Brewers 2024 Roster: Who Will We Miss? Who Won't We? (2 & 2)

Kenji Nakamura

4 min read

Post on Apr 23, 2025

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The Irreplaceable: Two Brewers We Will Miss in 2024

Corbin Burnes: A Pivotal Piece of the Brewers' Success

• Key Stats: Consistent sub-3.00 ERA, high strikeout rate, potential Cy Young contender.
• Impact on Team Dynamics: Ace of the pitching staff, sets the tone for the entire rotation. Provides leadership and experience to younger pitchers.
• Irreplaceable Skills: Elite command, devastating changeup, ability to pitch deep into games.
• Potential Replacements (and why they're not quite the same): While the Brewers have promising young pitchers in the farm system, none possess the same combination of experience, consistency, and dominance as Burnes. Any replacement would likely require a significant rebuild of the rotation's dynamics.

Burnes' impact on the Brewers goes beyond his impressive statistics. He's a true workhorse, consistently eating innings and providing stability to the starting rotation. His presence instills confidence in the bullpen and allows the team to manage the workload effectively. Losing him would leave a gaping hole in the heart of the Brewers' pitching staff, significantly impacting their chances of contending in 2024.

William Contreras: The Unsung Hero We Can't Afford to Lose

• Crucial Defensive Plays: Exceptional framing skills, consistently throws out runners.
• Consistent Performance: Reliable bat in the lineup, high on-base percentage.
• Leadership Qualities: Positive clubhouse presence, mentor to younger players.
• Difficulty in Finding a Suitable Replacement: Finding a catcher with both Contreras' offensive and defensive abilities would be a challenge for the Brewers, necessitating a substantial investment in free agency or trades.

Contreras' value to the Brewers extends beyond his batting average and defensive skills. He's a quiet leader who sets a high standard for his teammates. His consistent performance behind the plate and at the plate is invaluable to the team's stability. Replacing his unique blend of offensive and defensive capabilities would be incredibly difficult.

The Replaceable: Two Brewers Whose Departures Won't Be as Devastating

Owen Miller: A Tradeable Asset?

• Stats: Solid batting average, decent on-base percentage, versatile defensive abilities.
• Potential Trade Value: Could be a valuable asset in acquiring prospects or filling other roster needs.
• Availability of Suitable Replacements: The Brewers possess depth in their infield, with prospects ready for promotion. Free agency also offers options for similar players.

While Miller has been a valuable contributor, his skillset isn't unique within the Brewers organization, nor the MLB market at large. He’s a valuable player, but his departure wouldn't cripple the Brewers' lineup, making him a potentially valuable trade chip to bolster other areas of the team.

Victor Caratini: A Player Who May Not Be Crucial for 2024 Success

• Contribution Compared to Other Players: Provides reliable backup catching and occasional at-bats, but not a starter-level contributor.
• Potential Drop-off in Performance if They Leave: Relatively low; the Brewers have depth at catcher.
• Team's Overall Depth at Their Position: With other catchers in the system, the drop-off wouldn't be significant.

Caratini's role is primarily that of a backup catcher, providing depth and versatility to the roster. While a valuable member of the team, his departure wouldn't drastically alter the Brewers' success, given the team's existing depth at the catcher position.

Conclusion

This analysis of the Brewers 2024 roster highlights the key players whose absence would be significantly felt (Burnes and Contreras) and those whose departures would be less impactful (Miller and Caratini). Understanding these potential roster changes is crucial for predicting the Brewers' success next season.

What are your thoughts on the Brewers 2024 roster? Which players do you think are indispensable, and which could the team afford to lose? Join the discussion in the comments below! Share your predictions for the Brewers 2024 roster!