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With the July 31 MLB trade deadline looming on the horizon, urgency will begin to mount for many Major League Baseball teams. While some clubs are firmly entrenched in playoff contention and will be looking to bolster their rosters, there is a distinct group already facing the reality of a lost season. So, who are the likely sellers from the National League? What valuable assets might they put on the market, and how could the Milwaukee Brewers leverage these opportunities to their advantage? Let's delve into the teams poised to grind the rumor mill to life, and the potential impact on the Brewers’ playoff aspirations.
Colorado Rockies
The Rockies are on pace for all sorts of records, and not in a good way. They are currently on pace to win 31 games, which is 10 fewer than the 2024 Chicago White Sox. The Rockies don't have much in the form of rentals, with starters Germán Márquez (6.62 ERA) and Austin Gomber (just returned from a shoulder injury) the only expiring deals, but that's not to say they don't have trade chips. Most notably, many teams will be calling about starter Kyle Freeland (controlled through 2026) and third baseman Ryan McMahon (controlled through 2027). Freeland’s surface numbers are heavily inflated by pitching in Coors. On the road, the lefty has a 3.64 ERA (3.31 FIP) and a 14.6-point difference between his strikeout and walk rates, a strong figure. As for McMahon, Bob Nightengale of USA Today has reported that the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs have already shown interest in the 30-year-old. Like Freeland, McMahon’s surface stats are also impacted by Coors: a .739 OPS overall drops by nearly 200 points on the road. Other, less notable names who could be available are infielders Thairo Estrada and Kyle Farmer, who both have mutual options for 2026.
Miami Marlins
The Marlins are 15 games under .500 and well outside the playoff picture. However, they are the youngest team in Major League Baseball, which makes it a challenge to know how much they're willing to sell. Kyle Stowers, Connor Norby, and Agustín Ramírez have all been great, but they're also in their pre-arbitration years. Would the rebuilding Marlins really sell what looks to be a solid core of hitters? I doubt it.
On the other hand, starting pitchers Cal Quantrill (a free agent at season's end) and Sandy Alcántara (controllable through 2026) could be attractive buy-low options at the deadline. Quantrill has an ERA 1.27 runs higher than his FIP, and Alcántara, a former Cy Young Award winner, has underperformed his ERA by 2.43 runs. However, both have below-average strikeout minus walk rates, suggesting their upside might be limited. The Marlins have gotten some good production out of their bullpen, from guys like Ronny Henriquez, Janson Junk, and Patrick Monteverde. While these guys are controllable, it would make sense for the Marlins to listen to offers on any relievers.
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pirates are in a race for second-worst team in the NL with the Marlins. There's been (mostly sarcastic) speculation that they may trade starter Paul Skenes, but I don't think they will—for now. Instead, they have a few assets who will likely have a market over the next month and a half. There have already been rumors floating around on infielder Isiah Kiner-Faleda, who has a solid (but empty) .714 OPS. Other solid players on expiring deals include outfielders Andrew McCutchen and Tommy Pham, as well as starter Andrew Heaney, and reliever Ryan Burocki. Aside from Burocki, whose peripherals suggest some positive regression, all players have been more than serviceable this season. However, the most valuable realistic trade chip is current closer David Bednar, who is controlled through the 2026 season. In 20 appearances, the righty has a 3.42 ERA, 2.14 FIP, and a 29.2-point strikeout minus walk rate. He may end up being the most sought-after reliever on the market.
Brewers’ Needs
The promotion of top pitching prospect Jacob Misiorowski has resulted in some curious roster churning for the Brewers. The promotion shifted Aaron Civale to the bullpen, prompting his trade request, leading to Civale's move to the Chicago White Sox for Triple-A first baseman Andrew Vaughn. Subsequently, Jake Bauers has been made available. This sequence of events, however, hasn't directly addressed their most pressing needs.
Offensively, the Brewers' performance ranges from average to below-average, primarily due to significant weaknesses on the left side of the infield. Both shortstop and third base collectively rank last in the league in OPS. Compounding this, their third basemen (chiefly Caleb Durbin, Vinny Capra, and Oliver Dunn) are defensive liabilities, though Joey Ortiz offers a plus glove at shortstop. Some of the Rockies' utility infielders may be good fits for the Brewers. While the Brewers' pitching staff has been average overall, Misiorowski's addition is a definite boost to the rotation, and they anticipate further production from returning injured starters. Nevertheless, bolstering the bullpen would be a good idea, and their influx of young infielders could help them land a reliever.
Given their reliance on young talent, it wouldn't be surprising if the Brewers mostly stood pat at the trade deadline. However, acquiring one or two low- to medium-leverage relievers seems like a plausible, low-cost move.
What moves do you believe the Brewers should prioritize to strengthen their roster? Or is standing pat the best strategy? Share your thoughts in the comments!
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