Milwaukee Brewers: 2016 Fantasy Preview

By Brad Kelly | Feb 13, 2016

Sep 2, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Brewers right fielder Ryan Braun (8) reacts after striking out in the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports /

N.L. Central

Milwaukee Brewers

Must Own Fantasy Player: Jonathan Lucroy

Potential Fantasy Bust: Ryan Braun

Prospect to Watch: Orlando Arcia

The Milwaukee Brewers had a rough 2015, and it does not look as though this upcoming season will be any better. They are in the midst of a rebuild and have already sold off some of their more valuable fantasy assets, but there a few solid pieces that remain.

You could make the argument that the Brewers may have only two offensive players drafted this spring: Jonathan Lucroy and Ryan Braun. Braun will be the first of those to go off the board, and he has shown that even after the PED embarrassment, he can be an effective fantasy producer.

He was able to post a 25 HR/24 SB season in 2015, but the only reason that he listed as a potential bust, is because of what seems to be a chronic issue with his thumb amongst the other nagging injuries he battles. His supporting class limits his counting stats, and the injury concerns may knock him back a round, but it is hard to find 20/20 performers.

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Looking more towards the outfield, the team lost a legit power threat in the trade that sent Khris Davis to the A’s. While centerfield for the club can be completely ignored with the likes of Kirk Nieuwenhuis and Rymer Liriano battling it out for the starting job, right field for the club is an interesting position.

With Davis out of town, Domingo Santana should get the lion share of the starting time. He came over to the team in the Carlos Gomez deal with Houston, and he showed in a small sample size that his power could be legit. He should be a popular sleeper this spring, and I would recommend owners to target him as there is 20+ HR upside in his bat.

With Adam Lind and Jean Segura traded, the Brewers infield certainly looks different. Jonathan Villar will be the starting shortstop for the time being, and Chris Carter will take over first. Villar can be ignored, and owners know the power that Carter can bring. He still probably deserves to a late round flier, but bitter owners from last season, may just bypass him altogether to avoid the streaky headaches.

Aaron Hill will man third and while he has had solid seasons in the past, owners should look for higher upside options from their corner infielders. Scooter Gennett struggled mightily last season after a solid 2014, so owners should probably take a wait and see approach on him to see if he can bounce back early in the season.

Like previously stated, the only other prime fantasy option for the Brewers will be Lucroy. He may be traded during the season, yet as now he can still be drafted as the second catcher off the board. He battled injuries all last season, but his track record shows his durability. He is a safe option that will not kill your average and offer decent pop, a hard combo to find in your starting catcher.

The Brewers rotation is chalked full of question marks and should be pretty much avoided all together this season. Jimmy Nelson would be the only option to take a flier on as Wily Peralta, Matt Garza and Taylor Jungmann, are just too hard to trust. Chase Anderson came over in the Segura deal and showed some promise last season, but he will be more of waiver wire fodder heading into the season.

Staying up with the theme of new faces, the team also dealt Francisco Rodriguez, leaving the closer job wide open. The situation looks to be a true competition this spring, as Will Smith, Jeremy Jeffress and Corey Knebel battle it out. The option with the most upside is Jeffress, and fantasy owners should hope that he wins the gig because of the potential K upside.

Segura’s departure looks as a clear sign that the team believes that stud SS prospect, Orlando Arcia, is close to a promotion. The only thing that will slow his call up will be the Brewers keeping him in the minors to delay his free agency, but once he gets the call fantasy owners should act fast. He is a legit talent that could be a boost for a team looking for MI help midway into the season.

Next: Khris Davis Traded to Oakland: Fantasy Fallout

The team has too many question marks and its fire-sale this offseason points to the fact that they do not expect to contend this season. They are not a fantasy powerhouse, but there are some nice options that owners can target this spring.

Looking for more team previews?

NL West: L.A. Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, Colorado Rockies, San Diego Padres, Arizona Diamondbacks

NL East: Philadelphia Phillies, Atlanta Braves, Miami Marlins, Washington Nationals, New York Mets

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