What If Paul Molitor Never Left The Brewers?

After losing Paul Molitor to free agency, the team hit a skid, not seeing the .500 mark for 12 seasons, and what was already a 10-year playoff drought would extend until 2008’s magical wild card run. General Manager Sal Bando, one of the first big free-agent signings in team history, was criticized by fans for not keeping an iconic player in the fold.

But what if Bando had gotten the deal done? How might history have changed? For the sake of argument, Molitor and the Brewers agree on a six-year deal for $19.5 million ($1.5-million bonus, $3 million per season), with team options for 1999 and 2000. 

One big effect that could happen with a deal being reached is avoiding one of the worst trades in franchise history. In November 1992, the Brewers dealt Dante Bichette to the Colorado Rockies for Kevin Reimer to fill the hole at DH. Reimer hit .249 with 13 homers and 60 RBI. Bichette went on to become a productive player for Colorado.

That deal no longer becomes necessary, so the Brewers have Bichette in right field for at least 1993, and perhaps until mid-1996, when they would deal him the same way they dealt Greg Vaughn that year. Molitor’s retention might make Kevin Seitzer see Milwaukee as less appealing, although John Jaha’s injuries over the years might have Seitzer and Molitor splitting time at first base.

Molitor and Bichette wouldn’t steer the team entirely clear of the doldrums. Still, there would be higher attendance at County Stadium, and keeping Molitor would provide enough goodwill to ease the legislative fight to construct Miller Park. The Brewers would likely finish above .500 in 1993 and 1996.

Molitor would reach his 3,000th hit around the same time he did historically, either in an away game at Texas or County Stadium. The move to the NL in 1998 would force Molitor to play a lot more first base in the twilight of his career, but the Brewers, lacking a better option at first, would exercise the 1999 and 2000 team options, with Molitor's final season coinciding with the move to Miller Park. The acquisition of Richie Sexson in 2000 would complete that passing of the torch. He would likely have over 3,600 hits by that time, joining Robin Yount in playing over 20 seasons with the Crew.

Given Molitor’s post-playing career, he would likely become a coach with the Brewers, eventually becoming the manager. Molitor would likely have taken Ryan Braun under his wing to coach him at third base, in all likelihood having the Brewers not immediately move him to the outfield after the 2007 season. At the very least, Molitor becomes an institution as a hitting coach, like Bill Castro was as a bullpen coach.

Or, Molitor, instead of Dale Sveum, might end up the interim manager if Ned Yost is fired during the 2008 season, and would likely retain the job through at least Doug Melvin’s tenure as GM, perhaps turning the reins over to Craig Counsell after the 2016 season and remaining with the Brewers in another capacity.

How might his extended tenure in Milwaukee have affected the all-time rankings at various positions? For one, he would have been the Crew's all-time best DH. In addition, if Braun stays at third base longer, the debates among Brewers fans would be between the slugger (Braun) and the pure hitter (Molitor) as to who the best third baseman in Brewers’ history was. Dante Bichette might have staked a claim as one of the team’s best right fielders of all time. Sal Bando would have been seen as a decent GM doing his best rather than a vilified figure for allowing Molitor to walk.

Molitor’s departure was a tragedy for the Brewers’ franchise, one that many Brewers fans feel was avoidable. They can only wonder what might have been.