Milwaukee Brewers have interesting second base competition

During their glory days the Milwaukee Brewers held a distinct advantage over other teams at the second base position. Rickie Weeks, with a unique combination of speed and power at the top of their lineup, was approximately a three to four win player (5.8 fWAR in 2010, 3.3 fWAR in 2011). Not many teams could match that production from that position.

The decline for Weeks since has been ongoing and discouraging for the Brewers. Things were so rocky in 2013 (.209/.306/.357, -0.3 fWAR) that the Brewers are now open to alternatives at second base. The competition? Scooter Gennett, the 23-year-old infielder who showed well in limited action last season.

Adam McCalvy of MLB.com writes the following about the second base competition.

"So much ink was spilled over the offseason about Milwaukee’s uncertain situation at first base, but the scrum at second could be just as interesting. There is 31-year-old Weeks, the former No. 2 overall Draft pick who is due $11 million in the final year of his contract and, when healthy, has been the Brewers’ primary second baseman for the last nine years. But 23-year-old Gennett outplayed Weeks in every facet after Weeks suffered a season-ending hamstring injury last August.”"

Gennett impressed in place of Weeks last season, batting .324/.356/.479 in 69 games. Still, he is an unproven commodity. So as the Brewers cringe at what’s left of Weeks and try to figure out what to do with him, they have an interesting competition at second base.