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Milwaukee Brewers DFA Lorenzo Cain in “Mutual Decision”

By Paul Bretl

Oct 12, 2021; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Lorenzo Cain (6) runs to first base after hitting a single during the second inning against the Atlanta Braves in game four of the 2021 ALDS at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 12, 2021; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Lorenzo Cain (6) runs to first base after hitting a single during the second inning against the Atlanta Braves in game four of the 2021 ALDS at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /
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It’s been a tough season, to say the least, for Lorenzo Cain–but even so, you have to imagine the decision the Milwaukee Brewers made to move on from him was still a difficult one.

According to the Milwaukee Brewers, they have designated Cain for assignment and selected outfield Jonathan Davis from Triple-A Nashville as the corresponding move.

Cain rejoined the Brewers in 2018, which brought him back to where his big league career had started. In the three-plus seasons with Milwaukee prior to 2022, Cain had slashed .279/.355/.395 with 29 home runs and an OPS+ of 99. He would also win that elusive Gold Glove as well.

While Cain never found the same success as he did in 2018 when he recorded an .813 OPS–he was still effective, for the most part, especially in centerfield. However, in 2022, the final year of his contract, his play would really fall off as his average fell to .179 while his OPS sat at .465 and his OPS+ 32–for reference, the league average is 100.

In a recent article from Adam McCalvy of MLB.com, Cain would tell him that his swing is “all over the place.” Cain would also add that his playing time was going to be reduced recently, but when Hunter Renfroe went to the IL, the Brewers really had no choice but to keep Cain in the lineup.

Saturday marks 10 years of MLB service time for Cain, which comes with a plethora of added retirement benefits. Cain would tell McCalvy that the decision to release him was “mutual.”

Cain can still play elsewhere if that opportunity comes along–or perhaps he instead chooses to retire. Cain is a Gold Glove winner, a two-time All-Star, and a World Series Champion with Kansas City.

Even with Cain’s struggles at the plate this season, the Milwaukee Brewers are losing a strong clubhouse presence with his departure.

Jonathan Davis will now join Tyrone Taylor as another option out in centerfield. He has appeared in 134 big league games since 2018 with either Toronto or the New York Yankees. At the big league level, he has a career slash line of .171/.272/.248 with four home runs and 67 strikeouts in 259 plate appearances.

This season with Nashville, Davis has a .297 average and an OPS of .834 in 179 plate appearances with three home runs and 35 strikeouts.

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