was a four-pitch pitcher who kept hitters off-balance, and his improved command allowed him to go deeper in games. The only hiccup was a strained oblique suffered swinging the bat in Cincinnati that cost him five weeks in the middle of the season. It took awhile for Anderson to get it going after coming off the DL, but he returned to form and finished strong. He reduced his walks per nine innings from 3.1 in 2016 to 2.6 and raised his strikeout rate from 7.1 to 8.5. Anderson’s 1.090 WHIP was easily a career best. Opponents batted a mere .216 against him. Grade: A-minus

Jacob Barnes, RHP – Barnes made his first opening-day roster and was used early and often out of the bullpen -- 27 appearances over the first two months. That took its toll, and as a result he was hit hard in June and July (6.75 ERA in 22 appearances) before regaining his stride in August (2.25 ERA). Barnes was used less in high-leverage situations in the second half but posted a 0.93 ERA over his last eight appearances. He finished 3-4 with a 4.00 ERA, WHIP of 1.25 and two saves. He tied for sixth in the NL with 73 appearances, striking out 80 in a total of 72 innings. His splits were fairly even – right-handers hit .199 and lefties .235. Barnes touched 100 mph with his fastball more than once, and that power arm means he will be given every opportunity to succeed moving forward. Grade: C-plus

Zach Davies, RHP – At the beginning of the season, Davies was scuffling with his command and pitch counts, preventing him from going deep in games. He didn’t make it through six innings until his ninth start and his ERA was 5.80 at that point. But, thanks to some of the top run support in the majors and stellar bullpen work behind him, Davies continued to pick up victories. He was 11-4 through 19 starts despite a 5.08 ERA. The finesse pitcher eventually found his control and made huge strides in the second half (2.87 ERA over his final 15 outings), getting deeper into games. One puzzle he never solved is why he was so much better on the road (2.50 ERA in 17 starts) than at home (5.48 in 16 starts). His walk (2.6 per nine innings) and strikeout (5.8) rates were not as good as the previous season, but Davies (17-9, 3.90) made all of his starts until given the final day of the season off after the Brewers were eliminated from postseason contention. As the only starter not to be injured or removed from the rotation, he led the team with 191 1/3 innings and has accomplished a lot at age 24. Grade: B

Oliver Drake, RHP – Drake was acquired from Baltimore on April 13 for a player to be named or cash after the Orioles designated him for assignment. A funky delivery and heavy reliance on a split-finger fastball (48%) made him more effective against left-handed batters (.250 vs. .347 for righties), a plus for a team that was without a southpaw in the bullpen for the first few months. When the Brewers began adding arms and Drake's effectiveness waned, his role shrunk, leaving Drake to pitch just 16 times (14 innings) over the final two months. His strikeout rate was good (10.1 per nine innings) but his walk rate (3.8) was not, and he had a 1.750 WHIP in the second half. Drake finished 3-5 with a 4.44 ERA and 1.50 WHIP. Grade: C-minus

Neftali Feliz, RHP – Feliz was signed to a $5.35 million free-agent deal to be the bullpen closer, which seemed to be a good move at age 28, coming off a solid year in Pittsburgh. He began the season throwing 100 mph but started giving up home runs and couldn’t stop. After allowing eight homers in 27 innings over 29 appearances, and going 1-5 with a 6.00 ERA, Feliz was released by the Brewers. He signed with Kansas City and served in a lesser relief role but was cut loose before season’s end. Grade: D-minus

Matt Garza, RHP – To say the least, Garza was a huge disappointment during his four-year, $50 million contract (26-39, 4.65 in 96 games/93 starts). He was oft-injured and rarely effective, though he did hold his own over the first half of this season, going 5-5 with a 3.68 ERA in 16 starts while re-inventing himself as more of a breaking-ball pitcher. Then, as so often happened during his time with the Brewers, it all fell apart. Just when the Brewers needed him most, Garza faltered, posting a 10.13 ERA over a six-span start that finally prompted Counsell – who probably stuck with him too long – to remove him from the rotation. Garza mostly watched over the final weeks as the Brewers struggled to fill five spots in the rotation after an injury to Jimmy Nelson. The Brewers lost seven of his last nine starts, a disastrous consequence for a team that finished one game out of the second wild-card berth. Garza did help orchestrate a players-only meeting in early August when the team was spiraling downward, to help lighten the mood, and the Brewers played better afterward. Grade: D

Junior Guerra, RHP – It was a swift and hard fall from grace for Guerra, who went from a breakout 2016 to being named the Brewers’ 2017 opening-day starter to two separate stints on the DL to finally being optioned to Colorado Springs on July 30. In fairness, Guerra’s season got off to a terrible start when he strained his right calf three innings into that opening-day start against Colorado. He missed six weeks, was never able to find his footing and struggled with his command throughout. The split-finger fastball that served him so well in 2016 never really materialized as a go-to pitch for Guerra this season, and his velocity dropped noticeably as well – not a good sign for a soon-to-be 33-year-old. He also allowed 18 homers – second-most on the team – in just 70 1/3 innings. Guerra finished 1-4 with a 5.12 ERA in 21 appearances (14 starts). Grade: D

Josh Hader, LHP – The Brewers made an unexpected move in early June when they called up Hader, their No. 1 starting pitching prospect, and placed him in the bullpen to ease his transition to the majors. Though the team had rotation needs in the second half, Hader was kept in a relief role with tremendous results, and he eventually was used with games on the line to bridge the gap to the late-inning relievers. The lanky Hader threw mostly fastballs (81.5%) and got away with it for a long time because of his velocity and funky, deceptive delivery. He had control issues at times (4.2 walks per nine innings) but often escaped via strikeouts (12.8 per nine). Hader was death on left-handed hitters (.454 OPS) but righties didn’t do much (.608) with him, either. When hitters started sitting on his fastballs, leading to two game-deciding homers, Hader started mixing in more sliders and changeups. The Brewers must decide if Hader will return to starting or remain in a multi-inning relief role, where he can impact far more games. It might be hard to change his role after this success. Grade: A-minus

Jared Hughes, RHP – The hulking 32-year-old veteran was cut loose by Pittsburgh in a cost-cutting measure at the end of spring training and quickly signed a one-year, $950,000 deal with the Brewers. Known for his grounder-inducing sinker, Hughes was far more effective against right-handed hitters (.628 OPS) than lefties (.912) but fared better in general after throwing his slider more regularly at the coaching staff’s insistence to keep hitters off-balance. He became one of the team’s more reliable relievers down the stretch, pitching scoreless ball over his final 13 outings. His final numbers – 3.02 ERA in 59 2/3 innings – were almost identical to those he posted last year with the Pirates, and his 67 appearances tied for third on the Brewers. With an affable, gregarious personality, Hughes was a great fit in the clubhouse. Grade: B

Jeremy Jeffress, RHP – For reasons that are best known to him, Jeffress just feels more comfortable in a Brewers uniform. He was doing a solid job as their closer last season when he was traded with catcher Jonathan Lucroy to Texas, where he experienced issues on and off the field. He posted a 5.31 ERA in 39 appearances for the Rangers this season, with a 1.672 WHIP, before the Brewers reacquired him to bolster an overworked bullpen. Sure enough, he fared much better with the Brewers, compiling a 4-0 record and 3.65 ERA over 22 outings. Jeffress’ splitter has become a major weapon, but he walked too many hitters (15 in 24 2/3 innings with Milwaukee) and therefore played in too much traffic, leading to costly run-scoring hits. He needs to get that under control to have any real chance of sustained success because he doesn’t throw in the high 90s as he once did. Grade: C-plus

Corey Knebel, RHP – Of all the young, inexperienced players who stepped forward for the Brewers in 2017, Knebel arguably took the biggest leap. He opened the season as a setup man to Feliz but was ready to step into the void when Feliz was punted, showing no trepidation in assuming that high-wire act. Knebel is only 25, so the Brewers have reason to believe they are set at closer for years to come. He was a closer in college at Texas and found success in the major leagues in large part to being able to throw his breaking ball – a big, 12-to-6 curveball – consistently for strikes. Combined with a fastball that occasionally reached 100 mph, that allowed him to tie the established Craig Kimbrel for the major-league lead for relievers with 126 strikeouts in 76 innings while recording 39 saves in 45 opportunities. It was especially impressive that he remained so effective with a heavy workload that saw him finish tied for the NL lead with 76 appearances. Knebel finished with a 1.78 ERA and WHIP of 1.16, and set a major-league record by notching at least one strikeout over his first 45 appearances, an incredible feat. Grade: A

Jimmy Nelson, RHP – Nelson is an example of a coaching success at the big-league level. Bedeviled by command problems that were stopping him from fulfilling his potential, he and pitching coach Derek Johnson worked last season on a modified, compact delivery that basically had him pitching from the stretch. The results weren’t there immediately, but this season it all came together about a month in, and Nelson took off. He cut his walk rate from 4.3 per nine innings in 2016 to 2.5 and his homer rate from 1.3 to 0.8, and increased his strikeout rate dramatically, from 7.0 to 10.5. Nelson consistently worked deep into games and was emerging as a force to be reckoned with when he injured his pitching shoulder in early September, diving back to first base after a hit. It proved to be a devastating injury for both Nelson and the Brewers, who finished one game out of the second wild card after scrambling to hold together a rotation. Nelson is expected to miss much, if not all, of the first half of next season, a tough blow. He was one strikeout shy of 200 when injured, with a much-improved 1.249 WHIP. Grade: A-minus

Wily Peralta, RHP - No player on the roster did less with his talent than Peralta, the team's opening day starter in 2016. He actually got off to a great start, winning his first three games (3-0, 2.65). Then, the bottom dropped out. He allowed 22 earned runs in 23 innings in his next five starts and was sent to the bullpen in hopes of working things out. Peralta was a bust there as well and later was sent to Colorado Springs. He was given one last chance in late July but the final straw came on July 27 in a 15-2 loss in Washintgon, when Peralta surrendered seven runs in 1 2/3 innings. He was sent back to the minors, continued to scuffle and was eventually taken off the 40-man roster. Peralta is now a free agent, available to sign with any club willing to try to get him to live up to his talent level. Grade: D-minus.

Brent Suter, LHP – Affectionately known as “The Raptor” for his playful gait, Suter has become a true success story as a 31st-round pick out of Harvard. He found a way to get it done at the major-league level despite a fastball that averages just under 86 mph – or slightly slower than Knebel’s average changeup. Aside from throwing left-handed, Suter’s greatest value is his versatility. He made a spot start in mid-June in St. Louis on only 35 minutes’ notice when rookie Brandon Woodruff strained his hamstring warming up, then later filled in ably for the injured Anderson. Thirteen of his final 14 appearances were as a starter, and he posted a 3-2 record, 3.45 ERA and WHIP of 1.22 in that role over 70 1/3 innings. There’s a place on the team moving forward for Suter, who also brings plenty of laughs and personality to the clubhouse. Grade: B-minus

Anthony Swarzak, RHP – Swarzak was having a career year at age 31 with the White Sox when the Brewers traded for him July 26. He quickly became the primary setup man for Knebel and was used in workhorse fashion, making 29 appearances, including four times for more than three outs. A fastball/slider pitcher, Swarzak was just as tough on left-handed hitters (.575 OPS) as righties (.605) and struck out 39 hitters in 29 innings with only nine walks allowed. Swarzak was running on fumes from heavy usage when he hung sliders and blew the lead that eliminated the Brewers from playoff contention in Game No. 161. All in all, he did exactly what the Brewers hoped when they acquired him, combining with Knebel to seal victories. Swarzak turned 32 in September, so it will be interesting to see if the Brewers make a run at signing the free agent, who likely will be looking for a multi-year deal. He has expressed a desire to return. Grade: A-minus

Carlos Torres, RHP – A season ago, the heavily used Torres was the Brewers’ most versatile and valuable reliever. This year was a much different story. He made 27 of his 67 appearances in the first two months and paid a price for that workload, posting a 4.84 ERA the rest of the way. His command suffered (4.1 walks per nine innings), an indication that the 34-year-old veteran no longer is capable of bouncing back as quickly from heavy usage. Counsell valued Torres’ versatility and experience, but the results weren’t there with a 4.21 ERA and WHIP of 1.528, and he was used less frequently with games on the line as the season progressed. Few players are as well-prepared, professional or accountable as Torres, but it’s uncertain if he’ll return for a third season after fading. Grade: C-minus

Brandon Woodruff, RHP – Woodruff’s major-league debut was delayed for six weeks when he suffered a hamstring strain stretching before his first scheduled start in St. Louis on June 13. It was a fluky and unfortunate circumstance, but when he did make his debut Aug. 4 in Tampa Bay he was impressive with 6 1/3 shutout innings. Woodruff posted a 1.52 ERA through his first four outings but mostly struggled over his remaining four games (8.85 ERA), three of which were losses. He dominated right-handed hitters (.566 OPS) but scuffled with lefties (.872) and must improve on that to be a consistent starter. The Brewers believe Woodruff has a definite future in their rotation and will be given every chance to win a job in the spring. Grade: C-plus

REST OF THE CAST

OF Quintin Berry, RHP Michael Blazek, OF Lewis Brinson, RHP Paolo Espino, UTIL Nick Franklin, RHP David Goforth, RHP Taylor Jungmann, RHP Jorge Lopez, RHP Jhan Mariñez, LHP Tommy Milone, OF Kirk Nieuwenhuis, INF Yadiel Rivera, RHP Rob Scahill, C Andrew Susac, LHP Wei-Chung Wang, LHP Tyler Webb, RHP Aaron Wilkerson, RHP Taylor Williams.