The Brewers announced Wednesday that they’ve signed free agent catcher/outfielder Eric Haase to a one-year contract. The Warner Sports Management client will serve as the backup to William Contreras, replacing Victor Caratini after he inked a two-year deal with the Astros this winter. Milwaukee had an open spot on the 40-man roster, so a corresponding move isn’t needed.
Haase, 31, has spent his entire career to date with Detroit and Cleveland, splitting the 2023 campaign between those two teams. It was a down year for Haase overall, particularly relative to his 2021-22 campaigns, wherein he combined for a .242/.295/.451 slash with 36 homers in 732 plate appearances for the Tigers. Last year, he saw that production dip to .201/.247/.281, prompting the Tigers to make a change behind the plate and acquire Carson Kelly as their new backup to Jake Rogers.
Last year’s downturn at the plate was in part due to a reduction in average on balls in play (.297 from 2021-22 but just .268 in 2023), however it also can’t simply be chalked up to poor fortune. Haase made hard contact at a far lower rate (45.1% in 2021-22, just 35.9% in 2023) and put the ball on the ground more often than in any full big league season prior. He also hit infield flies at the highest rate of his career and saw a career-low 5.6% of his fly-balls become home runs after enjoying an 18.8% mark in that regard in the two preceding seasons.
One would imagine that a move from the cavernous Comerica Park to Milwaukee’s American Family Field could help Haase to rediscover some of the previous pop he’d displayed. The Brewers may also be heartened by Haase’s career-best marks in overall contact percentage and contact rate within the strike zone.
Defensively, Haase is something of a mixed bag. Last year’s 24% caught-stealing rate was actually three percentage points higher than the 21% league average, and he showed improved framing marks after struggling in that regard in previous seasons. He also graded poorly in terms of blocking pitches in the dirt, however, and his broader body of work behind the plate has drawn below-average reviews when taken in sum. The Brewers, however, has a reputation for radically improving catcher defense. Contreras had significant defensive question marks before arriving in Milwaukee but graded as a premium defender last year. Before him, Omar Narvaez also saw pronounced improvements in his defensive ratings upon joining the Brewers.
Haase also brings some versatility to the table. While he’s not exactly a premium defender in the outfield, he’s still logged 355 career innings in left and made a one-off appearance in right field as well. He’s also had one-off appearances at both infield corners in the minors. For a Brewers team that has typically valued players who can move around the diamond, Haase’s outfield experience perhaps held additional appeal that other backup catching candidates couldn’t match.
Also of appeal is the fact that Haase comes to Milwaukee with multiple years of club control remaining. The Guardians outrighted him at season’s end — effectively non-tendering him — rather than paying him a raise in arbitration. Haase has just 3.058 years of big league service time, meaning he’ll remain under club control even beyond the current campaign. The Brewers can retain him via arbitration all the way through the 2026 season if the signing pans out. If not, Haase can at least serve as a bridge to catching prospect Jeferson Quero, who is fast climbing the minor league ladder and could be an option to join Contreras in Milwaukee by 2025 — if not later in the 2024 campaign.
This a really nice pick up for them. It won’t block Quero at all if he is ready plus can play first and dh.
His bat fell apart this year and he isn’t great defensively especially on plays at the plate. But he has caught multiple no hitters
Congrats on not being banned yet.
It just keeps getting better for brewers fans looking to compete in 2024. What a great offseason for Arnold. (Sarcasm)
The Brewers have acquired Jake Bauers, Taylor Clarke and Eric Haase. This will certainly require the Dodgers to desperately chase Yamamoto, Snell and Bellinger, just to keep pace.
If you were expecting the Brewers to sign Ohtani, Yamamoto, Imanga, Snell and Bellinger you were destined for disappointment from the beginning
Isn’t Haase and Narvaez the same guy?
Joke all you want, Brewers are going to field a competitive team in 2024, they have the guys for it.
@RSox I mean, nobody was expecting a top tier signing. I think the main thing is us brewers fans would’ve at least have liked to have seen something like a Candelario signing, anything that actually gives some kind of hope of having an offense. Sure they have some prospects that will hopefully put it together this season, but at least 2 veterans to kind of solidify the lineup would’ve been nice. Even if it was just keeping Canha and bringing Santana back. Or Candelario and bringing Santana back. We’d just like to see an improvement over one of the leagues worst offensive outputs from this past season. Not a repeat.
Look out, National League Central. The Brewers have arrived.
Perfectly acceptable depth piece.
One might even say it was a cromulent move.
Haase was a fan favorite in Detroit. He knows how to call a good game and is a hard nosed player. Hopefully he will get his swing back.
Hoss’s Steak and Sea House are still around
Brewers have quietly built themselves a nice roster with a lot of depth especially OF and P. If they are smart with a Burnes trade they could really be a threat in the NL
Haase was painful to watch all of last year. He started off as the Tigers #1 catcher as Jake Rogers missed all of 2022 recovering from injury. Haase is a hometown favorite, having gone to the same high school as four of my nieces and nephews.
But just look at his results by month. Haase typically starts horribly, but picks it up by July and stays hot. In 2023, he remained at those low levels in every month.
Sure, give him a contract, but just view him as a depth piece as catchers tend to deteriorate faster than other positions (Yadier Molina and certain other exceptions notwithstanding).
He’s obviously a depth player, they already have the NL’s Silver Slugger award winner at catcher.
If he dropped the E I’d like him more.
Ric Hass?
He’s a good, reliable backup.
He was, but who knows whether the Brewers get the 28-29 Haase or the 30-31 Haase. He’s a good guy and I hope for the former, but I’m guessing it will be the latter.
He definitely has a strong reputation as a leader and teammate. Great gentleman. Struggled last year but definitely has some pop and clutch hitting skills. Miss him in Detroit.
Brewers big mistake was not resigning Victor Caratini. He was a very clutch hitter.
Pull a Candelario… once you get dumped by Scottie Harris, you prosper. I guess all that advanced metrics the Tigers added hasn’t paid off yet.
Scottie Harris is the smartest man in the room… when he’s alone.
Melchez…did advanced metrics say Haase hit well last year? They didn’t. He had a bad year and didn’t hit enough to warrant a roster spot. Harris didn’t make him hit poorly. I like the guy and rooted for him but he’s gone because he didn’t hit.
Congratulations and Best of Luck to Mr Haase. Fan favorite and a plus in the dugout.
This team is obsessed with former Cleveland players
Happy for Haase. Hope he bounces back.
The Brewers are taking a flyer on a very good guy, who is a decent catcher and can be a solid hitter. Haase had a bad year, but he already has re-found his stride once already. Like all the other Tigers fans here chiming in, I wish him the best of luck!
Gruß,
BSHH
Welcome to Milwaukee! Look forward to seeing Haase living in the 3rd Ward or Bayview in 24!
Everyone in Detroit is rooting for Haase. He became our primary catcher out of nowhere and put up a great season in 2021, and then, although it’s not saying much, was our best hitter in 2022. He’s streaky, but really exciting to watch when he heats up.. He also caught two no-hitters for us between 2021-2023. Good guy too. I was hoping the Tigers would sign him to a minor league deal for depth.
That’s awesome. 2 no hitters caught? Burnes must be thrilled to call him his next personal catcher. He’ll get that no hitter if he stays in 2024.