7 Under-the-Radar Prospects Milwaukee Brewers Should Reject Offers For

[Harold Hutchison]

Image courtesy of © Wm. Glasheen/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

As the trade deadline approaches, there have been some calls for the Crew to go big, especially to address weaknesses on the left side of the infield and fading production at first base. But such a deal could come at a high price—one that could make the package the Crew gave up in the April deal for Quinn Priester look small by comparison.

It’s obvious the Brewers would need to be blown away to surrender top prospects, but are there others who should be considered untouchable? Here are several players whom the Crew should hold on to (unless they help reel in an especially big fish), even though they don’t have the hype of “top” prospects.

IF Ethan Murray
.287/.364/.496 in 135 AB at Double-A Biloxi
Murray has rebounded from an atrocious 2024, filling in at multiple infield positions in his third year at Biloxi. Notably, in the pitching-friendly Southern League, he’s notched an .880 OPS and is fifth on the team with seven home runs, despite only having 135 at-bats. His defense has previously been his calling card, but the bat appears to be sneaky good. Spencer Michaelis highlighted him separately today, here.

IF Jadher Areinamo
.291/.362/.455 in 292 AB at High-A Wisconsin
At 21, Areinamo looks like a solid shortstop with excellent bat-to-ball and OBP skills, while also flashing some extra-base pop (20 doubles, eight home runs) in his second straight year in Wisconsin. He doesn’t have a lot of speed and isn’t particularly threatening on the basepaths (9-for-16 in stolen base attempts), but looks to be ready to move up the minor-league ladder.

RHP Melvin Hernandez
6-4, 2.13 ERA in 76 IP at Low-A Carolina
Hernandez has done well, despite being extremely young for the leagues he has been in since bursting onto the scene in 2023. Hernandez is listed at 5-foot-11 and a slightly hilarious 139 pounds, but there is obviously some physical development going on. In any case, he's demonstrating that he can pitch.

IF/OF Eduardo Garcia
.239/.333/.456 in 281 AB at High-A Wisconsin
Garcia, who can be a minor-league free agent after the season, is a conditional inclusion. It would seem logical to put him on the 40-man roster to replace someone like Drew Avans, given his age. His calling card has always been defense and speed, but he seems to have also evolved a three-true-outcome bat to go with it. Obviously, any player due to become a minor-league free agent has limited trade value, so teams aren't likely to ask about him—unless they think he might merit a 40-man spot come the fall. The Crew are good at bringing players along slowly, though, and even have some recent track record of retaining players when they have the chance to leave via minor-league free agency.

IF Filippo di Turi
.252/.356/.427 in 262 AB at Low-A Carolina
With all the attention on Luis Pena and Jesus Made at Carolina, few people have paid attention to di Turi. But di Turi has quietly emerged as an all-around threat at the plate, while competently handling second base, third base, and shortstop. The real story is his power surge this year, which adds to excellent OBP skills.

LHP Tate Kuehner
7-4, 2.82 ERA in 76.2 IP at Double-A Biloxi
While a lot of attention is paid to the incredible performance of Brett Wichrowski and the comeback campaign of Cameron Crow in Biloxi this season, Kuehner has quietly emerged as a very solid starter for the Shuckers. He’d be a top prospect in some other systems, but for the Brewers, he’s one of those sleepers who could emerge with the right opportunity. Spencer detailed his progress of late Tuesday, too.

OF/2B Jadyn Fielder
.275/.429/.468 in 109 AB at Rookie-Level ACL Brewers
Prince Fielder’s son (and Cecil Fielder's grandson) is proving to be a solid player in his own right, and appears to be forging his own identity distinct from his father and grandfather, both of whom were big-time sluggers. Jadyn’s got some more speed (four triples in 109 AB, 6-for-10 in stolen bases), and is a defensive asset (handling the outfield and second base competently).

Obviously, all of these guys are so low-wattage that you can't let them stop a key deal from getting done. On the other hand, each has shown enough to be worth holding onto, if there's another way to complete a move—especially if it's something more minor, anyway.

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Which under-the-radar prospects do you think should be quasi-untouchable? Let us know in the comments below!

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[biedergb]

Of that list no one is untouchable, as for the right move anyone can be traded, but I know where you are coming from. 

I would list Areinamo and Hernandez as the least likely to trade. Jadher can play anywhere, seems to be like a leader, plays solid defense, and may not be a starter in the majors, but is a likely super utility guy who can start and play anywhere and understands the game. If he develops power, and adds a little more discipline (I think that was one of the reasons he was sent back to high A?) then he is more valuable, but worth the gamble given his higher floor.

Otherwise Melvin Hernandez is a huge wild card and hard to value. Is he a legit starting pitcher prospect given how young he is and the success he is having? But his velocity is not there and he can add that as he matures. So if a team over-values his future potential he can be traded, but my guess is his value is low now so probably maybe better to see what we have in him given the long time horizon until he is a higher level prospect, but if a team overvalues him yes sure trade him.

The others are very under the radar prospects, but a guy like Eduardo Garcia who could be this year's "EMJ" as a guy who starts to realize expectations later. Is it because he is a late bloomer, or because he was a little immature (his comments about not taking training as seriously are problematic). There is some power potential and he can play anywhere, but will be a MiLB free agent, so unless he is worthy of a 40 man spot (which I doubt), he is a prime trade candidate. But I do agree, if not traded, he could re-up with the Crew as a free agent to stay here and play with a group of players he has been with and been successful with.

Murray is showing what he can be, but joins a crowded middle infield group that includes Areinamo and Di Turi, as well as the higher end Pratt/Pena/Made, so we will not keep all of them, so a Murray or DiTuri could be a trading chip for an organization that doesn't have as much infield depth.

Kuehner is interesting as there will be a potential log jam in AAA next year (assuming health of course) with Rodriguez, Kuehner, Crow, and likely other AA call ups like Wichrowski, and maybe Cornielle and Hardin, and if a Meyers or Patrick have to be stashed in AAA too (assuming a healthy MIL rotation of Peralta-Miz-Henderson-Gasser-Priester and who knows if a Quintana or Woodruff could re-up with the team). So Kuehner may not have a great path to be a starter here, and could be more valuable to another team which makes his trade value potentially higher, but I still see him staying as the need for a lefty in this organization seems to always exist.

[Harold Hutchison]

Hernandez is untouchable - he's refined, and the body will develop. He's just 18. But even without the velocity, he knows how to get hitters out with that stuff. He's like Brent Suter in that regard. Pretty much since his DSL season, this is a guy I've had my eye on - and the fact he's doing what he doing at slightly over three years and nine months younger than the average player in the Carolina League.

He's an outlier.

[Jim French Stepstool]

 IMO Areinamo isn't an under-the-radar guy. I suspect his name often comes out of the mouths of other GMs whenever trades are discussed, or will be. I love the versatility he, Murray & Di Turi show. This organization has intriguing INF prospects coming out of their ears, both middle & corner guys. Like @biedergbsaid, ya can't keep 'em all, so right now you just hope for continued development & value.

Garcia is still young enough that someone might want him included in a deal, which I would be OK with.

Agree re Hernandez. I want to see him add weight, strength & moxie, and I want to see him do it here.

[LouisEly]

Garcia is in his 7th year in the organization, is still in A-ball, and while he has improved in this department he is only one season removed from a 9 BB/92 K season and still has a 28% K rate in A-ball.  I doubt that any organization would put any value on him.  He has more value to the Brewers as a minor league free agent re-sign than to any other organization.

[biedergb]

I hear ya, but I do see an organization like the Brewers who value the low cost, low risk, and potential reward in minor league FAs who are this young.  I still see him re-upping with the Brewers.

But as far as trade value - it would only be one of the orgs who would want to try sign him or have holes in high A or AA, or the Brewers if they don't think he will stay should try to trade him, but understandably his trade value is low.

[ClosetBrewerFan]

I'd argue these are exactly the type of players we should be willing to trade.  Its primarily second tier infielders and starting pitchers, which we have plenty of.  We absolutely should be trading from our depth to upgrade our roster.  Obviously, I'm not saying give any of these guys away, but I would have them all available if we are getting good value back.