Ryan Braun is excited to see the Brewers' pursuit of the top talent, including Craig Kimbrel

Tom Haudricourt
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

PHOENIX – Ryan Braun said Wednesday he had no idea if the Milwaukee Brewers would sign Craig Kimbrel but he was not surprised to see the team linked to the free-agent reliever.

“I mean, it’s exciting and it’s encouraging for everybody in the locker room when you see your team associated with the best players available,” Braun said. “It’s something that can lift the spirits of the entire room.

“You guys have been there, you’ve seen the response at the trade deadline. But the off-season, it’s the same thing. When you add really good players, and you’re in the mix for the best players available, it’s exciting and it’s encouraging.”

There was no indication the Brewers were close to signing Kimbrel, who was believed to still be seeking a big payday despite the approaching start to the season. At the outset of the winter, the former Boston closer was reported to be seeking a $100 million deal but obviously that didn’t happen.

Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun is happy about how the team's decision-makers are handling the business and likes the makeup of the team heading into the season.

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The Brewers were able to strike one-year deals with catcher Yasmani Grandal ($18.25 million) and infielder Mike Moustakas ($10 million) when the free-agent market collapsed on them, but Kimbrel being open to such an arrangement is doubtful. The Brewers already are headed for their highest payroll ever, around $125 million, so their financial flexibility is unknown.

Whatever happens, Braun is convinced the Brewers will do their due diligence in seeing if a deal with Kimbrel is possible.

“First and foremost, they’ve been so successful with basically everything they’ve done since they’ve been here, they deserve the benefit of the doubt on anything they’re doing,” Braun said. “But, certainly, there’s a value they put on all players, and when they can find excess value in getting a deal done, it makes sense to do those deals.

“They’re always looking for opportunities to make the team better, which is something we all appreciate and we’ve been able to reap the benefits of. It’s part of the reason we’ve significantly exceeded expectations the last couple of years.”

While general manager David Stearns and his staff have made those moves, it has been owner Mark Attanasio who has authorized moving the payroll to its highest level ever. Braun said that financial commitment to improving the organization, including the $65 million put into renovating the spring training complex, sets Attanasio apart from some owners.

“Mark is one of the only guys in this sport who is fully committed to winning, and to putting all, or at least the majority of, revenue that gets generated back into the team year in and year out,” Braun said. “We’re not seeing that around the game, but we’re seeing that here, and we’re appreciative of that as players."

Asked if he expected to see Kimbrel in a Brewers uniform, Braun said, “I don’t know. I’m not here to speculate. You guys can have fun with that.

“I have no idea how close it is or isn’t. But obviously, for all of us as players, it’s exciting that we’re even in the mix. It’s exciting that our team is involved on almost all the big-name guys out there. It’s a good place to be.”

The Brewers did add a reliever Tuesday by signing Josh Fields, released earlier this spring by the Dodgers. Fields will be assigned to Class AAA San Antonio and stay ready for a call when needed. 

Injuries already have been a factor in the bullpen depth, with Bobby Wahl out with a torn ACL, possibly for the season, and Jeremy Jeffress slated to open on the injured list with shoulder weakness. Jeffress could miss much of the first month of the season. 

It’s no secret how important the bullpen is to the Brewers, who used that strength to win the National League Central with a late charge in 2018 and advance to within a game of the World Series before being eliminated by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Yet, it’s the starting rotation that pundits insist the Brewers should have augmented over the off-season, a sentiment not shared inside the team offices and clubhouse.

“From what I’ve seen, both (Brandon) Woodruff and (Freddy) Peralta have taken a step forward,” Braun said. “Their stuff this spring has been noticeably better than it was last spring, and they were both very good for us last year, probably better than anyone expected them to be. And their stuff has played up this spring.

“Then, obviously, knock on wood, it’s been really encouraging to see how good Jimmy (Nelson) looked his last couple of times out. Jimmy’s close. Jimmy’s really close. I don’t know exactly what the plan is or how far away he is, but that is potentially the equivalent of adding an impact-level starter at the very beginning of the season.”

Stearns announced Tuesday that the plan is for Nelson to open the season with Class AAA San Antonio, make a few starts, then be re-evaluated. So, it is not out of the question that his return to the Brewers could happen in April.

One part of the team not being questioned is the depth of the position player group, especially after the additions of Grandal and Moustakas. Braun has called it the deepest lineup in which he has played since coming to the majors in 2007.

“We’re going to be 12 or 13 deep in position players every day,” Braun said. “Night in and night out, whoever we throw out there is going to legitimately be really good. And that lineup we’re going to have to start the year in Triple-A is really good.

“That depth is the thing a lot of us in here are most excited about. You know you’re going to need that depth throughout the season.”