5 Players The Milwaukee Brewers Should Target In MLB Free Agency

By Bryan Zarpentine

5 Players Milwaukee Brewers Should Target in MLB Free Agency

Craig Counsell Milwaukee Brewers Manager — To put it bluntly, the Milwaukee Brewers were the laughing stock of baseball in 2015, leaving a lot of room for improvement in 2016. Unfortunately, Milwaukee's roster isn't in great shape, and it may be another year or two before many of their top prospects become viable big league players, which means the Brewers have to dip into the free agent market to improve. Here are five players they should pursue.

5. Brayan Pena

BrayanPena

5. Brayan Pena

BrayanPena — The Brewers have a reliable starting catcher in Jonathan Lucroy, but little depth to speak of behind him, which became an issue in 2015 when Lucroy missed time due to injury. There aren't a lot of great free agent options on the free agent market for a backup catcher, but Pena is one of them. It wouldn't be a huge upgrade, but the duo of Lucroy and Pena would have the Brewers in good shape behind the plate.

4. Juan Uribe

Juan Uribe

4. Juan Uribe

Juan Uribe — The Brewers have a couple young options at third base, but no one they are certain they can rely on for 2016, so bringing in a veteran like Uribe to man the position would be a helpful and rather inexpensive move. Uribe can still hold his own defensively and he's still a professional hitter with plenty of pop, in addition to being a great clubhouse guy. Worst case, one of the younger third basemen steps up and Uribe is a great bench piece.

3. JA Happ

J.A. Happ MLB Trade Deadline Treasure for Pittsburgh Pirates

3. JA Happ

J.A. Happ MLB Trade Deadline Treasure for Pittsburgh Pirates — The Brewers need a lot of help in their rotation, and may need to sign multiple starters this offseason. Happ is not one of the top names on the free agent market, but he's a reliable veteran with a lot of big league experience who could do wonders for a team like Milwaukee in the middle of their rotation. Even if he's just a No. 3 starter for the Brewers, he'd be an upgrade over what they have right now.

2. Denard Span

Denard Span-No True Lead-off Hitter

2. Denard Span

Denard Span-No True Lead-off Hitter — After trading Carlos Gomez, the Brewers have a vacancy in center field, making Span an obvious player to pursue this winter. He had some injury issues in 2015, which means his price this winter could fall into a range where he would be a player the Brewers could afford. A healthy Span would give Milwaukee a nice looking outfield and could go a long way towards making them a team that can stay out of the NL Central basement.

1. Jordan Zimmermann

Jordan Zimmermann Nationals

1. Jordan Zimmermann

Jordan Zimmermann Nationals — Zimmermann was born in Wisconsin, so it wouldn't hurt the Brewers to pursue him this winter by imploring him to come home. It's also pertinent to mention that Milwaukee could use an ace at the top of their rotation, and Zimmermann certainly fits the bill. It would take a lot of money for the Brewers to make this happen, but it would signal to the team's fan base that the team is serious about trying to field a competitive team.

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Milwaukee Brewers

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