Updating the Top 105 Trade Candidates at Trade Deadline: Which Targets Brewers Have Missed on, Where They Might Shift

[Matthew Trueblood]

Image courtesy of © Michael McLoone-Imagn Images

There are roughly 100 hours until the 2025 MLB trade deadline, and the Brewers haven't yet put their pedal to the floor. Then again, neither has most of the rest of the league. A few of Milwaukee's likely targets have gone to other new homes. How the team responds and redirects could determine whether they pull out their third straight NL Central title; let's review the status of a list I made Thursday night, of the top 105 trade candidates at this deadline.

1. Joe Ryan, RHP, Twins

2. Eugenio Suárez, 3B, Diamondbacks: It would be uncharacteristic for the Brewers to trade a major haul for a rental player. That's what Suárez is, and it's what it would take to acquire him. That said, doesn't it feel like this year, this team, and this fit are unique? In such a case, maybe something uncharacteristic can fairly be expected.
   UPDATE: With the Yankees trading for two other infielders (see below), it seems as though the Brewers' competition for Suárez has softened slightly. Seattle, too, has made a first move to add a bat, although they might still be in on this one, too.

3. Dylan Cease, RHP, Padres

4. Emmanuel Clase, RHP, Guardians

5. Jhoan Duran, RHP, Twins

6. Edward Cabrera, RHP, Marlins

7. Jacob deGrom, RHP, Rangers

8. Nathan Eovaldi, RHP, Rangers

9. MacKenzie Gore, LHP, Nationals

10. Jarren Duran, OF, Red Sox

11. Seth Lugo, RHP, Royals

12. David Bednar, RHP, Pirates

13. Ryan O’Hearn, 1B/OF/DH, Orioles: Again, it would just be an engagement of a few months. Whereas Suárez is inciting a bidding war that will push the price tag up to an uncomfortable place, though, O'Hearn feels gettable. He'd be an utterly inarguable upgrade over Jake Bauers, and could make the worrying over whether Andrew Vaughn can keep this up or Rhys Hoskins can return at full strength largely moot. He'd also be good insurance against further injury to Sal Frelick, Christian Yelich, or William Contreras, in that he's a very capable DH who could fill in there when Hoskins or Vaughn is in the lineup.
    UPDATE: Since Josh Naylor netted two modestly interesting but uninspiring pitchers in a trade from Arizona to Seattle, a floor for O'Hearn's price has been set. O'Hearn should cost most than Naylor, but not much more.

14. Merrill Kelly, RHP, Diamondbacks

15. Kris Bubic, LHP, Royals

16. Sandy Alcántara, RHP, Marlins

17. Jesús Sánchez, RF, Marlins: UPDATE: While it's a very long shot, keep an eye on Sánchez. He's the kind of high-ceiling, unheralded target on whom the team sometimes swoops down, even when there's not an obvious need.

18. Cade Smith, RHP, Guardians

19. Robert Suarez, RHP, Padres

20. Ryan Helsley, RHP, Cardinals

21. Griffin Jax, RHP, Twins

22. Willi Castro, UTIL, Twins: Talk about a guy who's a fit for almost everyone. Castro is a switch-hitter with power and some improved plate discipline. He brings a little speed and a lot of defensive versatility, and he's a plus-plus clubhouse guy. The price tag wouldn't be huge, and the upside could be; Castro can help all over the infield.

23. Drew Rasmussen, RHP, Rays

24. Taylor Ward, OF, Angels: Right-handed power is the top need for this team, and Ward offers it. Unlike Suárez, he doesn't play a position of apparent need for the team, but unlike Suárez, he's also under team control for 2026. The Angels front office is one the Brewers are comfortable working with, too.

25. Zac Gallen, RHP, Diamondbacks

26. Pete Fairbanks, RHP, Rays

27. Harrison Bader, OF, Twins

28. Carlos Santana, 1B, Guardians: If it's a dramatic improvement in defense at the cold corner you want, Santana brings it. He's been part of this team and clubhouse before. He's a solid veteran and switch-hitter. He'd be a low-grade addition, perhaps, but it'd be a joyous reunion, and he might shore up the defense a bit.
    UPDATE: The trade of Naylor, which I had already heard was in motion when I first built this list, took him out of this very range on the list. Santana would cost even less than Naylor did, both because he's having a poor statistical season and because he's so old. It would be no surprise if he produced just like Naylor does from here, though, so consider him a good buy-low option if the team is intent on upgrading their collection of first basemen.

29. Sonny Gray, RHP, Cardinals

30. Ryan Jeffers, C, Twins

31. Yandy Díaz, 1B, Rays

32. Mitch Keller, RHP, Pirates

33. Ryan McMahon, 3B, Rockies: This remains an interesting potential fit, but it's not clear that the Brewers will want to allocate the amount of money owed to McMahon to a player like him for the next two-plus years. For that matter, it's still not clear that the Rockies will be willing to trade him.
    UPDATE: Well, it turns out the Rockies were ready to deal, at least. McMahon is now a Yankee, and it'll be interesting to see how he does as part of a smarter organization and without the constant shuttling up and down the mountains. The prospect cost was very small, but part of that was the Yankees being willing to eat all of the money involved.

34. Charlie Morton, RHP, Orioles

35. Trevor Larnach, OF, Twins

36. Cedric Mullins, OF, Orioles

37. Luis Severino, RHP, Athletics

38. Aaron Bummer, LHP, Team from Near Atlanta

39. Ramón Laureano, OF, Orioles

40. Kyle Freeland, LHP, Rockies

41. Zack Littell, RHP, Rays

42. Adrian Houser, RHP, White Sox

43. Danny Coulombe, LHP, Twins

44. John Schreiber, RHP, Royals: Two righty relievers in the middle of this list got significant bumps up on the basis of their roster flexibility. Schreiber is one. He can still be optioned to the minors, so though the team control isn't long-term and the sheer stuff is more seventh inning than ninth, he's a fantastic candidate to add to a team hoping that improved health will give them ample depth come September and October.
    UPDATE: The Royals' two moves so far this month were to acquire Adam Frazier and Randal Grichuk, rather than to offload any impending free agents. It's unlikely that Schreiber is available, based on what we know right now.

45. Anthony Bender, RHP, Marlins: Bender is the other guy who gets the "still optionable" bump here. Both guys would have been in the 50s, anyway, but it's important to have the ability to shuttle fresh arms into the roster late in a season, with a close race on for the division crown.

46. Nathaniel Lowe, 1B, Nationals: It's been a down year for Lowe, which opens the door a crack for the Brewers to buy low on him. His approach has gotten much worse; he usually controls the strike zone exceptionally well. Team Swing Decisions could probably fix that in a jiffy, and unlike O'Hearn, Lowe is under team control for 2026.

47. Carlos Estévez, RHP, Royals

48. Dennis Santana, RHP, Pirates

49. Brock Burke, LHP, Angels: There are few things the Brewers need less than another lefty reliever, but Burke (who's under team control for 2026, too) gets ground balls and has some interesting 'unlocks' lurking, as teams like to code such things. The Crew could target him and turn him into a slightly different, much better hitter in short order.

50. Adolis García, OF, Rangers: More right-handed power with team control for 2026, García also comes with some awesome postseason bona fides. He's having a down year, too, though, and it's not quite as clear as with Lowe that it would be a quick fix.

51. Michael Soroka, RHP, Nationals

52. Luis Robert Jr., OF, White Sox

53. Phil Maton, RHP, Cardinals

54. Andrew Kittredge, RHP, Orioles

55. Yoán Moncada, 3B, Angels: Over the winter, the Brewers were unwilling to make a medium-sized bet on the health and the needed skill recovery on which hinged any hope of a Moncada renaissance. Now, though, he's stayed healthy enough and enjoyed enough of that restoration to open some eyes. The Crew could make use of the both-sides pop he's shown in Anaheim.

56. Amed Rosario, IF, Nationals: An even lower-cost alternative to Moncada, Rosario also offers the ability to at least stop a short-term gap at shortstop, second base or in the outfield. He's not a natural platoon partner to Caleb Durbin and he can't play short with any regularity anymore, but Rosario would be a clear upgrade to the bench and a fine part-time contributor.
    UPDATE: Rosario, too, has been dealt to the Bronx. That takes two key targets off the board for the Crew, but the modest-yet-solid return for him helps us lock in on the likely cost of trading for Moncada.

57. JoJo Romero, LHP, Cardinals

58. Gregory Soto, LHP, Orioles: UPDATE: Soto is now a Met. No, the other Soto. But the same Mets. Get it? Got it? Good. The Brewers will only pursue a lefty reliever if they constitute a special opportunity of some kind, anyway.

59. Jose Quintana, LHP, Brewers: Hey, we know him!
    UPDATE: Quintana hasn't looked nearly as good lately as he did in his first fistful of starts with the team, and his rotation spot seems very much in danger. I've heard that the team is reluctant to move him, because of how strongly Pat Murphy and others feel about his presence and leadership, but it looks increasingly like a solid notion. Trading him to the American League, at least, would be preferable, but Matt Arnold will be value-focused, not worried about who provides that value.

60. Nestor Cortes, LHP, Brewers: Him too!

61. Taj Bradley, RHP, Rays

62. Pierce Johnson, RHP, Suburbanites

63. Jeffrey Springs, LHP, Athletics

64. Dane Myers, OF, Marlins

65. Randal Grichuk, OF, Diamondbacks: UPDATE: Grichuk went to the Royals for a fairly fungible relief arm. If the Brewers want to acquire Isiah Kiner-Falefa, that's how they should approach the Pirates, too: with a fine but forgettable piece of pitching depth ready to ship.

66. Brock Stewart, RHP, Twins

67. Kevin Ginkel, RHP, Diamondbacks

68. Sam Haggerty, OF, Rangers

69. Seranthony Dominguez, RHP, Orioles

70. JP Sears, LHP, Athletics

71. Kyle Finnegan, RHP, Nationals

72. Isiah Kiner-Falefa, SS, Pirates: While he doesn't offer the same impact or upside as Moncada or Rosario, Kiner-Falefa is a better fit for the Brewers than either of them. He could take over for Joey Ortiz and play shortstop as much as they want or need him to, down the stretch. He's a very good defender who also offers some versatility.

73. Jake Cronenworth, IF, Padres

74. Wandy Peralta, LHP, Padres

75. Tommy Pham, OF, Pirates

76. Zach Eflin, RHP, Orioles

77. Raisel Iglesias, RHP, Highwaymen

78. Jorge Soler, DH/OF, Angels: UPDATE: Soler has been placed on the injured list, and he's really not the kind of player you'd like to acquire under such circumstances.

79. Josh Bell, 1B/DH, Nationals

80. Royce Lewis, 3B, Twins

81. Michael A. Taylor, OF, White Sox

82. Caleb Ferguson, LHP, Pirates

83. Mike Tauchman, OF, White Sox

84. Chris Paddack, RHP, Twins

85. Tyler Kinley, RHP, Rockies: The Brewers rescued one guy whose breaking ball they adored from the thin air of Coors Field, when they dealt for Nick Mears last year. Might they do it again, with the slider-spamming Kinley?

86. Kenley Jansen, RHP, Angels

87. Ke’Bryan Hayes, 3B, Pirates

88. Miguel Andujar, 4C, Athletics: As unsexy as his profile is (impending free agent, poor defense, low walk rate and even less power), what Andujar does well, he does very well. Mostly, that means putting the ball in play, and using the middle of the field. The Brewers would probably like that bundle of skills, assuming it doesn't cost them much to acquire it.

89. Ramón Urías, 3B, Orioles: Both members of the Urías family can be found atop the Ideal Attack Angle leaderboard for MLB. Ramón is a below-average overall hitter, but his approach and contact profile fit what the Brewers like, and he'd provide Durbin insurance on the infield.

90. Luis Rengifo, IF, Angels

91. Austin Slater, OF, White Sox

92. Enyel De Los Santos, RHP, A Team from Georgia

93. Luis Urías, 2B, Athletics

94. Christian Vázquez, C, Twins: UPDATE: There are some rumors that the Crew would like to add a stronger complementary catcher than Eric Haase, but if so, they'd need to aim higher than Vázquez—and the Twins are unwilling to eat the balance of his expiring contract, anyway.

95. Ty France, 1B, Twins

96. Andrew Chafin, LHP, Nationals

97. Aaron Civale, RHP, White Sox: Civale is an intere.... gotcha.

98. Nolan Arenado, 3B, Cardinals

99. Andrew Heaney, LHP, Pirates

100. Jakob Junis, RHP, Guardians: If you're searching for a pitcher who can give you multiple innings per outing in the bullpen, you could do a lot wor.... gotcha again.

101. Kyle Hendricks, RHP, Angels

102. Sean Newcomb, LHP, Athletics

103. Tomoyuki Sugano, RHP, Orioles

104. Luis Garcia, RHP, Nationals: UPDATE: A seasoned veteran, García is suddenly throwing as hard as he ever has—touching 102 miles per hour. He has an interesting splitter-sweeper combo, too. The Brewers should monitor him closely, as a potential sleeper pickup.

105. Tyler Anderson, LHP, Angels

There are many moves left to be made. The Brewers could be much less aggressive than the Cubs and some of the other big-market contenders this month, without losing their edge in the division race. Still, it's a good bet that they'll do something to improve the team. With each new rumor or transaction, the options available to them come into tighter focus.

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