The Brewers have informed reporters, including Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, that they have signed infielder Josh VanMeter to a minor league with an invitation to major league Spring Training.
VanMeter, 28 in March, has appeared in the past four major league seasons, spending time with the Reds, Diamondbacks and Pirates. He first got the call in 2019 and spent that season being frequently optioned between the majors and minors for the Reds. His work in the majors was a bit below average, as he hit .237/.327/.408 for a wRC+ of 88. But in 49 minor league games, he hit an incredible .348/.429/.669 for a wRC+ of 175.
Unfortunately, VanMeter hasn’t been able to come close to that level of production in the three years since, either in the majors or the minors. He spent most of 2022 in the majors with the Pirates, hitting just .187/.266/.292 for a wRC+ of 59. He was designated for assignment and outrighted in September, reaching free agency at season’s end.
Though he hasn’t hit much in the past few years, VanMeter at least brings defensive versatility. In his time in the big leagues, he’s played the outfield corners, every infield position except shortstop, as well as an inning behind the plate and three innings on the mound. It’s also possible his bat gets a boost from the upcoming rules against extreme defensive shifts, as he hits from the left side and was shifted in 79.7% of his appearances last year.
The Brewers have a bit of fluidity to their infield picture since Jace Peterson reached free agency and signed with the A’s while Kolten Wong was dealt to the Mariners. The club received Abraham Toro back in that Wong deal and also acquired Owen Miller from the Guardians. Luis Urías could take over third base while prospect Brice Turang is an option to join Willy Adames in the middle infield, but Turang has still yet to reach the majors. Mike Brosseau is also in the mix. The addition of VanMeter gives the club an experienced player to add some depth without using a roster spot for now. If he earns his way back onto the 40-man, he’s out of options and will have to stick around or else be designated for assignment. He has between three and four years of MLB service time and could be retained for future seasons via arbitration if he can work his way into Milwaukee’s plans.
*big huge enormous disappointment sigh*
I’m sorry, I couldn’t hear you for all the thunderous applause from the Milwaukee faithful 😉
We’d like to trade him but we’ve found no takers.
Mr. Super Utility Loser who never met a hit ball he couldn’t find a way to make an error on or a pitch he couldn’t swing and miss on.
Look, it was a small high school and they made me play.
Maybe they can take his buddy Shelton
Everyone is playing chess and the Brewets are playing go fish
Brewettes? Sounds like a 60s Motown group.
Matt Arnold is able to play Go Fish because he’s already 8-10 moves ahead of fans like you. A minor league deal for a utility infielder is a common signing for all 30 MLB teams. No need to freak out over a depth signing.
I’m not freaking out over a depth signing.
Attempting a move to the mound makes much more sense now
I’m just kind of speechless that the Brewers have sunken to this level. I feel kind of badly for Pirates skipper Shelton, though. He somehow batted this guy 4th a few times and was his go-to pitcher when the Bucs were down 12 or 14 runs
It’s a minor league deal. Basically no risk and extremely small commitment. If the Brewers actually get 1 more bat on a Major League deal, like I think they will, this guy will never see The Am Fam Slam Clam.
The Reds let him go. That should tell you what you need to know.
That tells me he was probably making more than league minimum.
As did the Pirates only once they got the clear picture from the fan base that mutiny was afoot if they didn’t toss him overboard. VenMeter is affordable, and his list of virtues begins and ends there.
That’s the Pirate life . Mutiny, throwing people overboard…
I watched this guy play A ball for the Lake Elsinore Storm in 2015-2016. How he made it to the majors is beyond me.
The same could be said for Billy Hamilton. How did this guy make it to the majors with like zero hitting skills?
Speed and defense is how Billy made it. It made him an exciting player and a crowd pleaser. Man, if only he could bunt, but he had zero skills there as well. They brought in Juan Pierre and he had Delino DeShields Sr. around to try to teach him and it didn’t take.
did the brewers follow the pirates last season?
Curt Hogg
” dogs barking can’t fly without Umbrella” Jumping Jack Flash….. its a gas gas gas… oh wait that was Mark Van Meter… I think..
Is he really that bad? Exit velocities seem ok, BB% & K% seem ok. Moderate speed and power. Is the hatred mainly based on defense? FG has his defense at -10.1 over 300 games.
He was well below replacement level offensively last year alone. Any Pirate fan will tell you he wasn’t just bad statistically last year, he actually looked that bad when you watched him. The biggest cheer from the crowd in 2022 came when he was DFAd. Shelton just kept plugging him into the lineup, and the results just got worse.
So were his number sorta propped up by playing at GAP early on?
He hasn’t played for the Reds since 2020.
Yeah, that’s my point.
I’m so happy.
come back player of the year!..Watch he will make the All-star Team
Yuck
Scooter Gennett wasn’t available?
Van meters meter ran out. He was ticketed to brewer hell
For a few blankets you can have Shelton…he could sweep up all the sunflower seeds in the dugout
Oh, I get it now. He homered off of Burnes and they can’t have that happen again.
There’s no legitimate reason why we’d want to bring him in. None. Don’t even use the “there’s no risk” excuse. The guy is terrible.
I think that’s what pisses Crew fans off. Depth. Ha! We already have at least 6 AAAA guys on the 40 man, and the minors have plenty of guys at least as good as this guy that never get a shot because they bring guys like this in. There must be a good reason, but I can’t figure it.
Another typical Brewers signing under Counsell. It’s not difficult to figure out why a certain type of free agent either signs for one year and leaves. Or don’t sign at all or want any part of this franchise with the current management structure in place. Winker is a perfect example of a Counsell player. *$%# ridiculous and a disgrace!
Thank goodness the Pirates did not sign him again. One year was enough suffering for Pirate fans.. No one could understand why he was often in the starting lineup . Brings defensive versatility ?, he fielded poorly at every position he played. Maybe that means he owns a bunch of gloves that he brings with him?
A nice reminder of what a pitcher batting looks like
Pirates fans… He can’t hurt us anymore.
Wow. Glad the Brewers have no fans. You probably thought Robin Yount was a loser!