The Brewers never got above .500 and finished the regular season 29-31, so they didn't have the typical pedigree of a playoff team. Still, in 2020, that's what they were, but it certainly wasn't surprising to see Milwaukee swept by the powerhouse Dodgers.
Jesse Rogers takes a look at where the Brewers stand and answers three key questions for the club moving forward to 2021 and beyond.
Milwaukee Brewers
Notable free agents: Ryan Braun (mutual option)
Trade candidates: Josh Hader
Extension candidates: Orlando Arcia
1. Are Ryan Braun's days as a Brewer over?
Braun's OPS fell under .800 for the second time in three years, but with a mutual option for $15 million, it might not be a bad move to bring him back. He would already be getting $4 million in a buyout, so $11 million more for one year doesn't sound so bad as Braun is still capable of hitting 20 home runs. The continuation of the DH in the National League would help his cause for sticking around. Then again, he'll be 37 in November and finances are tight around baseball, so even $15 million for one year might not fly for the organization.
2. Will Josh Hader be moved?
Where there's smoke, there's fire. The Brewers gauged interest in Hader before this season's trade deadline as his production is quietly -- and sometimes not so quietly -- falling. His strikeout-to-walk ratio dropped from 6.9 in 2019 to 3.1 in 2020. Even in recording outs when he needed them at times this season, hitters were consistently having better at-bats. His value is going down, while new guy on the block Devin Williams is the Brewers' best reliever. Pitching isn't their problem, so if they can move Hader in a package for a hitter, they should.
3. Where will help for Christian Yelich come from?
Signing Yelich to a long-term deal was the easy part. Building an offense around him is proving to be a bit harder. Their offense isn't trending in the right direction as their team OPS ranked ninth in 2018, 12th in 2019 and dropped to 24th this season. The Brewers were so desperate for offense they picked up twice-DFA'd Daniel Vogelbach, who turned out to be one of their better hitters down the stretch. If Lorenzo Cain can return to form after opting out this season, it will go a long way to helping the offense, but like other teams in the NL Central, a boost from outside the organization could be a need.