Brewers Spring Training Battles: Abraham Toro vs. Brice Turang

I don't think either of these two will be on the opening day roster. 

The fact that these two guys will likely open in AAA is a testament to the depth that Arnold and co. have built this winter. You figure between them, the rookie OFs, and now Voit and Naquin, someone is bound to step up and insert themselves into an everyday role.

Brewers might want to keep Turang down a couple weeks for the extra year of control, but I would expect the plan is for him to spend most (or even all) of the season in the majors, starting at 2B most days. I think it's the best roster fit; it provides a natural backup to Adames when needed. The fact that he can play CF is another plus too, especially if they end up with only Yelich, Taylor, Mitchell (And the mostly DHing Winker) as pure outfielders. But more than that though, I just think that the changes this year makes them value elite up the middle defense even more, and the changes to pickoffs and the bases should potentially suit a speedster like Turang on offense as well. Really, I just think that Turang is almost a lock to be a decent MLB player straight away. Probably never, or at least years away from it, an all-star, but he's exactly the kind of guy who the Cardinals seem to find every year or two, who just slots in as an average to above average MLB starter almost from day 1 without having been super hyped. 

As for what the roster looks like, I think the wild card that needs settling first is Hiura. He has no options, so I guess they have to really like what they see in ST for him to make the roster. But let's assume he does, then I expect the IF to have Tellez, Turang, Adames and Urias as the "starters". Hiura as a somewhat weird fit with his reverse splits. Anderson is a given, likely playing every day against LHP (As an indirect platoon with Turang/Mitchell and sometimes directly with Tellez) and getting starts at all the corner spots inbetween. And then that only leaves one spot, which I think goes to Brosseau as the most accomplished hitter at the MLB level compared to Miller or Toro. Since Hiura didn't really serve a necessary positional purpose on the roster, if he doesn't make the team then just about anyone could take that spot. Could well be Toro, but it could also give room for Frelick or even Voit. 

I think that a lot depends on how Anderson performs. My guess (barring injuries) is that Anderson will start at 3B, with Urias moving to 2B. Turang will likely start in AAA.

If Anderson falters, Turang will only be in AAA long enough to save service time. If Anderson plays like he did early in his career, then there will be no rush to bring Turang up. He's the natural replacement for Adames when he is likely traded next offseason, so saving Turang's service time for when he's our starting SS will benefit the team long-term.

Toro was a nice pickup, as he can play all over the field, and he still has enough "prospect luster" left that maybe, just maybe he could break out. However, he's far enough along that you don't mind burning through his service time as a bench player. If he gets hot, he could earn himself some additional playing time, but as I started this post, if Anderson falters it will likely be Turang who takes over as an everyday player.

But, the spring will be interesting, as several different scenarios could play out. Anderson could be used more than expected as a corner OF, opening more time at 3B. Hiura is an enigma, as they didn't play him last year when he was seemingly the best option vs RHP, so why did they sign him to a seven-figure salary? Post-surgery, can Winker play better defense, freeing up the DH spot more often than we expect? Will they hold onto Brosseau as a "lefty killer," taking up one of the spots Toro/Turang are fighting for?

All-in-all, it' good to have depth, and it's good to have players with positional flexibility. It opens up a lot of options.

The backup infield and bullpen will be fascinating to see how they work out.  Both look pretty jumbled.  Also, some IFers can go out and play OF which adds flexibility.  

With a 26 man roster and 13 pitcher limit, that leaves you five backup/DH position players, and Caratini will be one of them.  So that leaves you four.  Winker absorbs one.  If you assume Taylor, Mitchell and Yelich in the OF, then Naquin could be another.   If you assume an IF of Anderson, Adames, Urias, and Tellez, you’re looking at two backup IF with lots of candidates.  I don’t know how to handicap it without getting spring training results.  Who are the last two?  Is Hiura still going to be here? Miller is versatile and a pro.  Brosseau is good against lefties.  Toro is maybe still developing.   Will Turang be given a chance?  Voit doesn’t bring flexibility but could be a hedge for Winker or Tellez injuries, or a possible Hiura trade.  Right now, without any trades, I might guess Hiura and Miller for those spots but anything is possible.  The other possibility is Naquin doesn’t make it and they rely on Anderson’s ability to play RF and Hiura LF.   Then you keep a Toro or Brosseau.  

20 minutes ago, Austin Tatious said:

 The other possibility is Naquin doesn’t make it and they rely on Anderson’s ability to play RF and Hiura LF.   Then you keep a Toro or Brosseau.  

I think this is a good possibility. In addition to Anderson acting as a backup OF, if Winker's surgery worked, he could be a better defender than he's shown the past couple seasons so he could see more time on the field than we're all thinking. Then you're looking at whether it makes more sense to keep someone like Toro or Brosseau over someone like Naquin, and even whether we keep someone like Hiura who could DH while Winker is in the OF. Yelich, Mitchell, Winker in the OF with Hiura at DH would be a nice "vs RHP" mix.

There really are a lot of directions the team could go, and I think they'll lean towards keeping the prospects (other than Mitchell) down for a while for service time/Super 2 reasons.