We learned earlier today that the Milwaukee Brewers will be bringing Kirk Nieuwenhuis back for an encore after his 2016 performance, and we’re still waiting on resolutions regarding the club’s other six arbitration eligible players as well as Chris Carter, who will either be traded or become a free agent tonight. In the meantime, however, the Brewers announced a few other moves on the fringes of the 40 man roster, as right handers David Goforth and Steve Geltz have both cleared outright waivers and been sent to AAA while outfielder/first baseman Adam Brett Walker has been lost on a waiver claim to the Baltimore Orioles.
The Brewers claimed the 25 year old Walker, a Milwaukee native, off of waivers from the Twins on 18 November. His stay on the 40 man roster was brief, however, as he was designated for assignment on 28 November to make way for Steve Geltz’s addition. Last season in AAA Walker posted a .243/.305/.479 batting line (121 wRC+) with 27 home runs and 7 steals in 132 games. He’s said to have perhaps as much home run power as any prospect currently in the minor leagues, but also has very real contact issues as exhibited by an unsightly 38% strikeout rate last season at the highest level of the minor leagues. He’ll now hope to sort that out within the Orioles’ organization.
As mentioned above, the Brewers claimed Geltz off waivers from the Tampa Bay Rays on 28 November. To be honest I think he might’ve been placed on outright waivers by Milwaukee that same day. The 29 year old has spent parts of four seasons in the major leagues and last season posted a 5.74 ERA with 23 strikeouts and nine walks in 26.1 big league innings, and he’s allowed home runs at a rate of 1.9 per nine innings across his 110 MLB appearances. Geltz will have eight days to accept the outright assignment or elect free agency, at which point he’d be able to sign with any team.
The Brewers designated Goforth for assignment on 23 November to make room for Blake Parker’s addition to the 40 man roster. The 28 year old former 7th round pick allowed 13 runs in 10 MLB innings this season and posted a 4.91 ERA in 42 appearances in AAA. His contract will remain property of the Brewers as he’s unable to elect free agency, though he could theoretically be selected in the Rule 5 Draft. I’d say that’s probably unlikely, however.
After these moves, the 40 man roster stands at 39. We’ll see if it stays that way later on tonight.
Statistics courtesy of Fangraphs