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The fact is, the Brewers may have some serious roster crunches coming. The answer may be to sell some hot performers “high” to get additional assets for the present, future, or possibly both. Who might the Brewers consider as among those to “sell?” Let’s take a look at three candidates.
2B Brice Turang
The difference between Turang’s rough rookie year and his sophomore surge is like night and day. Turang’s taken his offensive game up a level or two while providing Gold Glove-caliber defense at second base. As of this writing, Turang has posted a .778 OPS, with 14 stolen bases in 14 attempts and adding eight extra-base hits.
Turang could fetch a solid return, including some help for a rotation beset by injured list trips (Wade Miley’s Tommy John being the latest blow). That might help the Crew hold on to their NL Central lead against the Pirates, Cubs, and Reds.
Why would Turang be a “sell-high candidate?” Ask yourself this question: Can he sustain this production? It’s a given that he’s not as bad as his .585 OPS in 2023. But is he as good as the 126 OPS+ he is currently posting? That is a tricky question. Do the Brewers want to bet on this, or do they want to open up second base for Isaac Collins, who has dominated at Triple-A Nashville?
OF Blake Perkins
Like Turang, Perkins is having a sophomore surge. While Perkins has a higher offensive floor than Turang, he is an outfielder, albeit one with excellent defense. Think of Perkins as a switch-hitting Keon Broxton, albeit with superior OBP skills. His .803 OPS is second only to William Contreras among those listed as starters by Baseball-Reference.
Perkins may not fetch as big a return as Turang, partially because he is older and wasn’t a first-round pick. However, he is the kind of fourth outfielder, or decent starter in center field, that many MLB teams can use and would be an upgrade for Oakland at any of the positions.
Like Turang, his ceiling is probably better than 2023 would point to, but the questions about his ability to sustain his 2024 production to date would be legitimate. In this case, the Brewers have options to take over for Perkins, including the currently-injured Wiemer (who provides the defense and more pop), Garrett Mitchell (upon his return from injury), Chris Roller, and the aforementioned Isaac Collins (who could push Sal Frelick to center field as an indirect replacement for Perkins).
RHP Elvis Peguero
Peguero is starting 2024 like he started 2023 – red hot as an option in the innings before the Crew turns to its late-inning group of Abner Uribe, Joel Payamps, and Trevor Megill. With Devin Williams slated to return at some point and DL Hall headed back to the bullpen, it looks as if someone may have to go.
The big issue with Peguero isn’t that his performance is in question. It’s that the Crew will need to move some relievers by September, especially if top prospects Jacob Misiorowski and Carlos Rodriguez get called up (see Corbin Burnes and Brandon Woodruff in 2018) to bolster the bullpen.
Peguero is the type of reliever who could help the team fetch a good return, even if he isn’t one of the team’s late-inning group. How? The team could include him with Perkins or Turang as part of a package for a starter to hold the line, or he could be dealt for an asset who could help in the future, say in a trade with the Diamondbacks or Rays (who need short-term help in the pen).
Indeed, Payamps, the Crew’s de facto closer, could also be argued as a sell-high candidate, but that may keep him around – at least for 2024.
Overview
Whether they are dealt as a package for a higher-end starter or individually to other teams, the Crew might benefit from dealing these three players, partially because they are ready replacements and partially because, later in the season, they could come down to earth.
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