MLBTR's Top Trade Candidates: Devin Williams & Aaron Civale

[Brock Beauchamp]

MLB Trade Rumors released their top 35 trade candidates for the 2024-2025 offseason. Unsurprisingly, the budget-conscious Brewers had some names on the list.

Obviously, Devin Williams is widely rumored to be on the block; even the front office is keeping mum on the subject.

A less obvious candidate to trade is Aaron Civale. Trading a recent acquisition (Civale was a deadline trade with the Rays) would be the most Brewers-y move Milwaukee could make. After struggling for half a season in Tampa, the Brewers took on Civale and coaxed him to a 119 ERA+ over 14 starts down the stretch.

One has to believe the Brewers will demand value in return for the right-hander. He is expected to make around $8 million in arbitration this season, which is a good value if he's even a league-average pitcher, much less the solid #2/3 he was down the stretch in 2024.

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[nate82]

It is funny seeing so many Cardinals on that list.  Not to mention the Cardinals will be cutting their payroll and they won't be as active in free agency.  At least I don't expect the Cardinals to sign anyone major in FA and I don't expect them to trade for anyone who would add to their payroll. 

I don't think the Brewers would have much interest in trading Civale unless a team came to them and blew them away.  I don't see a team coming to the Brewers and blowing them away and trying to trade for Civale.  I would put Peralta on the list before I would put Civale on it.  Though I think last off season would have been the time to trade Peralta.  The Brewers still could get a good return for Peralta but I think it is significantly less and by a lot this off season. 

[Scooterfletcher]

If you could get the equivalent of a Tyler Black resume guy I’d deal civale for him.  Otherwise happy to keep him.

[umphrey]

Why would we trade Civale? Isn’t he like our #3 or #4 pitcher? And without him we would have to go sign a guy similar to Civale?

[TURBO]

28 minutes ago, umphrey said:

Why would we trade Civale? Isn’t he like our #3 or #4 pitcher? And without him we would have to go sign a guy similar to Civale?

Yeah, I don't get it either, unless someone overpays for him, it makes no sense.

I'd say he is easily our #3 best right now.

[Scooterfletcher]

It does seem odd the site would mention him as a top 50 trade candidate.   Maybe a top 200 trade candidate but not super likely by any means.

[jay87shot]

With Rae being cut loose today trading Civale wouldn't surprise me. It is how or organization works, especially with our overall depth and past ability to find/make effective pitchers. Add in the uncertainty of finances with the TV deal and we could be in for one weird offseason. 

I would prefer to keep Civale especially with some question marks in Woody and potentially Ashby.

[TURBO]

14 hours ago, jay87shot said:

With Rae being cut loose today trading Civale wouldn't surprise me. It is how or organization works, especially with our overall depth and past ability to find/make effective pitchers. Add in the uncertainty of finances with the TV deal and we could be in for one weird offseason. 

I would prefer to keep Civale especially with some question marks in Woody and potentially Ashby.

I would think the opposite actually.  Cutting Rea to me means we are keeping Civale.  We can't get rid of everyone.

[jay87shot]

22 hours ago, TURBO said:

I would think the opposite actually.  Cutting Rea to me means we are keeping Civale.  We can't get rid of everyone.

I agree that we should need to keep him more, however I think it is just the confidence the front office has in it's ability to find cheap arms. I wouldn't trade Civale either after letting Rae go but I do think he is justified being on the trade candidates list just based on our trade history. By trading him we would save $8ish million and get a decent prospect in return, I think the front office believes we could get a guy like Civale for less. Look at guys like Lorenzen and Clevinger who signed for peanuts at the start of the year, this does have a really deep class of starters.