First offseason chip falls for the Brewers: Team picks up Kolten Wong’s option for $10 million.

I’m split on how I feel about this:

1. On the one hand, I like Kolten Wong. He was bad defensively last season, yes. But that is likely the anomaly in an otherwise spotless defensive career at second base. He also hit a career high 15 home runs in 2022, he’s still a good contact hitter (which the Brewers need), and will generally give you between a .250 and .275 batting average. Solid enough. His WAR last season was 3.2, a broad idea among most baseball people is that you pay $10 million per win. By that math $10 million for 3.2 wins is a bargain.
2. On the other hand, it feels like this sets the stage for a ‘run it back’ season offensively. Had they not picked up this option, my assumption was that they’d finally call up Brice Turang (.286/13/78 line at AAA last season) and allow him and Luis Urias to split time at second base. That would have opened up third base for an impact player, either through free agency or in a trade. Let’s be honest, the Brewers haven’t had a good third baseman since Aramis Ramirez left. And he was at the end of his career. But with Wong back, it feels pretty likely that Urias is your Opening Day third baseman in 2023. I’m not saying I HATE that, but again, it’s difficult to stomach a ‘run it back’ season with the way the offense folded last season.

If the Brewers actually want to spend some money this offseason, which new head decision-maker Matt Arnold hinted at, one place they could spend would be on an upgrade is at catcher. I know this is going to sit in your stomach about as calmly as curdled milk, but a name that would be a big upgrade in that spot would be Willson Contreras. I know, I know. He just rejected the Cubs qualifying offer so he’s out there. He’s still relatively young (29), has consistently posted an OPS of around .800 for most of his career, and handles a pitching staff well. He also possesses a howitzer of a right arm and throws runners out at a good clip. Would Brewer fans be able to watch/cheer for him in a Milwaukee jersey? We did do it for the aforementioned Aramis Ramirez. Would Contreras want to play for a team that beaned him almost every other at-bat for the last three seasons? Who knows. But money heals all baseball-imprinted wounds.

Anyway, with Wong back at second base, it does feel like the infield is going to look pretty much the same as it did in 2022. That would leave centerfield (where Garrett Mitchell should get a shot) or catcher as a place you could spend or trade your way to an upgrade. We’ll see.

PS: I had a texter on the morning show yesterday express some shock that the Brewers are at #7 in the ESPN ‘Way to Early MLB Power Rankings’ following the end of the World Series. It does feel a touch high, but I’m assuming that’s based on the strength of the starting pitching. Barring a huge offseason trade, this team is going to trot out Burnes/Woodruff/Peralta/Lauer/Ashby or Houser again in 2023. And remember, despite how agonizing the last two months of 2022 were, they still went 86-76. And at no point did they have that starting rotation fully healthy. Even with the offensive deficiencies and the shortcomings of the back end of the bullpen in September, if that starting rotation has the health in 2022 that it did in 2021, this is a 90+ win team.