It was a rather disappointing 2022 season for the Milwaukee Brewers after falling short of the playoffs for the first time since 2017. There were a smattering of injuries, struggling hitters and the horribly destructive Josh Hader trade. There are a ton of questions they need to answer this off-season. With David Sterns stepping down from the role of General Manager it is time for Matt Arnold to make a statement in his first off-season leading this team. One of the three most prominent areas the Brewers need to bolster heading into 2023 is their catchers.
No Production
Over the years this team has featured some excellent offensive and defensive catchers like Jonathan Lucroy, Yasmani Grandal and Manny Pina. Unfortunately, this past season was abysmal for the Brewers’ catching duo.
Coming into the season the catching core seemed pretty promising with Victor Caratini joining Omar Narvaez.
Narvaez
Narvaez had a career year in 2019 with the Seattle Mariners as he had a .278 batting average, 119 hits, 22 homers and 55 RBI. He came to Milwaukee in a weird 2020 season where he struggled mightily, but he quickly turned it around. In 2021 he hit .266 with 104 hits, 20 doubles, 11 homers and 49 RBI.
Unfortunately, his third season with the Brew Crew was one to forget. He hit just .206 with 54 hits in 262 at-bats and recorded only four homers and 23 RBI. In his 84 games, he had 38 performances of zero hits in multiple at-bats. It was very much a tale of two seasons. Between April and June, he hit .263 (39-148), but from July to the end of the season his average was a measly .132 (15-114). Late in the season, when it mattered the most, he was one of the most unreliable hitters in all of baseball.
Caratini
Then there is Caratini who was just as unreliable. At the time of his acquisition, he seemed like a great addition. In 2021 with the San Diego Padres he set career highs with 116 games, 71 hits, 33 runs, 35 walks and 39 RBI despite a career-low .227 batting average.
Just looking at some of his 2022 stats makes him look like he was pretty productive. He had nine homers, 31 walks, 34 RBI and a career-high 12 doubles. His success was nowhere near consistent as he posted a career-worst .199 batting average. He had his big moments including a few walk-offs, but overall his struggles were more than obvious. In his 96 games, he had 39 performances of zero hits in multiple at-bats.
When either one of them stepped to the plate it felt like an automatic out which was extraordinarily frustrating for a team in the playoff hunt. Narvaez has already opted for free agency and even though Caratini is not eligible for free agency it seems likely the Brewers will not bring him back.
Players to Target
The biggest name on the free agent table that the Brewers must make a push for is Willson Contreras. He has played seven seasons with the Chicago Cubs, but only five full seasons. In those five seasons, he is hitting .255 while averaging 104 hits, 22 doubles, 20 homers and 61 RBI. In 2022 he had one of his best seasons since 2018 with a .243 batting average, 101 hits, 23 doubles, 22 homers, 45 walks and 55 RBI. After years of beating up on the Brewers, it is time for him to switch sides. He is one of the best catchers in baseball and his presence on the Brewers would add a ton.
A team that is going to most likely be on the side of selling and rebuilding is the Cincinnati Reds. Sticking to catchers from the National League Central the Brewers should go after Tyler Stephenson. In his rookie campaign in 2021 he hit .286 with 100 hits, 21 doubles, 10 homers and 45 RBI in 132 games. Sadly his 2022 season was cut short in late July, but when he did play he piled up 53 hits, nine doubles, six homers, 35 RBI and a .319 batting average in just 50 games. He will be a free agent in 2027 so the Brewers could get some good years out of this young star.
Wrap Up
It was an attrocious 2022 season from the offense of the Brewers’ two main catchers. As the off-season commences it is time for the Brewers to make major improvements for 2023. Having great catchers has been a staple of the Brewers for many years and it is time to get back to those days. There are some great catchers on the market and hopefully, the Brew Crew will make a splash.
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