This is part of a 30-article series looking at each team’s depth chart headed into spring training. Milwaukee Brewers Rotation 1. Randy Wolf 2. Yovani Gallardo 3. Doug Davis 4. Manny Parra 5. Jeff Suppan 6. Dave Bush 7. Chris Capuano 8. John Halama 9. Kameron Loe 10. Carlos Villanueva 11. Chris Narveson 12. A.J. Murray 13. Josh Butler Wednesday’s addition of Davis complicates things, but it was necessary. Now the Brewers will have Parra, Suppan and Bush compete for two spots. Manager Ken Macha said months ago that Parra was penciled into the rotation, while the other two weren’t necessarily. If salary plays a role, then Parra might be out of luck. However, my guess here is that either Suppan or Bush will be released in spring training. It’d mean eating $12 million in Suppan’s case, but Bush, who is due about $4.25 million in arbitration, won’t have a guaranteed contract. Bullpen 1. Trevor Hoffman 2. LaTroy Hawkins 3. Todd Coffey 4. Mitch Stetter 5. Carlos Villanueva 6. Claudio Vargas 7. Kameron Loe 8. Chuck Lofgren 9. John Halama 10. Tim Dillard 11. John Axford 12. Chris Smith 13. Mike Burns 14. Chris Narverson 15. Josh Butler The bullpen is six deep with quality arms. With Villanueva and Vargas able to go multiple innings, the Brewers may opt to keep Lofgren, a Rule 5 pick, as a second lefty specialist.
Catcher 1. Gregg Zaun 2. George Kottaras 3. Jonathan Lucroy 4. Matt Treanor 5. Angel Salome First base 1. Prince Fielder 2. Casey McGehee 3. Adam Heether Second base 1. Rickie Weeks 2. Craig Counsell 3. Hernan Iribarren 4. Luis Cruz Third base 1. Casey McGehee 2. Mat Gamel 3. Craig Counsell Shortstop 1. Alcides Escobar 2. Craig Counsell 3. Luis Cruz The only question left with regards to the starting lineup is whether Lucroy can win some sort of job-sharing arrangement with Zaun. The Brewers won’t keep the 23-year-old as a true backup, so if Zaun is going to be the starter, then Lucroy would head to Triple-A and Kottaras would likely stick over Treanor. Gamel seems set to return to Triple-A, even though his showing in 128 at-bats for the Brewers last season suggested that he was ready for the majors. He’ll be available if McGehee stumbles as a sophomore. Left field 1. Ryan Braun 2. Jody Gerut 3. Trent Oeltjen 4. Adam Stern Center field 1. Carlos Gomez 2. Jody Gerut 3. Lorenzo Cain 4. Adam Stern Right field 1. Corey Hart 2. Jody Gerut 3. Lorenzo Cain 4. Trent Oeltjen The Brewers will probably pick up a fifth outfielder from the bargain rack as we get closer to spring training. Ideally, it’d be a right-handed hitter capable of providing a little punch off the bench. Marcus Thames will probably be out of their price range, but Reed Johnson or Rocco Baldelli could work.