What (if anything) should the Brewers do by the trade deadline?

[young guns]

18 hours ago, liveforoctober said:

Everyone except 1b and C (and Ortiz I guess but that's another issue) seems to be reaching base on a < 70mph EV swing daily...

Contreras took that personally last night.

[StearnsFTW]

On 7/8/2025 at 10:07 AM, Frisbee Slider said:

That said, Ortiz seems to be in the dog house. We could add SS or 2B and slide Turang over if necessary. 

I am glad we almost certainly cannot add a reliever.

I'd be surprised if we didn't add a reliever.

[Frisbee Slider]

24 minutes ago, StearnsFTW said:

I'd be surprised if we didn't add a reliever.

Back end replacement for Megill? I feel like we can improve upon Koenig and Easton with internal options.

[Roderick]

27 minutes ago, StearnsFTW said:

I'd be surprised if we didn't add a reliever.

To replace who?  Who is the weak link?  Do you replace Koening, with another lefty?  Because that is all I see.  Replace Grant Anderson who has been hot?  I assume McGee will be gone when Cortes returns and Miz to pen?  

[StearnsFTW]

10 minutes ago, Frisbee Slider said:

Back end replacement for Megill? I feel like we can improve upon Koenig and Easton with internal options.

I was thinking someone like Shelby Miller, David Bednar, Kyle Finnegan.......just another quality arm in the pen.  I would assume Megill stays at closer in any case.

 

 

[adambr2]

I actually don’t think they want to send Miz to the pen. His future is clearly as a starter and he’s just been so good in that role. I don’t think they want to mess much with his routine and rhythm.

However, they’ll need to find a way as the season goes on to start limiting his innings and pitch counts, especially if they want him available in October..

What about dialing him back to 4-5 innings and piggybacking him with someone they stretch out, maybe Ashby?

[Frisbee Slider]

3 minutes ago, StearnsFTW said:

I was thinking someone like Shelby Miller, David Bednar, Kyle Finnegan.......just another quality arm in the pen.  I would assume Megill stays at closer in any case.

 

 

Miller strained his forearm. No timeline yet. Hard to believe it’s been six years since he was with the Brewers.

Bednar has been quite good since his April demotion to AAA. He could be our 7th inning guy? 🤷‍♂️

Finnegan is good but if our community loses our mind after every Yophery Rodriguez trade do we want to give up any lottery tickets for a couple dozen innings of Finnegan when we have impact arms in Nashville or returning from injury?

[wildcat2237]

15 minutes ago, adambr2 said:

I actually don’t think they want to send Miz to the pen. His future is clearly as a starter and he’s just been so good in that role. I don’t think they want to mess much with his routine and rhythm.

However, they’ll need to find a way as the season goes on to start limiting his innings and pitch counts, especially if they want him available in October..

What about dialing him back to 4-5 innings and piggybacking him with someone they stretch out, maybe Ashby?

I personally think we see one of the following with the starting pitcher glut, maybe both: 

1. A seven man rotation. Limits innings for Miz and Woody. 

2. Piggybacking. I think Priester goes back into the piggyback/finish games role. Maybe comes in after Quintana or Cortes. 

As far as trades go, I dont really know what they could do to improve the roster. I guess a stud SS or 3B, but I dont think they want to sell the farm to do that. 

[shanedog19]

I know he will be highly sought after, but Eugenio Suarez is the one guy that I feel could put us over the top. It is really hard to scratch together 4-5 hits in an inning in the playoffs, you need boppers that can hit the ball out of the ballpark. Suarez is that guy for me, at a position of relative need. 

[liveforoctober]

42 minutes ago, StearnsFTW said:

I'd be surprised if we didn't add a reliever.

Nestor for Devin Williams, who says no? :)

[adambr2]

7 minutes ago, wildcat2237 said:

I personally think we see one of the following with the starting pitcher glut, maybe both: 

1. A seven man rotation. Limits innings for Miz and Woody. 

2. Piggybacking. I think Priester goes back into the piggyback/finish games role. Maybe comes in after Quintana or Cortes. 

Do we need to limit Woodruff? I know they’ll of course be cautious with him returning from a major injury, but as a vet and not appearing in a game until July this year, I figured he’d be getting fully ramped up by October, not dialed back. 

But I could be totally wrong, I know nothing of the potential limitations of his injury.

[wildcat2237]

6 minutes ago, adambr2 said:

Do we need to limit Woodruff? I know they’ll of course be cautious with him returning from a major injury, but as a vet and not appearing in a game until July this year, I figured he’d be getting fully ramped up by October, not dialed back. 

But I could be totally wrong, I know nothing of the potential limitations of his injury.

Maybe not. He may be ready.

Also, I guess if he is going to leave as a free agent the Brewers may not care and may be happy to "red-line" him to get value out of his contract. 

However, I have watched some of his interviews and he has talked a lot about "workload." I am not sure he feels ready to handle a regular workload of 6-7 innings every five days. 

[Frisbee Slider]

Is there precedent for a seven man rotation?

[wildcat2237]

25 minutes ago, shanedog19 said:

I know he will be highly sought after, but Eugenio Suarez is the one guy that I feel could put us over the top. It is really hard to scratch together 4-5 hits in an inning in the playoffs, you need boppers that can hit the ball out of the ballpark. Suarez is that guy for me, at a position of relative need. 

If Suarez is on the trading block he will be one of the top bats availiable.

I would be very surprised if this front office pays that premium. Would go very counter to the "bite of the apple" strategy. 

[wildcat2237]

Just now, Frisbee Slider said:

Is there precedent for a seven man rotation?

Not sure. However, the Brewers have been one of the most innovative teams. So, it wouldnt blow my mind. 

[liveforoctober]

8 minutes ago, wildcat2237 said:

Not sure. However, the Brewers have been one of the most innovative teams. So, it wouldnt blow my mind. 

It would have to be wildly creative. I just can't see them only giving the ball to Peralta once a week (and often once every 8 days with a day off) ... under utilization can mess up a guy's effectiveness just as much as the alternative. The piggybacking is much more plausible and a trade seems more likely.

[StearnsFTW]

50 minutes ago, Frisbee Slider said:

Miller strained his forearm. No timeline yet. Hard to believe it’s been six years since he was with the Brewers.

Bednar has been quite good since his April demotion to AAA. He could be our 7th inning guy? 🤷‍♂️

Finnegan is good but if our community loses our mind after every Yophery Rodriguez trade do we want to give up any lottery tickets for a couple dozen innings of Finnegan when we have impact arms in Nashville or returning from injury?

Was not aware of the Miller injury, so that may be a no-go.  I'm not even trying to be specific, I just think they'll add in the pen.  Seems like they always do.

 

[CheezWizHed]

I think trading off Quintana for a lottery pick player would make sense at this point with so many SPs available now (and/or soon). 

We do need to find a 1B/3B that has a bit more offensive potential.  I'm guessing that would mean a Freddie trade or a couple of our bigger prospects.  

But as many have said... a reliever is the most probable. 

[shanedog19]

35 minutes ago, wildcat2237 said:

If Suarez is on the trading block he will be one of the top bats availiable.

I would be very surprised if this front office pays that premium. Would go very counter to the "bite of the apple" strategy. 

No doubt. This would be a clear "go for it" move and very contrary to what they normally do. I am wondering if they could include some of their excess pitching to get this deal done.

[CheezWizHed]

3 minutes ago, shanedog19 said:

No doubt. This would be a clear "go for it" move and very contrary to what they normally do. I am wondering if they could include some of their excess pitching to get this deal done.

Honestly, I tend to prefer the Yelich type trade deals over the rental variety.... even if they are more expensive. 

[liveforoctober]

8 minutes ago, shanedog19 said:

No doubt. This would be a clear "go for it" move and very contrary to what they normally do. I am wondering if they could include some of their excess pitching to get this deal done.

I think that's plausible but we would be dealing from the younger arms obviously (Henderson, Myers, Patrick) and not the old lefties in this case.

[StearnsFTW]

If they give up Henderson for 3 months of Suarez I'll be pissed.

Not that anyone will care, but still.

 

[rickh150]

Jose Ramirez for Made, MYers, Letson, and change….

Brewers would get a legit 3B/1B thru 2028 for roughly $78 million.

The cost would be steep with a lack of big bat in MLB and a large hole seemingly since Molitor in Milwaukee.

Start with elite Made and add a couple of promising arms to help Guardians reload.

[Turning2]

On 7/8/2025 at 12:46 PM, liveforoctober said:

I'm not a fan of making moves just to make moves although I understand from a GM/Owner standpoint you generally sell more tickets by placating to the casual fans when all else is equal. Not doing something says "we don't care and aren't trying" to many.

Suarez seems great but the cost to acquire the guy who is #4 in the league in HR's is probably really steep. I'm definitely calling to inquire about him but I'm not desperate. Durbin has been a good player.

My overall take on this year's deadline is two things: upgrade Mona if the cost is light. Whoever this year's Jerry Hairston equivalent is that can cover the infield for us and provide a deep fly ball with a guy on 3rd when needed.

Secondly, barring injury in the short term to someone - trade one of Quintana/Cortes for some minor league pieces. Woodruff staying healthy is the key here.. assuming no contending team will want to trade from their big league roster to acquire pitching help - we are digging for prospects. I mentioned this in another thread but we have arms pushing up from AA and they need to progress too. Having 10 major league ready arms in AAA/MLB is an amazing 'problem' .. but two of them are expiring contracts and if we can help keep the entire organization healthy top to bottom ... then let's get it done.

 

Good points. First being the placating of casual fans by doing something / anything. Yeah, most casual fans are like low information voters - ignorant of the big picture and facts, needing instant gratification.  

Second, Suarez is about the only real impact power upgrade at 3B. But as other big market contenders are likely also in the hunt for such.... he's probably going to quickly travel outside of MIL's reasonable budget boundaries. Durbin has been good enough for what this team probably, really is this year (which is, still a 2nd tier team with too many needs than they can afford to fix via trades). Still, inquiring on the asking price for Suarez would be prudent. Just don't sacrifice too much prospect capital for a band aid rental. 

Third.. and this is a kick in the marbles... yes, MIL has a surplus of MLB quality SP, but probably no meaningful way to leverage it to address their current needs. Usually, teams that are contending don't have this surplus to trade with. More typically, teams with quality pitching, and not in the race are selling starting pitching to bolster their farm with prospects. Their buyers are typically contenders.  The Brewers don't need prospects for the future, they need a couple of thumper bats NOW. Very few impactful bat options exist, and most are on teams that won't trade from their big league roster as you mentioned. 

Now that I type that last bit, the more I lean towards being OK with a packaged deal for a few months of Suarez IF MIL decides to go for it. Henderson, Black or Mitchell and Luis Pena? Just spit balling of course...

If prospects are all they can acquire for surplus pitching, I'd vote for some OF prospects who project to 15+HR type power. 

[DonBarclay]

22 minutes ago, Turning2 said:

Good points. First being the placating of casual fans by doing something / anything. Yeah, most casual fans are like low information voters - ignorant of the big picture and facts, needing instant gratification.  

Second, Suarez is about the only real impact power upgrade at 3B. But as other big market contenders are likely also in the hunt for such.... he's probably going to quickly travel outside of MIL's reasonable budget boundaries. Durbin has been good enough for what this team probably, really is this year (which is, still a 2nd tier team with too many needs than they can afford to fix via trades). Still, inquiring on the asking price for Suarez would be prudent. Just don't sacrifice too much prospect capital for a band aid rental. 

Third.. and this is a kick in the marbles... yes, MIL has a surplus of MLB quality SP, but probably no meaningful way to leverage it to address their current needs. Usually, teams that are contending don't have this surplus to trade with. Such teams are typically selling starting pitching to bolster their farm with prospects. Their buyers are typically contenders.  The Brewers don't need prospects for the future, they need a couple of thumper bats NOW. Very few impactful bat options exist, and most are on teams that won't trade from their big league roster as you mentioned. 

Now that I type that last bit, the more I lean towards being OK with a packaged deal for a few months of Suarez IF MIL decides to go for it. Henderson, Black or Mitchell and Luis Pena? Just spit balling of course...

If prospects are all they can acquire for surplus pitching, I'd vote for some OF prospects who project to 15+HR type power. 

I know it’s not as common for baseball as it is say basketball, but this seems like a perfect 3 team trade opportunity. Brewers send veteran MLB pitchers to a big market contender, big market contender sends prospects to AZ, AZ sends Suarez to Milwaukee.