A Way Too Early Hot Take: Three Players The Brewers Should “Sell High”

[Harold Hutchison]

The Brewers are in first place after the games of April 27, with a 17-9 record. While it maybe tempting to ride with the hot hands at the moment, could the Brewers be better served by “selling high” on some of their players?

The fact is, the Brewers may have some serious roster crunches coming. The answer may be to sell some hot performers “high” to get some additional assets for either the present, the future, or possibly both. Who might the Brewers consider as among those to “sell?” Let’s take a look at three candidates.

2B Brice Turang

The difference between Turang’s rough rookie year and his sophomore surge is like night and day. Turang’s taken his offensive game up a level or two, while providing Gold Glove-caliber defense at second base. After the games of April 27, Turang has posted an .855 OPS, with 13 stolen bases in 13 attempts and adding seven extra-base hits.

Turang could fetch a solid return, including some help for a rotation that has been beset by injured list trips (Wade Miley’s Tommy John being the latest blow). That might help the Crew hold on to their NL Central lead against the Pirates, Cubs, and Reds.

Why would Turang be a “sell-high candidate?” Ask yourself this question: Can he sustain this production? It’s a given that he’s not as bad as his .585 OPS in 2023. But is he really ass good as the 143 OPS+ he is currently posting? That is a tough question. Do the Brewers want to bet on this, or do they want to open up second base for Tyler Black or Isaac Collins, both of whom are dominating at Triple-A Nashville?

OF Blake Perkins

Like Turang, Perkins is having a sophomore surge. While Perkins has a higher offensive floor than Turang, he is an outfielder, albeit one with excellent defense. Think of Perkins as a switch-hitting Keon Broxton, albeit with superior OBP skills. His .890 OPS through April 27 is second only to William Contreras among those listed as starters by Baseball Reference.

Perkins may not fetch as big a return as Turang, partially due to the fact that he is older and wasn’t a first-round pick. However, he is the kind of fourth outfielder – or decent starter in center field – that a lot of MLB teams can use, and would be an upgrade for Oakland at any of the positions.

Like Turang, his is probably not as bad as 2023 would point to, but the questions about his ability to sustain his 2024 production to date would be legitimate. In this case, the Brewers have options to take over for Perkins, including Wiemer (who provides the defense and more pop), Garrett Mitchell (upon his return from injury), Chris Roller, and the aforementioned Isaac Collins (who could push Sal Frelick to center field as an indirect replacement for Perkins).

RHP Elvis Peguero

Peguero’s starting 2024 like he started 2023 – red hot as an option in the innings before the Crew turns to its late-inning group of Anber Uribe, Joel Payamps, and Trevor Megill. With Devin Williams slated to return at some point, and the question of whether DL Hall is headed back to the bullpen, it looks as if someone may have to go.

The big issue with Peguero isn’t that there is a question about his performance. It’s that the Crew will need to move some relivers by September, especially if top prospects Jacob Misiorowski and Carlos Rodriguez get called up (see Corbin Burnes and Brandon Woodruff in 2018) to bolster the bullpen.

Peguero is the type of reliever who could help the team fetch a good return, even if he isn’t one of the team’s late-inning group. How? The team could include him with Perkins or Turang as part of a package for a starter to hold the line, or he could be dealt for an asset who could help in the future, say in a trade with the Diamondbacks or Rays (who need short-term help in the pen).

Indeed, Payamps, the Crew’s de facto closer, could also be argued as a sell-high candidate, but that may keep him around – at least for 2024.

Overview

Whether they are dealt as a package for a higher-end starter, or dealt individually to other teams, the Crew might find themselves benefiting from dealing these three players, partially due to ready replacements, and partially because later in the season, they could come down to earth.

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[Brian]

Way Way Way to early to sell now IMHO.  Also, Nashville is 15-18 not much to replace anyone up hear with.  Plus we have a boat load of injuries with no one to even fill in now. We would end up being worse than the white sox. 

[Trax]

It would have to be REALLY high for me to trade any of these 3, especially Turang.  Out of the realm of possibility high.

 

These guys have a future with us as well as performing well for us right now.  I'd listen to any offer, but the guy you can begin to think about quietly shopping is Adames. 

[Jim French Stepstool]

Given his performance & the likelihood of the OF becoming crowded if the team finally gets some better luck injury-wise, Perkins MIGHT fetch something worthwhile as part of a package. 

Turang can fall short of sustaining his present performance & still be very, very valuable. No dice. And trading any primary reliever now isn't a good idea.

You're right. This certainly is an early-May overreaction.

[SayHeyRay]

Another for your list:  Devon Williams.

I hope the FO is seeking offers for him.  He could bring a starter plus 2 prospects, I think.

And the BP has proven they can get along without him

[JohnBriggs12]

1 hour ago, Jim French Stepstool said:

Given his performance & the likelihood of the OF becoming crowded if the team finally gets some better luck injury-wise, Perkins MIGHT fetch something worthwhile as part of a package. 

Turang can fall short of sustaining his present performance & still be very, very valuable. No dice. And trading any primary reliever now isn't a good idea.

You're right. This certainly is an early-May overreaction.

I don't see any scenario where this outfield is too crowded.  They were forced to bring up Wiemer who was batting .220 at AAA when Yelich went down.  They really haven't come close to replacing Yelich.  Hopefully, he'll be back and productive.  Do we really have any idea on how Mitchell will do?  The guy will have missed a full season and a third of another.  They have guys with options they can use if somehow everyone starts being productive.  Right now the outfield production is well below par. 

[sveumrules]

4 minutes ago, JohnBriggs12 said:

Right now the outfield production is well below par. 

What do you consider par?

According to the FanGraphs leaderboards Brewers OF are currently tied with the Orioles for 9th at 1.9 WAR.

Their 105 wRC+ is 13th, their +1.7 BsR is tied for 6th, their +8 OAA is tied for 8th.

[Bashopolis]

On most courses par is a 36. 

1 hour ago, sveumrules said:

What do you consider par?

According to the FanGraphs leaderboards Brewers OF are currently tied with the Orioles for 9th at 1.9 WAR.

Their 105 wRC+ is 13th, their +1.7 BsR is tied for 6th, their +8 OAA is tied for 8th.

 

[ClearWaterWI]

Ask me again on August 1st. I’ll have a better idea then. 

[DuWayne Steurer]

so the brewers should trade Turang, an elite defender and baserunner, who's hitting well.... to "make room" for an almost 27 year old who just made it to AAA. 

wut.

[Jim French Stepstool]

5 hours ago, JohnBriggs12 said:

I don't see any scenario where this outfield is too crowded.  They were forced to bring up Wiemer who was batting .220 at AAA when Yelich went down.  They really haven't come close to replacing Yelich.  Hopefully, he'll be back and productive.  Do we really have any idea on how Mitchell will do?  The guy will have missed a full season and a third of another.  They have guys with options they can use if somehow everyone starts being productive.  Right now the outfield production is well below par. 

If everyone starts being productive (and healthy) I think a trade involving an OF that brings back pitching would supersede having the flexibility of optioning. The trick is having someone that would be an attractive part of a package, and Perkins could be that. Is Chourio going to get comfy at the plate? Can Mitchell become & stay available? There's always some risk. But the numbers are there IMO.

[Brian]

Oh and by the way we are tied for 1st with the Cubs, why would we unload now?  We should be buying not selling if I was Mark Attanasio. We are only a few key pieces away from giving it a whirl for the NL central.  JMHO

[Lathund]

15 hours ago, DuWayne Steurer said:

so the brewers should trade Turang, an elite defender and baserunner, who's hitting well.... to "make room" for an almost 27 year old who just made it to AAA. 

wut.

It all makes sense when you realise which username the writer goes by on the site. It's par for the course (To continue the golf trend in these comments) to suggest these kinds of moves.  

Like there could be some sense in trading a reliever. I'd rather it be someone with less team control and/or no options remaining if so, but a Peguero trade is at least something that could be considered. Probably rejected rather quickly, but still considered.

But trading Turang or Perkins at this point has absolutely no merits. Willy Adames is gone after this year, with Ortiz and Turang you have options at SS. Monasterio is the only other SS-capable player on the 40-man with any kind of success in MLB, and that's very brief and not amazing. I also don't think he's someone you want every day at SS. So you want both. For the sake of injury cover, for the R/L balance (Not that they should platoon with eachother, but it's nice to have a righty and a lefty rather than two of each. Comes in handy occasionally), for versatiliy (They both play multiple positions) etc. Plus the team is trying to win now *and* over the next few years. Someone like Turang who is controllable through 2029, and will be cheap for several of those years, is the kind of guy you want for that. Sure you could get some good prospects for him, but that just pushes the process forward. 

As for Perkins. Doing it right now would be silly. If Mitchell gets healthy and looks like a stud, if Chourio adapts quickly, if Frelick starts finding some XBH to make him a legit contributor. If Hicklen/Roller/CDRod/other look like legit 4th OF guys. Sure, if all these things happen, and you can get a good return then maybe. But all of these things have not happened. It's unlikely all of them will. Trading him right now, without all that, means Bauers would start every day in the OF. 

Wait until there is an actual logjam somewhere before even considering trading productive up the middle players with 5+ years of team control. These two contribute in all areas of the game, play multiple positions, don't have injury issues or character issues, they're cheap. The way a small budget team wins is by stacking their roster full of guys like that. Trading them only much later in their team control years. And when I say logjam, I don't mean being desperate to trade an OF because you have 4 starter quality ones. I mean more like when you have 6. Or 5 with no DH time available maybe. 

[yfinn6]

Turang plays plus-plus defense, so of course Clancy wants him traded. 

[rolafaive]

Is Milwaukee now to become the Miami Marlins of the Midwest?

[Brian]

Just curious what position we need to upgrade at if we were to get one or two pieces to add to the team?

1st Base, 3rd base, pitching etc?

[biedergb]

Turang is interesting case.  Murphy was very high on him and he came out the gates firing.

Now I don’t expect him to ops over .800. But even .700 with a .260-.280 BA with his defense and speed will be a solid 2B and #7-9 hitter on most clubs.  Good value, but such young age and the hope he can average offensively with club control for ? 4-5 more years makes him much less expendable in the system the Brewer use to construct the roster.

I don’t think Perkins fetches as much given his age - teams will value 25-and-under since the peak years are usually ages 24-29 for most players.  His defense makes him an awesome 4-5 OF and if he has sustained offense then that’s a plus.  If you get a good return for him sure, but I doubt a team values him that much.

Peguero has value and could be traded if we are not in a division title hunt. Bullpen is Ok with Williams (assuming he is not traded next) and Megill/Hudson/Payamps. There are several arms who could replace him in the next few years. Not immediately this year or next but potential is there to replace a BP arm if trade needs to happen to get a SP or maybe a OF or corner IF bat.