Detroit Tigers Rank Highly in MCB’s First Power Rankings of 2017

#26 Milwaukee Brewers
2016 Run Differential: -62
Best Offseason Move: Trading Tyler Thornburg
Worst Offseason Move: Swapping Catchers With Anaheim

The Milwaukee Brewers were very selective this winter in terms of the team’s offseason moves.

In a shrewd move, Milwaukee flipped setup reliever Tyler Thornburg to Boston for third baseman Travis Shaw and two prospects.

Not only does the deal give the Brewers a controllable, versatile bat in Shaw, but it adds depth to the farm system.

As of late, Milwaukee has done a considerable amount of work in terms of improving the team’s future.

The National League Central franchise flipped Jonathan Lucroy and Jeremy Jeffress to Texas at the trade deadline for a haul of minor leaguers that included Lewis Brinson.

Will Smith also changed addresses in early August, heading to the San Francisco Giants in a transaction that netted Milwaukee former 10^th-overall pick Phil Bickford and a potential catching solution in Andrew Susac.

This past offseason, the club moved on from the one year Chris Carter experiment, replacing him with Eric Thames.

In terms of replacing Thornburg, Milwaukee will likely depend on Carlos Torres and Jhan Marinez in setup roles.

Next season, the team could potentially employ a number of relievers familiar to Detroit Tigers fans.

Neftali Feliz should close games for a club that already employ Corey Knebel. Knebel was dealt by Detroit to Texas in the Joakim Soria swap.

Elsewhere, the Brewers signed Joba Chamberlain and Andy Oliver in the offseason—so there’s that.