Brewers Future Values Big Board: Ranking The Trade Value Of Brewers Players, #1-5

We are on the final stretch of this list, and it has been a ride. While the list is limited to 20 players, I could see others on the move. There are plenty of prospects the club can use for trades. Although each has at least some warts, I’m sure Luke Adams, Eric Bitonti, Wes Clarke, and Blake Burke could command a modicum of value if the team shopped them smartly.

If we’re talking about the players with the most value, regardless of the situation, we probably would be talking about Jackson Chourio. However, the extension he signed last offseason makes certain what was already a good bet: he's not going anywhere any time soon. We've eliminated Chourio and a few others, for various reasons, to focus on truly plausible trade candidates. These last five are names who could garner the most in return, should the team decide to move them. I could see the top two being almost untouchable; the price would have to be big to consider moving them.

If you missed this list's first three articles, they are just to refresh your memory.

• 16-20
• 11-15
• 6-10

Enough with the rambling, on to the list. As a final reminder, this list is created based on value, durability, statistics in all levels of MLB, club control, age, salaries, and the likelihood of being traded. 

5. Brock Wilken 3B: 2024 Minor League Stats: 109 G, .200/.316/.365, 81 H, 33 XBH, 17 HR, 51 RBI, 58 R, 63 BB, 133 SO, 1 SB, Free Agent: TBD
Ever since the likes of Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun emerged from the system, it’s felt like the Brewers haven’t focused on getting players from the corner infield positions with their early draft picks. Breaking that pattern, though, they drafted the third baseman from Wake Forest, Brock Wilken, 18th overall in the 2023 draft.

The Brewers typically choose a middle infielder or an outfielder, as they can become versatile over time. Often, because of their broad offensive philosophy, they also chose a contact hitter with a lot of speed. Wilken is almost the exact opposite. The former Cape Cod League MVP launched 71 home runs across his three years at the collegiate level, the most for a player in that university’s history. According to MLB Pipeline, he also has 30-grade speed, so don't expect him to be dynamic on the bases.

The early returns were great, but Wilken quickly found trouble in Double-A. He hit .200/.311/.374, striking out 28.6% of the time. While he has always struggled to put the bat to the ball, the organization still has time to work on that. However, getting hit in the face with a 95 MPH fastball early in the season (resulting in multiple facial fractures) probably didn’t help.

Wilken will likely return to Biloxi to start the 2025 season, but he did get heads to turn in the Arizona Fall League Home Run Derby. Although he finished in second place, he set two records by hitting 14 of his 33 home runs in the derby in the first round. That is the most by any player in a single round and the most cumulative by any player.

Wilken is a good option for the Brewers’ future, as they could use another power bat in the lineup. However, with Mike Boeve and Eric Bitonti's other future options for the Crew, does a log jam start to form? Boeve is closer to what the Brewers have looked at in recent years for their big-league team. But maybe adding a different type of player could help solidify their future.

Wilken does have the value of a bat that other organizations could want. He will turn 23 in June and is projected to make his debut within the next year or so. This could be a great investment for any team that needs corner infield help (hey, like the Brewers).

4. Tyler Black INF: 0.031 Years, Career Stats: 18 G, .204/.316/.245, 10 H, 2 XBH, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 4 R, 7 BB, 17 SO, 3 SB, Free Agent: 2031+
Alright, I’m sure most of you saw this name coming. But right now, it seems the Brewers are still trying to find a way to incorporate Black into this organization.

While he has played mainly third base, he has been placed in many different positions, including all areas of the outfield and first base. Even when he was called up for his major-league debut, they were still experimenting with him, putting him at the DH spot and first base.

Black found no success in his 18 games for the 2024 Brewers, batting .204/.316/.245. Granted, it is only a tiny sample size. He hasn’t gotten his footing at the MLB level. But he’s turning 25 in July, and he still has the likes of Andruw Monasterio and Rhys Hoskins in front of him. If Boeve continues to thrive in the minors, and Wilken is ready to debut, why not consider trading Black?

Black is still under a year of MLB service time and has six years of club control. He can be an on-base guy, although seemingly without much power or defensive value. But do the Brewers need another Brice Turang-like bat in their lineup? If the Brewers can’t find a role for Black, I’m sure another team will.

For all we know, he could be the 2025 edition of Turang. But his production in the minor leagues over the years and his versatility and club control put him at a very high value, and he could get a nice player back. It might be time for the Brewers to take advantage of that and find a player to help this team now.

3. Devin Williams RHP: 5.046 Years, Career Stats: 241 G, 1.83 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 235.1 IP, 68 SV, 375 K, 112 BB, Free Agent: 2026
If there were any player in the Brewers organization I could predict would be traded before the start of the 2025 season, Devin Williams would be the one I’d place my bet on. Williams has been a staple for the Brewers’ bullpen, whether he was a setup for Josh Hader or the closer. While he had to miss the first half of the 2024 season, his numbers were ridiculous after he was activated.

In 2024, Williams recorded 14 saves, with a 1.25 ERA, a 0.97 WHIP, and a .133 opponent batting average. His Airbender changeup continues to be a devastating pitch, getting a 48.8% whiff rate. Unfortunately, his season ended in one of the worst ways possible: He allowed four runs in the ninth inning, resulting in a blown save and an early exit from the playoffs. Despite a decent season, the Brewers lost in the Wild Card Series again.

Williams is now in a similar situation to the one Corbin Burnes was in last year. He's in his last year of arbitration and is expected to make nearly $8 million. Williams is still considered one of the best closers in the league, never mind his numbers in the postseason. He'll be in high demand, if and when the Brewers go to move him.

If you’re expecting a Hader-type return, you might want to think again, because the Padres were able to use him for one and a half seasons. So, is he going to get a Burnes-type return? Not exactly. Burnes was more expensive, but it was much easier to project him for a lot of value, based on his role and track record, especially with regard to health.

The best time to trade Devin Williams is most likely to be this offseason. The organization had a ton of backlash after trading their closer midseason in 2022. They might not want to do that again, especially if they are well into the playoff race.

His price tag isn’t scary, compared to what pitchers are paid nowadays. But I still expect a small package in a trade, as he is the most likely to be traded within the next year, which is why he is so high on this list. This brings us to our next two players. They have the most value of anyone the team would entertain trading, but unless they get an insane return, they won’t be traded anytime soon.

2. Cooper Pratt SS: 2024 Minor League Stats: 96 G, .277/.362/.406, 96 H, 26 XBH, 8 HR, 45 RBI, 56 R, 42 BB, 81 SO, 27 SB, Free Agent: TBD
Honestly, I am still shocked that the Brewers convinced Pratt to sign with the organization over his commitment to Ole Miss. It’s one of the main reasons teams continued to pass up on him. After a very strong pro debut in 2023, Pratt sustained his progress. He remained in Single-A Carolina for a decent chunk of the 2024 season before being called to the High-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.

At age 20, there is no need to rush the 6-foot-4 prospect, who is still trying to develop his strength. MLB Pipeline projects his debut around 2027, but it could be earlier, based on how he performs next season. He struggled a bit as part of the Timber Rattlers, with a .258 OBP in 95 plate appearances. He could see some time in Double-A Biloxi during the 2025 season.

Drawing comparisons to Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson, Pratt could be a five-tool player. The organization has already experimented with him at second, but with his size, he could be an interesting option at third base.

Time will tell with this one, as he should be a player to look out for in a Brewers uniform down the line. Pratt is currently ranked 57th on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 prospects. He has the ability to climb even higher.

If, for some reason, the club would prefer Joey Ortiz to play shortstop once Pratt is big-league-ready, then the club might consider parting ways with the youngster. But for now, he should be untouchable. The same might go for this next guy we might see a lot more often in 2025.

1. Jacob Misiorowski RHP: 2024 Minor League Stats: 33 G, 21 GS, 3.79 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 97.1 IP, 127 K, 60 BB, Free Agent: TBD 
Misiorowski, a 6-foot-7 drink of water, took the minor-league world by storm in 2023, striking out 110 batters in 71.1 innings. His appearance in the 2023 Futures Game was eye-popping. What is concerning is the early end of 2023 with a dead arm. It's not exactly great to hear from a guy with three effective pitches who is starting every five days.

The Brewers found an interesting solution by placing him in the bullpen for the final six weeks of 2024, after a couple of starts in Triple-A. It remains to be seen if he will start games for the Brewers or be relegated to a closer role in a similar Hader path, as MLB Pipeline suggests.

Hopefully, he could also control his walk rate, which was starting to creep toward 15% during his time with the Biloxi Shuckers. The organization will continue to help him work on that over the winter and spring, but he might be in Milwaukee sooner than you think.

With Colin Rea, Wade Miley, and Frankie Montas all out of the picture, there is a decent chance Miz could slide into the back half of the starting rotation. Battling the likes of Aaron Ashby and DL Hall will be something, but at least all of these pitchers could comfortably work from the bullpen, as each has come out of there at least once.

With Misiorowski on the brink of making his MLB debut and throwing flamethrower fastballs, sliders, and curves, he would be perfect for any pitcher-needy team. Unless the Brewers get an offer that includes a great player on a cheap contract, however, I just don’t see the Brewers trading away their lone potential ace.

That's our list! What players did we miss? Should there have been others in these top spots? Who will the Brewers likely trade before the start of the season? Let us know in the comments below.