Article: What Should the Brewers do With Luis Urías?

[Kyle Ginsbach]

Since the Milwaukee Brewers acquired Luis Urías in a trade with the San Diego Padres in November 2019, the young infielder has become an integral part of the Milwaukee clubhouse. But is his performance on the field what the Brewers need? 

Though the aforementioned 2019 trade that sent Trent Grisham and Zach Davies to the Padres has primarily played out in the Brewers' favor, Luis Urías, the key piece of the trade, hasn't exactly progressed like the Brewers envisioned. 

When the Brewers acquired Urías, they envisioned their everyday shortstop for the foreseeable future. Several throwing errors and mental mistakes later, Willy Adames strode into Milwaukee and took the shortstop job quite convincingly. Urías saw time at both second and third base following the Adames trade but was still on the outside looking in at the end of 2021. 

The full expectation was for Urías to take over the starting third base job in 2022, but a plethora of injuries has forced Urías to split time all over the infield. The expectation going forward is still likely as a full-time third baseman, but it remains to be seen if Urías is truly up to the task. 

On the offensive side, Urías has only progressed slightly from his days in San Diego. His 2022 slash line sits at .232/.324/.404, good for an OPS+ of 104. His defense has been problematic, posting a -7 OAA and a -3% success rate added. His fWAR for the season sits at 0.9. None of this is bad per se, but it's hard not to be disappointed. Urías was supposed to be capable of being more than just average.

The fact of the matter is, if Urías is going to be playing third base, he needs to be better than average offensively. When comparing Urías to other starting third basemen around the league, he ranks 22nd in fWAR (Min 300 PAs). If his bat can tick upwards like the Brewers were initially expecting, they can almost surely deal with his subpar defense.

There only remains one question to be asked. How likely is it for Urías to breakout offensively? With a dive into Urías' baseball savant page, here's what you can find. 

 

What probably jumps out at anyone is that amount of blue. Luckily, the red circles are signs of encouragement. In the age of the three true outcomes, Urías isn't having much of a problem fitting in. His BB% has remained above 10% for the second consecutive season, and both his Whiff% and Chase Rate being low could suggest his strikeout rate could start trending downwards. As for his power, his 20 grade power tool given to him as a prospect has turned out much better than expected, as he's already demonstrated he's capable of 20+ homer seasons.

There are reasons for optimism, but there are some concerns too. To put it bluntly, Urías is playing to his size. The lack of solid contact is eating into his expected metrics, and it's also playing out on the field. It's not that Urías isn't capable of solid contact - he certainly is - it just isn't coming often enough. If you need evidence of his potential power, look no further than his homerun in Tampa Bay earlier in the year.

Potential or not, Urías isn't a prospect anymore. While he certainly has enjoyed more success as a Brewer, he has arguably taken a step back in 2022, when it was supposed to be his first real opportunity to establish himself as a major league ballplayer. 

To cut the chase, there is no simple answer for the future if it involves Luis Urías. He's still only 25 years of age, and shows encouraging signs of more potential, but it just isn't translating on the field. If the Brewers are looking for consistent competitive teams, the future of Urías should be up in the air. A liability on defense and only average offensively, the Brewers need to ask themself where he truly fits.

Now it's your turn. Do you think the Brewers can reasonably expect more out of Urías going forward? What do you think Urías' future looks like?

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[Jopal78]

At 25 years old, and that he’s seen time in 5 consecutive seasons, Urias in 2022 is likely at or near his ceiling.
 
He’s an okay player and likely will stick at 3B until they find someone better but given the wealth of middle infielders the Brewers have drafted lately Urias could also be trade material.

 

 

[Jopal78]

At 25 years old, and that he’s seen time in 5 consecutive seasons, Urias in 2022 is likely at or near his ceiling.
 
He’s an okay player and likely will stick at 3B until they find someone better but given the wealth of middle infielders the Brewers have drafted lately Urias could also be trade material.

 

 

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

I think Urias has a higher ceiling than Turang offensively. For that reason I think he is the odds on favorite to see most of the time at 2B next season should they let Wong walk. They'll either acquire a 3B or give it to Brousseau. Turang will likely take the Jace Peterson super-sub role next year.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

I think Urias has a higher ceiling than Turang offensively. For that reason I think he is the odds on favorite to see most of the time at 2B next season should they let Wong walk. They'll either acquire a 3B or give it to Brousseau. Turang will likely take the Jace Peterson super-sub role next year.

[trwi7]

8 minutes ago, Ron Robinsons Beard said:

I think Urias has a higher ceiling than Turang offensively. For that reason I think he is the odds on favorite to see most of the time at 2B next season should they let Wong walk. They'll either acquire a 3B or give it to Brousseau. Turang will likely take the Jace Peterson super-sub role next year.

I think it's far more likely that Turang gets the starting 2B job, Urias keeps the starting 3B job and Peterson and Brosseau are backups.  Peterson to go all around the diamond and take tough RHP from Urias and Brosseau getting starts over Turang against LHP (Urias moving to 2B, Brosseau taking 3B.)

[trwi7]

8 minutes ago, Ron Robinsons Beard said:

I think Urias has a higher ceiling than Turang offensively. For that reason I think he is the odds on favorite to see most of the time at 2B next season should they let Wong walk. They'll either acquire a 3B or give it to Brousseau. Turang will likely take the Jace Peterson super-sub role next year.

I think it's far more likely that Turang gets the starting 2B job, Urias keeps the starting 3B job and Peterson and Brosseau are backups.  Peterson to go all around the diamond and take tough RHP from Urias and Brosseau getting starts over Turang against LHP (Urias moving to 2B, Brosseau taking 3B.)

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Just now, trwi7 said:

I think it's far more likely that Turang gets the starting 2B job, Urias keeps the starting 3B job and Peterson and Brosseau are backups.  Peterson to go all around the diamond and take tough RHP from Urias and Brosseau getting starts over Turang against LHP (Urias moving to 2B, Brosseau taking 3B.)

Jace is a free agent, and may actually command the type of salary that wold price him out of the Brewers' plans I think. Every team is going to value a guy like that who is solid all over the diamond defensively and isn't a dumpster fire with the bat.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Just now, trwi7 said:

I think it's far more likely that Turang gets the starting 2B job, Urias keeps the starting 3B job and Peterson and Brosseau are backups.  Peterson to go all around the diamond and take tough RHP from Urias and Brosseau getting starts over Turang against LHP (Urias moving to 2B, Brosseau taking 3B.)

Jace is a free agent, and may actually command the type of salary that wold price him out of the Brewers' plans I think. Every team is going to value a guy like that who is solid all over the diamond defensively and isn't a dumpster fire with the bat.

[Playing Catch]

I really like Urias in his role. With this said, it's hard for me to not be a little disappointed that he hasn't been more with the stick. I agree that his future is that of other decent "everyday" utility players from around the league. For that reason, the FO will keep him around so long as he's reasonably affordable.

[Playing Catch]

I really like Urias in his role. With this said, it's hard for me to not be a little disappointed that he hasn't been more with the stick. I agree that his future is that of other decent "everyday" utility players from around the league. For that reason, the FO will keep him around so long as he's reasonably affordable.

[JohnBriggs12]

1 hour ago, trwi7 said:

I think it's far more likely that Turang gets the starting 2B job, Urias keeps the starting 3B job and Peterson and Brosseau are backups.  Peterson to go all around the diamond and take tough RHP from Urias and Brosseau getting starts over Turang against LHP (Urias moving to 2B, Brosseau taking 3B.)

I think Turang is the shortstop, Adames moves to 3B, and Urias is the 2B barring a deal or FA signing.  I don't want my prized rookie having to adjust to a new position while he's also adjusting to major league pitching.  

[JohnBriggs12]

1 hour ago, trwi7 said:

I think it's far more likely that Turang gets the starting 2B job, Urias keeps the starting 3B job and Peterson and Brosseau are backups.  Peterson to go all around the diamond and take tough RHP from Urias and Brosseau getting starts over Turang against LHP (Urias moving to 2B, Brosseau taking 3B.)

I think Turang is the shortstop, Adames moves to 3B, and Urias is the 2B barring a deal or FA signing.  I don't want my prized rookie having to adjust to a new position while he's also adjusting to major league pitching.  

[wntrtxn21]

1 hour ago, trwi7 said:

I think it's far more likely that Turang gets the starting 2B job, Urias keeps the starting 3B job and Peterson and Brosseau are backups.  Peterson to go all around the diamond and take tough RHP from Urias and Brosseau getting starts over Turang against LHP (Urias moving to 2B, Brosseau taking 3B.)

I don't think Stearns is going to re-sign Wong.  Urias' real value is at 2B.  I think the fall-back plan is putting Turang at 2B and returning Urias to 3B, but that might be a down grade over this year.  In order to improve the club, Stearns needs to find a decent 3B and Turang goes to the Peterson role as a super utility guy. I too believe Peterson is going to command too much money for the Brewers on the open market next year. 

[wntrtxn21]

1 hour ago, trwi7 said:

I think it's far more likely that Turang gets the starting 2B job, Urias keeps the starting 3B job and Peterson and Brosseau are backups.  Peterson to go all around the diamond and take tough RHP from Urias and Brosseau getting starts over Turang against LHP (Urias moving to 2B, Brosseau taking 3B.)

I don't think Stearns is going to re-sign Wong.  Urias' real value is at 2B.  I think the fall-back plan is putting Turang at 2B and returning Urias to 3B, but that might be a down grade over this year.  In order to improve the club, Stearns needs to find a decent 3B and Turang goes to the Peterson role as a super utility guy. I too believe Peterson is going to command too much money for the Brewers on the open market next year. 

[clancyphile]

Perhaps his long-term role is as a 4th IF, spelling the players at third, short, and second. His bat's not horrible, his defense isn't atrocious. And given that injuries happen (sometime disproportionately to the Brewers) he might be worth offering a deal on that basis. Give him more work in the OF, maybe, but even with a universal DH, he's a huge asset off the bench.

[clancyphile]

Perhaps his long-term role is as a 4th IF, spelling the players at third, short, and second. His bat's not horrible, his defense isn't atrocious. And given that injuries happen (sometime disproportionately to the Brewers) he might be worth offering a deal on that basis. Give him more work in the OF, maybe, but even with a universal DH, he's a huge asset off the bench.

[monty57]

11 minutes ago, JohnBriggs12 said:

I think Turang is the shortstop, Adames moves to 3B, and Urias is the 2B barring a deal or FA signing.  I don't want my prized rookie having to adjust to a new position while he's also adjusting to major league pitching.  

I think that this is what should happen. The question is to whether the Brewers are willing to bruise Adames' ego by moving him to third. He seems to be a "team first" guy, so maybe he wouldn't have a problem moving from SS to 3B, but usually vets want to stay at SS because it means they'll get a bigger payday when free agency hits.

I think that both Urias and Adames "swing out of their shoes" too much, and would be better players if they focused more on making contact and less on trying to hit the ball 500 feet. But, in today's baseball I don't think they'll change, so I think Urias will be a talented player who hits around 20 HR but doesn't make enough contact/get on base enough to reach his potential.

He's still young and cheap, so there is no reason for the Brewers to actively look to replace him. That decision will be made in a couple years when he starts to get his arby raises.

[monty57]

11 minutes ago, JohnBriggs12 said:

I think Turang is the shortstop, Adames moves to 3B, and Urias is the 2B barring a deal or FA signing.  I don't want my prized rookie having to adjust to a new position while he's also adjusting to major league pitching.  

I think that this is what should happen. The question is to whether the Brewers are willing to bruise Adames' ego by moving him to third. He seems to be a "team first" guy, so maybe he wouldn't have a problem moving from SS to 3B, but usually vets want to stay at SS because it means they'll get a bigger payday when free agency hits.

I think that both Urias and Adames "swing out of their shoes" too much, and would be better players if they focused more on making contact and less on trying to hit the ball 500 feet. But, in today's baseball I don't think they'll change, so I think Urias will be a talented player who hits around 20 HR but doesn't make enough contact/get on base enough to reach his potential.

He's still young and cheap, so there is no reason for the Brewers to actively look to replace him. That decision will be made in a couple years when he starts to get his arby raises.

[Nato_Coles]

Barring injury, Luis Urias is going to start 130+ games for the Brewers in 2023. This is the reality of the team. If Brosseau(?) should get more starts against lefties, if Kiura(?!) should get more starts against lefties, then we'll see if they do, but both are arbitration eligible starting next year and we Brewers fans know what that means - the clock is ticking. Hiura plays defense about as well as I do (ok, a little better, but you know what I'm saying), and Brosseau isn't much better, and neither is anything close to proven as a multi-year good option at the plate. Luis Urias while also arb eligible in 2023 is markedly better defensively by bWAR metrics, even if he sometimes makes embarrassing throws and other fielding decisions. With Wong likely off to less hoppy pastures, Urias in a 2B/3B role with support from one, both, or all three of Brosseau, Hiura, and Turang looks most likely, with the latter also (hopefully) seeing time backing up Adames at short.

So, what to do with Urias? Keep playing him and hope he remains at least a smidge above 2.0 WAR per season, and pray for the outfield prospects to save us all with their bats and speed one fine beautiful day in the future, ASAFP. That's about all I've got.

[Nato_Coles]

Barring injury, Luis Urias is going to start 130+ games for the Brewers in 2023. This is the reality of the team. If Brosseau(?) should get more starts against lefties, if Kiura(?!) should get more starts against lefties, then we'll see if they do, but both are arbitration eligible starting next year and we Brewers fans know what that means - the clock is ticking. Hiura plays defense about as well as I do (ok, a little better, but you know what I'm saying), and Brosseau isn't much better, and neither is anything close to proven as a multi-year good option at the plate. Luis Urias while also arb eligible in 2023 is markedly better defensively by bWAR metrics, even if he sometimes makes embarrassing throws and other fielding decisions. With Wong likely off to less hoppy pastures, Urias in a 2B/3B role with support from one, both, or all three of Brosseau, Hiura, and Turang looks most likely, with the latter also (hopefully) seeing time backing up Adames at short.

So, what to do with Urias? Keep playing him and hope he remains at least a smidge above 2.0 WAR per season, and pray for the outfield prospects to save us all with their bats and speed one fine beautiful day in the future, ASAFP. That's about all I've got.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

50 minutes ago, JohnBriggs12 said:

I think Turang is the shortstop, Adames moves to 3B, and Urias is the 2B barring a deal or FA signing.  I don't want my prized rookie having to adjust to a new position while he's also adjusting to major league pitching.  

I previously hadn't considered this, but I like it. Turang appears to have the chops to play SS at an MLB level, and Adames has the power you'd typically look for at 3B. Urias's offense looks much better from the 2B position in the lineup than it does from 3B.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

50 minutes ago, JohnBriggs12 said:

I think Turang is the shortstop, Adames moves to 3B, and Urias is the 2B barring a deal or FA signing.  I don't want my prized rookie having to adjust to a new position while he's also adjusting to major league pitching.  

I previously hadn't considered this, but I like it. Turang appears to have the chops to play SS at an MLB level, and Adames has the power you'd typically look for at 3B. Urias's offense looks much better from the 2B position in the lineup than it does from 3B.

[Hopper]

1 hour ago, JohnBriggs12 said:

I think Turang is the shortstop, Adames moves to 3B, and Urias is the 2B barring a deal or FA signing.  I don't want my prized rookie having to adjust to a new position while he's also adjusting to major league pitching.  

Has Adames played any 3B previously?

[Hopper]

1 hour ago, JohnBriggs12 said:

I think Turang is the shortstop, Adames moves to 3B, and Urias is the 2B barring a deal or FA signing.  I don't want my prized rookie having to adjust to a new position while he's also adjusting to major league pitching.  

Has Adames played any 3B previously?