Three years ago, the Milwaukee Brewers started a rebuilding process. Fans knew it wouldn’t be easy. They won the division in 2011, came close to the playoffs in 2014, but the reality set in that Milwaukee needed to get young quickly. Brewers hired David Stearns to reshape this farm system and roster, and he did just that. Milwaukee started to slowly show signs of life including a 2017 campaign where they won 86 and nearly made the playoffs. Fans didn’t all buy in. Some saw it was the team played over their head, and the general thought of ‘We can never compete with modern-day Cubs.’ Hopefully after the Brewers added outfielders Christian Yelich and Lorenzo Cain, those thoughts are nonexistent. Brewers are here to be a contender.

Brewers adding Yelich is a one-in-a-lifetime move. You never see a player with four to five years of control left on his deal with a cheap contractavailable in baseball. It’s a rarity to see that kind of thing. It’s even more rare when you consider Yelich is a five-tool player who can do it all on the baseball diamond giving the team a true .300 hitter near the top of the order. Brewers immediately became more dangerous as an offense and defense with Yelich on the roster. He fills up a box score, and that’s something the Brewers have missed the last couple years.

Brewers were not done there. They also added Lorenzo Cain for a five-year deal worth 80 million dollars. Milwaukee reunites with Cain after trading him away in 2010 to acquire Zack Greinke. Cain, like Yelich, brings a .300 bat to the lineup, great speed and defense. Cain along with Yelich create a fearsome top of the order for opposing pitchers knowing that if either player gets on, they have to deal with the power bats of Ryan Braun, Travis Shaw and Eric Thames. That’s a scary proposition for any opponent. It’s going to be a fun year, and the offensive success Milwaukee had early on should be throughout the year as this team is shaping up to be a dominant offense.

One thing to keep in mind about both players is the power numbers might not be as accurate as you may believe. Yelich played his home games at Marlins Park, the 28th ranked ballpark for home runs. Cain played at Kauffman Stadium where it ranked 22nd in the league for home runs. That means both players played 81 games in a stadium that wasn’t conducive for hitting dingers. They now go to Miller Park which ranked eighth last season. This should correlate into more power from each player.

One question is left to be asked – Is it March 29th yet?

Charlie.