The Milwaukee Brewers signed outfielder Manuel Margot to a minor-league contract Friday that includes an invitation to spring training, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Margot slashed .238/.289/.337 with four home runs and five stolen bases over 129 contests during his lone season with the Minnesota Twins in 2024. Margot, 30, saw his defensive metrics slip in recent years, but he is a career .279/.338/.415 hitter against left-handed pitchers. Margot will compete for a reserve outfielder role.
Manuel Margot Gets NRI Deal From Brewers
Margot was traded twice during the 2023 offseason, first from Tampa Bay to the Los Angeles Dodgers, then flipped by the Dodgers to Minnesota in February of 2024. The Twins needed Margot to help an outfield in need after their 2023 center fielder, Michael A. Taylor, signed with the Pirates. With the plan for 2024 being to have Byron Buxton back in center field, the Twins needed depth in case of an injury to their outfielders.
Offensively, Margot struggled in 2024 and he set an unwanted record by going 0-for-30 as a pinch hitter. While being a threat in the outfield, he was not a threat at the plate, and the Twins elected not to pick up the third year of his contract, opting for the $2 million buyout paid for by his former team, Tampa Bay.
While 2024 may have been a struggle at the plate for Margot, his best seasons demonstrate he can contribute meaningful at-bats. During Margot’s rookie season in 2017 with the San Diego Padres, his 2.4 WAR, 263/.313/.409 slash line, 13 home runs, and 17 stolen bases earned him votes for National League Rookie of the Year.
In 2021, Margot posted a career-high WAR of 2.7, batted .254/.313/.382 with an OPS of .696 with the Rays. Margot’s best offensive years show the Brewers are getting a player capable of contributing to the batting order while playing a key role defensively.
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