Brewers opt to keep Ji-Man Choi but later agree to deal with reliever Dan Jennings

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

SAN DIEGO - Milwaukee Brewers general manager David Stearns and manager Craig Counsell cautioned for several days not to get too caught up in the team's opening day roster, hinting that it could change very quickly.

Those hints took shape Wednesday when the Brewers announced a 25-man roster that included Jesus Aguilar and Ji-Man Choi, two first basemen who were not expected to both make the club.

Choi's stay could be quite short, however, with the later news that the Brewers had agreed to terms with left-handed reliever Dan Jennings, released by Tampa Bay.

Ji-Man Choi batted .409 with three home runs and 10 RBI in 27 Cactus League games.

In keeping Aguilar and Choi, the Brewers opted to go with only six true relievers instead of the expected seven. Oliver Drake, who is out of minor-league options, made the cut but Taylor Williams and J.J. Hoover did not. Williams has options and Hoover was on a minor-league deal, so both are headed to Class AAA Colorado Springs.

The Brewers have coverage in the bullpen if needed in right-hander Brandon Woodruff, the No. 5 starter who won't be used in that role until a week from Friday against the Chicago Cubs at home. In the meantime, he can be used in relief.

Choi was kept as an added bat in the opening series against San Diego after being the biggest surprise of spring training as a non-roster invitee. He batted .409 in 27 games with three home runs, 10 RBI and 1.245 OPS.

The Brewers were working on an outside acquisition of a relief pitcher but could not complete a deal in time for opening day. The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reported the Brewers had an agreement with Jennings, pending a physical.

Choi has a minor-league option, so when that deal becomes official, he likely will be sent to Colorado Springs.

"As you get into opening day and you're able to look at incremental roster improvements and gains, we thought having the extra position player made sense," Stearns said. "This is a rare opportunity where you get to set a roster for exactly one day, and we can set a roster that gives us a good chance to win for that one day.

"This isn't something you can do for long periods of a season but Ji-Man had a heck of a spring. Ji-Man understands his roster situation. He's very excited to be on the team on opening day. Like any player with options, they understand there's flexibility to go up and down."

Stearns picked up relief pitchers at the end of spring training in each of the previous two years, signing Carlos Torres and Jared Hughes, respectively, after they were cut. He said he was "gaining some traction" but did not mention the pending deal with Jennings.

Jennings, 30, was released by the Rays rather than paying his $2,375,000 salary. Instead, they gave him nearly $575,000 in termination play. He went 3-1 with a 3.45 ERA in 77 games last season while pitching for the Chicago White Sox and Tampa Bay.

In six years in the majors, including three with Miami, Jennings is 12-13 with a 2.90 ERA in 310 games, with 127 walks and 227 strikeouts in 279 2/3 innings.

Here is the official 25-man roster:

Pitchers (11): RH Matt Albers, RH Chase Anderson, RH Jacob Barnes, RH Jhoulys Chacin, RH Zach Davies, RH Oliver Drake, LH Josh Hader, RH Jeremy Jeffress, RH Corey Knebel, LH Brent Suter, RH Brandon Woodruff.

Catchers (2): Jett Bandy, Manny Piña.

Infielders (8): 1B Jesús Aguilar, SS Orlando Arcia, 1B Ji-Man Choi, UTIL Hernán Pérez, 3B Travis Shaw, UTIL Eric Sogard, 1B Eric Thames, 2B Jonathan Villar.

Outfielders (4): Ryan Braun, Lorenzo Cain, Domingo Santana, Christian Yelich.

Disabled list (3): LHP Boone Logan, RHP Jimmy Nelson, C Stephen Vogt.

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