Vogt elects free agency, open to Crew return

MILWAUKEE -- Veteran catcher Stephen Vogt, in the midst of rehabbing from right shoulder surgery, joined the list of MLB free agents Thursday after the Brewers reinstated him from the 60-day disabled list and outrighted him from the 40-man roster. Following the decision, Vogt elected free agency. 
The Brewers also reinstated pitchers Jimmy Nelson and Brent Suter from the 60-day DL. Nelson missed the 2018 season while rehabbing from shoulder surgery, and Suter underwent Tommy John surgery in July.
The decision to remove Vogt from the roster was not a surprise. He would have been arbitration-eligible after earning $3.065 million in 2018, and still faces a long road back from surgery in May. He knew the Brewers were likely to cut him loose, but expressed an openness to re-signing with the team on a lesser deal with a chance to participate in big league camp.

The Brewers' primary catchers down the stretch, Erik Kratz and Manny Piña, are also eligible for arbitration.
With Nelson and Suter back, the Brewers' 40-man roster is at 37 players.