3 Versatile Pieces Brewers Could Trade For at MLB Trade Deadline

[Harold Hutchison]

Image courtesy of Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

In 2025, the Brewers managed to get the top seed in the playoffs and home-field advantage throughout the postseason. There was just one problem: Getting there meant they ran out of gas in the National League Championship Series, getting swept. The real issues were seen on the offensive side, as the team couldn’t muster any sort of offense against the Dodgers. We know how that series ended.

So how do the Brewers avoid that same petering-out in 2026? The answer may well be picking up an upgrade for the bench—someone who delivers proven offense, but can fill in at multiple positions with competent defense.

The Brewers' Current Bench
As things stand, the "bench mob” for the Brewers includes Gary Sánchez, David Hamilton, Joey Ortiz, Luis Lara, and Blake Perkins. Depending on how you choose to taxonomize it, you could exclude Ortiz, or include Garrett Mitchell and Andrew Vaughn. With Sal Frelick and Jake Bauers down with injuries, though, Vaughn and Mitchell have pretty secure, everyday places in the lineup.

That's a pretty strong group, but it's possible to upgrade it, especially now that injuries have added some pressure to find versatility among the non-starters each day. So, whom might the Brewers want to target in a deal before the deadline? Here are three possibilities.

Angel Martínez, Cleveland Guardians
Cleveland needs some help in center field. The Brewers’ center fielder of the future, Lara, is in Milwaukee now, but not getting everyday time because Mitchell has been pretty hot. Cleveland’s in need of a center fielder, with Petey Halpin getting the bulk of the playing time lately despite an atrocious .200/.238/.316 line.

Martínez would be a big asset for Milwaukee, able to play all three outfield positions, second base, and shortstop. He’s a switch-hitter with some real pop (although his approach is awful), and he’s no slouch on the basepaths, either. He’s also under team control for four more years after this one. Here's the catch: the Crew might have to give up Mitchell to get him.

Willi Castro, Colorado Rockies
Colorado’s still rebuilding, but the Brewers might be able to help them along with it by scooping up another bench option. Colorado's current shortstop, Ezequiel Tover, is posting -1.0 WAR, according to Baseball Reference, and has mustered a 47 OPS+ playing half his games in Coors Field. The Brewers, of course, have a nice upgrade available for the Rockies who comes with a fair bit of team control, in Ortiz.

In return for Ortiz, Milwaukee could land the versatile and well-liked Castro, who is capable of getting as hot at the plate as Ortiz can. He's not as good a defender, and he's not under team control for as long, and he's more expensive, but that's where the value lies: The Brewers would also be in position to snare some pitching help in this trade. It would have to be Castro and an arm Milwaukee likes in exchange for Ortiz, but if that fit exists, it's worth exploring. Jett Williams could obviate Ortiz in Milwaukee soon, anyway.

Brock Rodden, Seattle Mariners
Earlier this week, we discussed the possibility of dealing Gary Sánchez to Seattle, where Cal Raleigh’s bat has dropped off from last year’s near-MVP performance. Rodden is one player the team could target in such a deal. He's seen action at second base, third base, and shortstop, with limited action in left field and center field. He’s a switch-hitter who has flashed pop, OBP skills, and the ability to swipe a few bags here and there. He’d need to be added to the 40-man this fall, and ideally, he'd help you sooner than that. He's too old (and not toolsy enough) to be much of a prospect, but he could slot in as a fine little bench piece for the team late in the season. 

He's not better than Ortiz or Hamilton. However, the Brewers might end up wanting to move Ortiz, and not in one of the other small deals proposed here—but rather, as part of a big pitching acquisition. Rodden would be one option to backfill the bench in that scenario.

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Do you think the Brewers should upgrade their bench for the pennant race? Let us know in the comments below!

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[wiguy94]

Calling Willi Castro versatile after we saw him first hand be a butcher all over the field just a few days ago is highly questionable.

[wntrtxn21]

None of the three is an improvement over what the Crew already has. Do nothing trades are a waste of time.

[MattK]

2 hours ago, wiguy94 said:

Calling Willi Castro versatile after we saw him first hand be a butcher all over the field just a few days ago is highly questionable.

Unsure why Ortiz would be in the trade for Castro as he is probably better than Castro?

[Bob K]

Really????

[Brewersfan1]

17 hours ago, wiguy94 said:

Calling Willi Castro versatile after we saw him first hand be a butcher all over the field just a few days ago is highly questionable.

 

[Brewersfan1]

He’s older, less control, more expensive, not as good, but here’s the kicker he’s well liked.. sign me up lol… what are we doing here Harold? Can writers at least follow what the Brewers very consistently do in trades?

[Harold Hutchison]

16 hours ago, wiguy94 said:

Calling Willi Castro versatile after we saw him first hand be a butcher all over the field just a few days ago is highly questionable.

Over his career, he's played all over the diamond. Gold Glove-caliber defense? No. But he's got one trip to the All-Star game, and his bat's pretty solid.

I'm more interested in the versatility (Castro is an upgrade over Ortiz in that category) and the solid bat  (the floor is higher than Ortiz's, and it's more consistent). I feel better about having Castro to give the starters (Chourio, Frelick, Lara, Pratt, Turang, etc.) time off so that they're more rested for the playoffs. Plus his team control is just right for Luis Pena's arrival, and Pena's who I have in mind to take over as the supersub (in other words, I don't see him as a trade asset, I see him as being for the Brewers what Baez was for the Cubs in the 2016-2018 timeframe).

14 minutes ago, Brewersfan1 said:

He’s older, less control, more expensive, not as good, but here’s the kicker he’s well liked.. sign me up lol… what are we doing here Harold? Can writers at least follow what the Brewers very consistently do in trades?

It's look at a team need, and Castro was not the only player suggested. My preference would be to go for Angel Martinez, even if it means dealing Mitchell. Martinez is a definite upgrade as a backup OF over Blake Perkins and Brandon Lockridge. Besides, we know who Milwaukee's Center Fielder of the Future is, thanks to Luis Lara's $31 million contract.

At this point, I'd move Mitchell now, with his value at a relative high. Mitchell's great when he's on the field, I don't dispute that, but 2023-2025 shows that Mitchell's no William Contreras when it comes to availability.

[Brewersfan1]

1 hour ago, Harold Hutchison said:

Over his career, he's played all over the diamond. Gold Glove-caliber defense? No. But he's got one trip to the All-Star game, and his bat's pretty solid.

I'm more interested in the versatility (Castro is an upgrade over Ortiz in that category) and the solid bat  (the floor is higher than Ortiz's, and it's more consistent). I feel better about having Castro to give the starters (Chourio, Frelick, Lara, Pratt, Turang, etc.) time off so that they're more rested for the playoffs. Plus his team control is just right for Luis Pena's arrival, and Pena's who I have in mind to take over as the supersub (in other words, I don't see him as a trade asset, I see him as being for the Brewers what Baez was for the Cubs in the 2016-2018 timeframe).

It's look at a team need, and Castro was not the only player suggested. My preference would be to go for Angel Martinez, even if it means dealing Mitchell. Martinez is a definite upgrade as a backup OF over Blake Perkins and Brandon Lockridge. Besides, we know who Milwaukee's Center Fielder of the Future is, thanks to Luis Lara's $31 million contract.

At this point, I'd move Mitchell now, with his value at a relative high. Mitchell's great when he's on the field, I don't dispute that, but 2023-2025 shows that Mitchell's no William Contreras when it comes to availability.

I’d move Sal. No one wants to talk about this. I’ll take the guy with legitimate upside in Mitchell. We have seen Sal’s peak, just like Durbin. Yes, trading a guy who is at a low isn’t smart, I get it, but he’s already replaced as you mentioned. I’m sure Matt Arnold can talk him up, he seems pretty good at that. It’s a ridiculous thing to try mid season, but I’m sure Ortiz could play outfield, if that somehow mattered. 

[Lathund]

6 hours ago, Harold Hutchison said:

Over his career, he's played all over the diamond. Gold Glove-caliber defense? No. But he's got one trip to the All-Star game, and his bat's pretty solid.

I'm more interested in the versatility (Castro is an upgrade over Ortiz in that category) and the solid bat  (the floor is higher than Ortiz's, and it's more consistent). I feel better about having Castro to give the starters (Chourio, Frelick, Lara, Pratt, Turang, etc.) time off so that they're more rested for the playoffs. Plus his team control is just right for Luis Pena's arrival, and Pena's who I have in mind to take over as the supersub (in other words, I don't see him as a trade asset, I see him as being for the Brewers what Baez was for the Cubs in the 2016-2018 timeframe).

It's look at a team need, and Castro was not the only player suggested. My preference would be to go for Angel Martinez, even if it means dealing Mitchell. Martinez is a definite upgrade as a backup OF over Blake Perkins and Brandon Lockridge. Besides, we know who Milwaukee's Center Fielder of the Future is, thanks to Luis Lara's $31 million contract.

At this point, I'd move Mitchell now, with his value at a relative high. Mitchell's great when he's on the field, I don't dispute that, but 2023-2025 shows that Mitchell's no William Contreras when it comes to availability.

What exactly is the point of that versatility though? We have an infield backup who can play 2B, 3B and SS, we have 4 outfielders who can play all three OF positions. You want a super versatile player on the bench for when you have lots of specialists, as that's the only way to make that plausible. But the Brewers don't. Martinez has played several different positions, but he doesn't play any of them well, and he's a worse hitter than anyone he'd be replacing. He would be behind Hamilton/Ortiz as the backup infielder, and he's much worse than Mitchell... so then just keep Mitchell? 

For a versatile player to add value they have to actually be good defenders or good hitters. Martinez and Castro are both poor defenders. Martinez has a career 79 wRC+ and an even worse .271 xwOBA. Castro is slightly better with a 95 wRC+ and an xwOBA to match, but he's also a far worse defender and baserunner. 

Depth and versatility are big parts of what Brewers do well, and what helps them win. But this is not the way to go about it. The team is just straight up worse with Castro instead of Ortiz and Martinez instead of Mitchell. And if the point is to get something else along with them.. well Brewers have dozens of fairly minor prospects who can get an arm in return. Doing things like this, or extending Hernan Perez for 6 years and $36m (or w/e it was) aren't what will improve the Brewers. Zigging when others zag, or thinking outside the box, are good things. But this is running in circles or forgetting what a box even is for. 

As for Rodden... sure. Infield depth in the minors, why not. But it's more a case of a throw-in on a trade you were doing anyway, and not someone to target. Lots of players like him out there. 

[Harold Hutchison]

5 hours ago, Brewersfan1 said:

I’d move Sal. No one wants to talk about this. I’ll take the guy with legitimate upside in Mitchell. We have seen Sal’s peak, just like Durbin. Yes, trading a guy who is at a low isn’t smart, I get it, but he’s already replaced as you mentioned. I’m sure Matt Arnold can talk him up, he seems pretty good at that. It’s a ridiculous thing to try mid season, but I’m sure Ortiz could play outfield, if that somehow mattered. 

I think Frelick's more valuable in Milwaukee as a reliable fourth outfielder. He's generally been an everyday player who hasn't been hurt often. Mitchell's great when he's on the field, but he's not really proven over his career that he can avoid the injured list.

[Brewersfan1]

16 hours ago, Harold Hutchison said:

I think Frelick's more valuable in Milwaukee as a reliable fourth outfielder. He's generally been an everyday player who hasn't been hurt often. Mitchell's great when he's on the field, but he's not really proven over his career that he can avoid the injured list.

Makes Mitchell cheap to sign and fingers crossed he can finally stay healthy, like with any other player. The Brewers have next to no power on the team, fans are reminded of it constantly. Trading away one of the only power bats they have doesn’t seem ideal. Trade Sal for Martinez fixes that. Although sounds like he’s awful in the outfield. Not sure the Brewers would be on board with that drop off.

[Harold Hutchison]

3 hours ago, Brewersfan1 said:

Makes Mitchell cheap to sign and fingers crossed he can finally stay healthy, like with any other player. The Brewers have next to no power on the team, fans are reminded of it constantly. Trading away one of the only power bats they have doesn’t seem ideal. Trade Sal for Martinez fixes that. Although sounds like he’s awful in the outfield. Not sure the Brewers would be on board with that drop off.

Mitchell's power bat doesn't do much if he is on the injured list. The Brewers have been lucky so far. What happens when the luck runs out?

[Brewersfan1]

1 hour ago, Harold Hutchison said:

Mitchell's power bat doesn't do much if he is on the injured list. The Brewers have been lucky so far. What happens when the luck runs out?

You can do that with any player. Frelick is obviously now injury prone because he got an injury. That’s as dumb of a statement as saying they should trade Ortiz for an all around worse player because he is versatile and well liked. Ortiz looks pretty well liked. Can’t rely on Harrison anymore, trade him immediately.  Sal being hurt actually helps since he’s been pretty terrible this year. It’s incredibly weird to worry about injuries. Why didn’t the Brewers sign someone before the season for the inevitable injury then? You writing an article about the inevitable Miz TJ surgery too?

[Harold Hutchison]

1 hour ago, Brewersfan1 said:

You can do that with any player. Frelick is obviously now injury prone because he got an injury. That’s as dumb of a statement as saying they should trade Ortiz for an all around worse player because he is versatile and well liked. Ortiz looks pretty well liked. Can’t rely on Harrison anymore, trade him immediately.  Sal being hurt actually helps since he’s been pretty terrible this year. It’s incredibly weird to worry about injuries. Why didn’t the Brewers sign someone before the season for the inevitable injury then? You writing an article about the inevitable Miz TJ surgery too?

Seriously, Mitchell's history over his major-league career does point to trouble staying on the field.