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Earlier today, the Brewers announced that they signed Will Middlebrooks.
3B Will Middlebrooks has been signed to a minor-league contract with an invitation to Major League camp.
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) December 15, 2015
In 2015, Middlebrooks played in 83 games for the Padres and posted a slash line of .212/.241/.361 with a wOBA of .259 and a wRC+ of 64. This is a low (no) risk signing for the Brewers, with the possibility of a huge payoff. Middlebrooks was once one of the best prospects in baseball, and had a promising start to his career.
After being called up for the first time in 2012, Middlebrooks hit .288/.325/.509 with a wOBA of .357 and a wRC+ of 122 in 286 plate appearances. However his statistics plummeted the following season, and Middlebrooks never returned to the level of production that the Red Sox expected of him.
Middlebrooks seemingly has a good chance to make the Brewers major league roster out of spring training, as their current third base options are Jonathan Villar, Yadiel Rivera, Jason Rogers, and Colin Walsh.
This signing marks the 2nd former Boston prospect to join Milwaukee, as the Brewers and Red Sox completed a trade less than a week ago for Garin Cecchini.