Brewers 2025 & Beyond

[edfunderburk]

I’m moving a comment from today’s game thread to this new topic …

I don’t believe this 2025 Brewers team is playoff caliber - but I love their spunk & tenacity (Murphy qualities, no doubt)

If by some miracle Milwaukee qualifies for the playoffs - I don’t believe this team can win it all this year

That said: I believe this is an extremely important year as young players grow & learn “how to win” in the big leagues

I also believe this team can compete as soon as 2026 & will be a premiere team in 2027-2030

[liveforoctober]

In another thread someone scoffed at the thought of acquiring Luis Urias (or someone like him) because (paraphrase) "he isn't a needle mover and we aren't winning it all this year". There is a lot that goes into deadline deals and when and why to pull the trigger, but your line "as young players grow & learn “how to win” in the big leagues" is amongst the reasons why a minor upgrade at any position, this season specifically, can be crucial.

I don't think we are winning it this year as well but we need our young guys to play as many games as possible when the season is on the line. Need stressful at bats. If a minor upgrade doesn't cost us much but it allows us to stay in the playoff race all the way until October ... that will help next year's team. That's a good deal to make.

Of course, you balance that thought with the other which is moving assets you know you won't have next year for assets that could help beyond this year ... it's a tough puzzle to build.

 

[Redd Vencher]

I don't think it will take a miracle for the Brewers to make the playoffs, and any team that makes the playoffs can win it all. The Brewers have had a lot go wrong, and they're 29-28 a little past the 1/3 mark. If some of the issues remain on offense as we get to the deadline, the additions of some 90-110 wRC+ bats would provide substantial upgrades that can see the team take off a la 2023 post Canha and Santana additions. (35-20 to close out the season)

[TURBO]

2025 will take an immense Cubs collapse for us to sniff the playoffs imo.

You never know, it's the Cubs after all, but unless our offense can consistently be a lot better, I don't think the odds are in our favor of the playoffs this season. 

That doesn't mean we won't see some entertaining baseball though.

[mudbutt]

You don't need to catch the Cubs or win the division when there's 3 wildcards.  It's pretty hard to not be in playoff contention unless you are flat out bad these days.

[Samurai Bucky]

If the Brewers are within a handful of games close to the trade deadline, I could see them trade for Bichette with they Jays.  He would only be a rental, though.  He would certainly be an upgrade to Ortiz.

I would hate to give up too much since Made and Pratt are a year or two from coming up and contributing.  They could play this year, but they are probably not ready for prime time, yet.

This would be sort of going all in, but not really going all in.  The rental part is probably a show stopper.

[Playing Catch]

On 6/1/2025 at 9:32 AM, mudbutt said:

You don't need to catch the Cubs or win the division when there's 3 wildcards.  It's pretty hard to not be in playoff contention unless you are flat out bad these days.

That has been true is season's past, but this season looks like it could be a different animal with such a top-heavy NL.

[igor67]

Atlanta is only 5.5 back of a wild card despite a 27-31 record so I think the statement holds. There is a bit of mini separation with 4 of the 5 wildcard teams all less than 3 games apart and then a full 3 game jump to the next one, but one decent hot streak and you are right there still.

[rickh150]

We have tons of trade able assets…seemingly! Packaging some of these for actual needs at MLB 3B, for instance, makes too much sense to be delayed much longer. Being deep is one thing, and boy are the Brewers deep.  But keeping some really good prospects at stacked positions doesn’t add up.  
Take SS for instance…. Ortiz is not doing well, but you have Turang that COULD slide over easily.  And then you have the most talented trio of SS in minor league baseball in Pratt, Made, and Peña. I know they could slide to 2B or 3B, but one could or even should be moved or packaged to address needs at the major league level.  And you could do the same with the starters….seemingly.

[Jopal78]

With their win tonight, Milwaukee is one game out of the 3rd wild card, two games out of the 2nd wild card spot and 3 games out of the 1st wild card spot. Should they stay hot (not undefeated) for another week and they’d likely be in  a playoff spot and nipping the Cubs’ heels.
 

It’s also just 60+ games and a good week of baseball or a bad week of baseball doesn’t suggest much at this point in the season. 

[owbc]

I like the idea of being a 5-6 seed and going on the road for the wild card round. We all know the road wild card teams have been successful, the ones that have beaten us have landed in the NLCS or beyond lately. Getting another crack at the Mets as the underdog would be lovely. 

[Playing Catch]

10 hours ago, rickh150 said:

And then you have the most talented trio of SS in minor league baseball in Pratt, Made, and Peña. I know they could slide to 2B or 3B, but one could or even should be moved or packaged to address needs at the major league level.  And you could do the same with the starters….seemingly.

I think part of the team's reluctance (to date), to trade from their depth is the old adage about trades... whoever is giving up the best player is losing the trade. This can be viewed from a couple of angles... that no one is going to give anything of value for your depth of MLB pitching, and that no one is going to give up what you need in order to move a minor league asset.

Since you believe that they are the most talented SS prospect trio in the big leagues, presumably they can catch a big fish or two? Which fishes, specifically, would meaningfully upgrade their big-league roster? I'm curious about names, not positions-of-need.

[KCBrewerfan34]

I would love it if the Brew could get Duran, he’s a lead off guy with control, Mitchell’s health just isn’t there. Not sure what the ask would be, I’m extremely hesitant to trade any of our top 5 prospects. 

[Thurston Fluff]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks our chances of making the playoffs are by winning the division. That seemed to be the standard belief earlier in the season and I never understood why. The argument seemed to be we are in the weakest division so only one team could make it. Yet the weakness was because none of the other teams were capable of winning 90+ games. Now that it appears there are, there is no reason two teams from the central can't make it.

[Turning2]

5 hours ago, Playing Catch said:

I think part of the team's reluctance (to date), to trade from their depth is the old adage about trades... whoever is giving up the best player is losing the trade. This can be viewed from a couple of angles... that no one is going to give anything of value for your depth of MLB pitching, and that no one is going to give up what you need in order to move a minor league asset.

Since you believe that they are the most talented SS prospect trio in the big leagues, presumably they can catch a big fish or two? Which fishes, specifically, would meaningfully upgrade their big-league roster? I'm curious about names, not positions-of-need.

Fans also tend to (naturally) overrate their team's prospects too. We're jacked about these guys, but are the front offices of other teams equally so? I doubt it. 

in '24, MKE gave up their 21st ranked prospect last year for Civale. They also gave up a marginal reliever and OF along with cash for Montas. 

Those guys are about the type of quality of depth that MKE might be willing to part with at present, and that's about what they would get back. If the recent improved offense sputters again taking them out of contention, perhaps they could/would move Perralta and Quintana. You might get a quality upgrade 3B for Perralta, but they wouldn't need one this year as that's why they're selling to begin with. And you don't need a long term upgrade if they believe in the Wilken, Pratt, Boeve in '26 or '27. 

And you're right. Nobody is going to give up a meaningful 3B upgrade for a minor league asset. Several assets perhaps, but at what cost?