5 Left-Handed Hitters The Brewers Can Trade For At The Deadline

It looks like the Brewers will be short of their former MVP for a good chunk of time. Upon the reports that Christian Yelich will be trying to rest and go through rehab to avoid major back surgery, the Brewers will have to find a way to fill the void left behind. While replacing a talent like Yelich is nearly impossible, it doesn’t seem like the Crew will lay down trying.

Along with their starting pitching woes, the Brewers are looking to add a left-handed bat, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. The club already has Sal Frelick, Garrett Mitchell, Brice Turang, and Jake Bauers on their 26-man roster, with Tyler Black waiting in Nashville. Add switch-hitting Blake Perkins, and you have seven potential options.

With three catchers on the roster, it’s got to be a matter of time before one of Eric Hasse or Gary Sanchez gets traded or DFAd right? So, who could the Brewers eventually target at the trade deadline that fits the mold? Let’s take a look at five realistic options the club can look at.

Mike Yastrzemski
The Giants are in a deep hole right now financially. After spending money on players such as Jorge Soler, Blake Snell, and Matt Chapman, the club was looking to really compete for a playoff spot by leaping over the luxury tax. Fast forward to today and they are six games below .500, fourth place in the division and 5.5 games back from the third wild card spot.

According to Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic, the Giants could try to sell some contracts in hopes below that tax line. However, they are around 16-17 million over the line and will take more than trading away Snell’s contract to get back under. So, the Brewers can take advantage of this by adding one of their left-handed hitting outfielders Mike Yastrzemski.

Yastrzemski, 33, has been quietly productive for the Giants hitting a .244 batting average with a .754 OPS, a 117 OPS+, and a 115 wRC+ thus far this season. He’s already got an impressive 2.1 WAR this season and has been one of the few bright spots in a struggling organization.

He’s not a superstar, but he would be a nice place holder for the season. He’s owed $7.9 million total this season and has another year of club control giving the organization another veteran outfielder should Yelich opt for surgery during the offseason and isn’t available to start the season. The Giants could easily nontender him during the offseason, but why not get some prospects in return now before they eventually let him walk.

Potential Trade: Brewers receive OF Mike Yastrzemski from the Giants for RHP Craig Yoho (Org #23 prospect) and a PTBNL or cash

Willie Calhoun
The Angels are another team that will be selling a ton of players at the deadline. Now Tyler Anderson, Carlos Estevez and Carson Fulmer are all expected to be top names sold at the deadline. But with the Angels selling a ton of prospects at last year’s deadline, they will be listening to offers from controllable talent such as Luis Rengifo and Taylor Ward.

If the Brewers are looking for a pure DH bat in lieu of Yelich’s back, then perhaps they could look at the rental of Angels OF/1B Willie Calhoun. In 216 plate appearances, Calhoun is hitting a .255/.319/.388 with four home runs, 17 RBI and a 14.6% strikeout rate. He’s hitting a .262 batting average against right-handed pitchers and while his reverse splits aren’t great, Bauers can giving the Brewers a nice left-handed hitting platoon at the DH spot.

Like Yastrzemski, Calhoun has an additional year of club control. Based off his salary from arbitration this season ($817,000) he will have a low contract in 2025. If the Crew are lucky, they could have Calhoun in a package with a pitcher that can also benefit the rotation

Potential Trade: Brewers receive DH Willie Calhoun and LHP Tyler Anderson from the Angels for RHP Brett Wichroski, (org #14 prospect) OF Dylan O’Rae (Org #20 prospect) and RHP Ryan Birchard (Org #30 prospect)

Brandon Lowe
This one is a little bit lofty as will the final name on this list will be. However, in light of recent events that occurred last night, this seems a little more possible.

The Rays are currently 52-51, fourth in the AL East, and four games back for that final wild card spot. Like the Brewers, the Ray are a small market team. Even crazier, their payroll isn’t above $100 million.

The club already traded Phil Maton to the Mets, cut Harold Ramirez, and even gave the Crew Aaron Civale for a couple of prospects. Just when you thought they were done, they started listening to offers for the likes of Yandi Diaz, Issac Paredes, and Randy Arozarena. As many of you who may have seen once you woke up this morning (or maybe when you went to bed last night) Arozarena has been traded to Seattle. Seems like all limits are off.

The Brewers should try to hear out an offer for Brandon Lowe. In 55 games, he’s hitting a .251/.346/.512 line with 12 home runs and 33 RBI. Prior to yesterday’s shutout victory, he had a 128 OPS+ and a 124 wRC+.

In Clutch situations, he has a career .848 OPS with two outs and RISP. While it is also a small sample size this season, I’d like to point out his .324 batting average and .937 OPS against left handed pitchers this season in 37 PA.

While the Brewers don’t necessarily need a second baseman, Lowe can play the DH or corner outfield. Also an occasional DH for Turang or Willy Adames wouldn’t hurt.

Speaking of, Lowe is the perfect replacement for Adames bat in the lineup assuming he leaves the club in free agency this offseason. They can slide Turang over to short and voila there is your middle infield for the next couple of years. Did I forgot to mention Lowe has two club options for the next few years? He’d be owed $10.5 million in 2025 and $11.5 million in 2026. Let’s see if Matt Arnold can work his magic again

Potential Trade: Brewers receive 2B Brandon Lowe from the Rays for 3B Eric Bitonti (Org #12 prospect), RHP Bradley Blalock (Org #17 prospect) and a PTBNL or cash.

Daulton Varsho
The Blue Jays are going to sell. It just seems inevitable. While Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette have seem off limits (for now), Yusei Kikuchi, Chris Bassitt, Yimi Garcia, and Justin Turner are the ones being thrown out there as potential trade candidates.

But with the Blue Jays having one of the worst farm systems in baseball right now, I don’t think veteran players on expiring contracts will get a ton back. But where does Daulton Varsho fit in all this?

Better yet what happened to Varsho? His strikeout percentage has gone up. His hard hit percentage has gone down. His batting average has dipped too. Maybe a change of scenery could help him.

Why Milwaukee though? Well besides the fact he’s from Wisconsin and went to UW-MILWAUKEE, he has hit better against the National League for the past two seasons. He also batting a career .250 against lefties lifetime and has an .836 OPS in high leverage situations.

To top it all off, he has two more years of club control after this season. He could become a decent DH bat for the next couple of years. Either that or he’s the next Daniel Vogelbach. But time will tell, and he won’t have to cost a ton. Although some people may consider this trade too much for Varsho.

Potential Trade: Brewers receive OF/C Daulton Varsho from the Blue Jays for OF Joey Wiemer

Jazz Chisholm Jr.

If you want to look at the best-case scenario that the Brewers can look at, look no further than Yelich’s former team in the Miami Marlins. Honestly, I don’t understand the fall from grace that took from the playoff race.

After last season where Skip Schumaker took the Marlins into the Wild Card round of the playoffs, you would’ve thought the club would’ve stayed a little bit more competitive. But fast forward to May, the club wasn’t doing so hot resulting in the Luis Arraez trade to the Padres. They are currently in last place in the NL East and well out of the playoff race.

We could see a trade involving Josh Bell or Tanner Scott, but the intriguing name on the roster is Jazz Chisholm Jr. who has two more years of arbitration beyond this season. He has been a reliable option for the club this season hitting a .248 batting average with a .308 BABIP, .727 OPS, and a 103 wRC+. His 13 home runs suggest he can have a decent pop in the bat.

Chisholm Jr. is only 26 and is entering his prime years as a ball player. He’s going to hear a ton of interest from other teams as he can be a great centerfielder for clubs as well as a decent infielder if the receiving team desires. For the Brewers, Chisholm Jr. becomes a great option for their outfield keeping them competitive this season and beyond. Like the Brandon Lowe situation, he could also be an option at second if and when Adames signs a big contract elsewhere in free agency.

With what he can provide for a team, he isn’t going to come cheap as he’s only being paid 2.625 million this season and is projected to make around 5-6 million in 2025. Chisholm Jr is going to be a blockbuster like trade so expect a Christian Yelich 2018 type of trade package for the former MLB The Show cover athlete.

Potential Trade: Brewers receive OF/2B Jazz Chisholm Jr from the Marlins in exchange for OF Blake Perkins, INF Tyler Black (Org #3 prospect, MLB’s #33 prospect), RHP Josh Knoth (Org #11 prospect) and INF Mike Boeve (Org #13 prospect)

The Brewers are going to do whatever they can on the roster to replace the hole Yelich will leave behind on the roster. Any of these players above could be enough to take Yelich’s spot while he rehabs his back for the final couple months of the 2024 season.

Who do you think the Brewers can trade for at the trade deadline? What other players could the club look at to add for the final two months of the season? Do the Brewers even need to add anyone into their lineup? Let us know in the comments.