After Jackson Chourio Injury, Should Milwaukee Brewers Be in Market for Outfield Help?

[Matthew Trueblood]

Image courtesy of © Michael McLoone-Imagn Images

It's not yet clear whether Jackson Chourio will even require a stint on the injured list. He pulled up slightly while running the bases Tuesday night and left the game, but rather than a strain, the Brewers termed his malady a "spasm" when announcing the reason for his departure. Pat Murphy could only say the team would "wait and see" about Chourio's status after the game, and Chourio described the twinge as a "tickle".

Hamstrings can be tricky, and this situation will demand monitoring in the days ahead. For now, though, it looks like the Brewers have avoided major injury to their young franchise player. That's great news. However, the mere specter of an injury to Chourio is enough to raise the question: should the Brewers shop in the outfield market at all, in the day and a half left before Thursday evening's trade deadline? 

As good as the team's outfield depth has appeared to be throughout this year, the idea of supplementing it is far from crazy. Firstly, they're already down one key cog, with Garrett Mitchell out for the year. Secondly, Blake Perkins is freshly returned from an injury that took longer than initially hoped to heal, and Sal Frelick just came back from a minimum-length stay on the IL with his own hamstring strain. Taken together, the Perkins, Frelick and Chourio concerns and the caution the team has exercised with regard to Christian Yelich leave the team with enough question marks to make adding depth to their outfield mix a worthy consideration.

All conversational roads seem to lead back to Willi Castro, lately. This one is no exception. How can the team fit in an extra outfield option on a roster crowded with talent, when the injuries they're trying to create a bulwark against don't have any of the players affected on the IL (at least for now)? Perhaps the answer is: add a guy who can also play the infield. Castro fits as a replacement for the final spot on the bench, and can flex between second and third base and all three outfield positions, as needed. A trade between the Crew and the Twins to bring Castro aboard might now be incrementally more plausible than it was a day ago.

Minnesota also has full-time outfielder Harrison Bader, although he doesn't come with the same positional versatility as Castro. Other players who could be available to provide reinforcement in the outfield include the Nationals' Alex Call and the White Sox's Michael A. Taylor. The team doesn't need a starting-caliber outfielder; they just need someone who offers insurance against a prolonged absence for one of their incumbents.

Of course, one can even argue that they don't need that. The Brewers are the best, most well-rounded team in baseball right now, and their depth is superb. If it's a bit diminished in the outfield, at the moment, so be it. Murphy's Marauders are in great shape, in the battle for both the NL Central and the top seed in the National League. Chourio would be a major loss, but the team can absorb even that. With just over 30 hours left to the trade deadline, they should keep shopping with an open mind—but they have no truly pressing needs.

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[Brewfan70]

Not a bad idea to add more. Also should be trying to get Lowe from TB. And 1 more Reliever 

[Brock Beauchamp]

*cough* WILLI CASTRO *cough*

The Brewers don't need a full-time solution in the outfield, particularly if they get O'Hearn. But Willi Castro is a good stopgap, who can continue to play around the field when Chourio returns.

[igor67]

I'm cautiously optimistic, the way Jackson slowed down did really look more like a cramp or something and not a pull. I'm still down for going a little over the top to pry a SS loose who might not be obviously up for sale.

[Rick Daltons Flamethrower]

Bottom line Matt is you can never have enough good players. Seigler and Montasterio do not fall in the good category.

[Joseph Zarr]

Chourio is indeed shelved today - Murphy said he was quite sore and they are hoping to avoid an IL stint. If the Brewers can't find anyone on the open market (for whatever reasons) I would say, in addition to having a healthy Perkins, both Jared Oliva and Daz Cameron continue to produce at Nashville. Obviously, Cameron is a bat first guy - he continues to be absolutely incredible for the Sounds and recently had a torrid 8-game RBI streak. Oliva is a jack of everything and is regaining his earlier form since coming back from injury. Plus defender. Has some pop. Incredibly fast. Susceptible to the off-speed pitch. Dalbec would be the final candidate as a fill-in corner OF guy who happens to play 3B and 1B. Obviously, the concern here is his swing and miss and never putting it together at the MLB level as of yet. Again, this is if they can't find a dancing partner in a deal that makes sense and this is solely if Chourio has to visit the IL to heal that hammy.

[BrewCrew8675309]

Tyler Black can hit and his best position on the MLB roster would literally be reserve OF. 

[Michael Trzinski]

Hopefully Chewy doesn't get hamstrung by his malady.