While Jake Bauers will come back in the 2026 MLB season, Milwaukee would be wise to look at potentially picking up another outfielder to split time with him.
As the Milwaukee Brewers are now at the Winter Meetings, the ballclub is looking to bolster its lineup ahead of the 2026 MLB season.
While the Brewers have spent some money already and may still be listening to any deals involving Freddy Peralta, there's another need that the team might look at addressing.
Jake Bauers has been a decent outfielder who, at times, hasn't provided a steady bat for the Brewers.
Brewers manager Pat Murphy might like to have someone else who could spell left fielder Jake Bauers at times, too.
According to a recent story from Bleacher Report, getting another outfielder that can hit at a steady pace might be on the team's mind right now.
"The Brewers may have hoped for (Brandon) Woodruff to decline the qualifying offer, but a rotation headlined (by) him, Freddy Peralta and Jacob Misiorowski sounds pretty compelling," according to the Bleacher Report article.
"Frankly, unless the Brewers trade Peralta or someone else on their roster, there aren't a ton of holes right now.
"Jake Bauers is penciled in as their starting left fielder right now, and he had relatively drastic splits this past season, posting a .769 OPS against right-handed pitching and a .561 OPS in very limited opportunities against lefties," according to the article.
"So a right-handed hitting platoon partner for Bauers could be a good addition for a club that seems to get the most out of whoever they employ.
"Starling Marte is a great veteran presence that has traditionally hit lefties very well, although he declined to a .733 OPS this past year and might be more of a DH at this stage," according to the Bleacher Report article.
"Rob Refsnyder mashed lefties for the Red Sox, posting a .959 OPS against southpaws this past season," the article indicates. "He'll have other suitors, but the 34-year-old would fit nicely on the Brew Crew."
In his six-season MLB career, Bauers, besides the Brewers, has played for the Toronto Blue Jays, Cleveland Guardians, Seattle Mariners, and New York Yankees.
Bauers has a career .211 batting average and hit at a .235 clip for Milwaukee in the 2025 MLB season.
What type of deal, though, would the Brewers be forced to make for another left fielder? That's why the Milwaukee front office and Murphy are at the MLB Winter Meetings right now. They all will talk with a player's agent and other general managers, seeing who's available out there.
So, let's see what happens with the Brewers in the coming days.
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