Milwaukee Brewers: Predicting 2012 Opening Day Starting Lineup, Depth Chart

Alec DoppOct 18, 2011

The Milwaukee Brewers' spectacular 2011 season came to a screeching halt on Sunday night at Miller Park, when the club dropped a must-win Game 6 of their NLCS bout with the St. Louis Cardinals by a 12-6 mark.

Truthfully, the loss hurt in more ways than one.

Not only did the loss shatter the hearts of Brewers fans across the nation, but it would also mark the commencement of a new era of baseball in Milwaukee. With Prince Fielder now set to become an unrestricted free agent, it's inevitable that Milwaukee's 2012 lineup will be one with an entirely new scope.

What could their opening day depth chart look like? Here's a way-too-early sneak peek before opening day against the Cardinals.

Alec Dopp is a Milwaukee Brewers featured columnist on Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter: @alecdopp, and read his blog.

Key

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Obviously, there will be a few offseason transactions that will take place before naming a 25-man depth chart for 2012.

Here's everything you need to know.

Key

* = acquired via free agency

+ = re-signed in offseason

^ = called up from minors

Starting Rotation

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Projected Depth Chart

Yovani Gallardo

Zack Greinke

Shaun Marcum

Randy Wolf

Chris Narveson

Breakdown

Although a portion of Milwaukee's opening day starting lineup will look completely different from 2011, the starting rotation is one aspect that shouldn't be altered at all.

Zack Greinke and Shaun Marcum are still under contract through 2012, as is Randy Wolf, with a $10 million 2013 option pending after next season.

The biggest question mark for Milwaukee's rotation heading into next season is whether or not GM Doug Melvin decides to re-sign Chris Narveson, who made a shade over $400,000 in 2011. If the Brewers sign him to a new deal, this is what Milwaukee's opening day rotation should ultimately look like.

Bullpen

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Projected Depth Chart

John Axford

Frank Francisco*

Kameron Loe

Takashi Saito+

Frankie De La Cruz

Zach Braddock+

Mitch Stetter+

Wily Peralta^

Breakdown

If I had to distinguish one specific area Melvin might try to improve the most with Fielder's massive contract off the books, it would be refreshment of Milwaukee's bullpen.

At times, it seemed as though the Brewer bullpen was one of the deciding factors in their 2011 success. After all, they did go from maintaining MLB's fifth-worst ERA (4.58) in 2010 to ninth-best (3.63) in 2011 after acquiring Takashi Saito, who will need to be re-signed in the offseason.

38-year-old LaTroy Hawkins had a respectable year (2.42 ERA, 20 HLD), but will likely not be back with the club next season. The same can be said for midseason pickup Francisco Rodriguez, who restructured his contract with Milwaukee, thus avoiding a hefty $17.5 million 2012 vesting option.

In turn, the Brewers will need to seek a veteran reliever with much experience to fill the gaping hole left behind from Rodriguez. I suspect Milwaukee to target a power right-handed setup man much like Frank Francisco this offseason.

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Catchers

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Projected Depth Chart

Jonathon Lucroy+

George Kottaras

Breakdown

There's been some speculation surrounding Lucroy's free agent status over the past few weeks. Allow me to clear things up: the Brewers would be foolish not to re-sign the 25-year-old catcher.

Lucroy has been an unsung hero in Milwaukee's postseason success. Holding true to a .993 FPCT, an MLB-best 8.96 RF and only one passed ball in the regular season, Lucroy is one of the better defensive catchers in the game today. His bat wasn't half bad either, amassing 12 HR, 59 RBI and a .265 BA during the regular season.

Backup George Kottaras is arbitration eligible this offseason, but I think management will work out a deal to bring him back next year.

First Basemen

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Projected Depth Chart

Mat Gamel^

Breakdown

With Fielder's exit, 26-year-old prospect Mat Gamel will finally have his shot at being Milwaukee's starting first baseman.

Surely, he won't be as big of a home-run threat as No. 28 once was, but Brewers fans should have confidence in what Gamel brings to the table.

He does have power, amassing 105 HR, 503 RBI and a .873 OPS over seven highly productive seasons in the minors, and he has proven himself to be a .300-plus hitter, most notably batting .304 last season with AAA-Nashville.

He'll need some time to become acclimated defensively, but I expect him to get into the swing of things quickly. He's a diamond in the rough, folks.

Second Basemen

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Projected Depth Chart

Rickie Weeks

Josh Wilson

Breakdown

Another year, another injury-plagued season for Rickie Weeks.

The Brewers' second baseman put up some of truly magnificent numbers during the first half of 2011. Batting .278 with 52 RBI and a MLB-best 17 home runs, Weeks' output was enough to name him the NL's starter at second base.

Yet, an ankle sprain in late July would get the better of Weeks' campaign. He never really returned to his previous form thereafter.

Nevertheless, the Brewers will be absolutely in need of No. 23 to step it up in 2012 with Fielder now gone. Chances are, he'll be protecting Ryan Braun as the cleanup hitter—something he's done just twice in seven seasons.

Shortstops

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Projected Depth Chart

Clint Barmes*

Josh Wilson

Breakdown

Do I think the Brewers will pick up Yuniesky Betancourt's $6 million 2012 option? Of course not. The 29-year-old shortstop has largely overstayed his welcome in Milwaukee after just one season.

That being said, if Milwaukee does decide to look elsewhere for talent on the left side of the infield, I think Melvin will key in on someone like Clint Barmes to hold the fort down.

The 32-year-old shortstop will be one of the most defensively apt infielders on the free agent market this offseason. I think Melvin will pull the trigger.

Third Basemen

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Projected Depth Chart

Jerry Hairston, Jr.+

Josh Wilson

Breakdown

Acquiring Hairston from Washington in a trade that added depth to Milwaukee's injury-plagued infield back at the deadline proved to be invaluable to the Brewers' late-season run.

The 35-year-old Hairston essentially swiped the starting position right out from under Casey McGehee's feet and produced impressively. His .385 BA in the postseason ranked second among all third basemen in the playoffs, surprisingly enough.

Making $2 million last season, Hairston is relatively cheap, and with his outstanding performance (for the most part) in the postseason, I expect him to be the opening day starter for Milwaukee next season, ergo giving prospect Taylor Green another productive season down in the minors.

Left Fielders

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Projected Depth Chart

Ryan Braun

Josh Wilson

Breakdown

I attempted to come up with something fascinating here, but it's really just a vanilla subject at best.

Looking ahead, expect Braun to be starting in left field for at least the next nine seasons.

Center Fielders

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Projected Depth Chart

Carlos Gomez

Nyjer Morgan+

Mark Kotsay+

Breakdown

Could "Beast Mode" already be over? Not so fast.

Last year, Nyjer Morgan earned every penny of his one-year, $450,000 salary, batting .304 with 4 HR and 37 RBI. There's still a chance Milwaukee could re-sign him; I think Melvin will take than chance.

That being said, Carlos Gomez must be able to produce with consistency if a starting role is imminent.

Despite missing significant time due to a collarbone injury last summer, the speedster batted just .225 with 8 HR and 24 RBI in 231 at-bats, while notching 16 stolen bases. He's the better defensive outfielder without question, but his bat remains a hit-or-miss (pun not intended).

Right Fielders

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Projected Depth Chart

Corey Hart

Mark Kotsay+

Breakdown

Again, not much to be said here.

Milwaukee came to terms with Hart on a three-year, $26.5 million contract extension back in August of 2010. They'll need his services next season and beyond.

Mark Kotsay is set to become a free agent and there's no questioning the depth and talent he brought forth to the club in 2011. Expect him to be re-signed this offseason to a short-term deal.