Brewers Video
The Brewers’ starting pitching situation has changed in the space of two months. Injuries and the late signing of Jose Quintana led to a panic deal that cost the Brewers dearly, but now, the Crew contemplates a “happier” (arguably not the right word) conundrum for their rotation: Too many capable bodies.
There has been some talk of using a “piggyback” approach to help alleviate the crunch, and in some ways, it can be beneficial. However, it may also be time for the Brewers to consider entering the market as sellers with some of their starting surplus. But who should they be offering? Here’s a look at five candidates for the Brew Crew to sell among their starters.
Aaron Civale
1-1, 5.19 ERA in 17.1 IP
Civale has missed a significant amount of time due to injuries, which was one of the reasons behind the trade for Quinn Priester. That said, should he rebound, he could be an asset for some teams. Currently, Arizona needs a starter due to the fact that old friend Corbin Burnes is undergoing Tommy John surgery. Civale might be a good stopgap for the D-Backs, especially since his rough start and his time on the injured list make converting on the conditional pick a lot less of a sure thing than it seemed.
Who might the Brewers ask for in this case? How about LHP Yu-Min Lin? It would give the Brewers some added roster flexibility, not to mention Lin is the kind of pitcher who the Brewers have maximized in recent years.
Carlos F. Rodriguez
1-0, 8.10 ERA in 3.1 IP (Milwaukee)
3-2, 2.64 ERA in 47.2 IP (Triple-A Nashville)
Currently on the 7-day injured list, Rodriguez is one of a substantial crop of young pitchers at Triple-A Nashville. While his combined arsenal is an outlier, he hasn’t translated that into success at the MLB level in two small samples. Still, though, he’s done well in his rise through the system, and with the crowded Brewers’ rotation, the best option might be to find a place where he can get an extended opportunity. One possible place? Colorado.
The Rockies need some starting pitching talent, and if the Brewers decide Ryan McMahon is worth the risk to handle the hot corner, then Rodriguez could be part of a package to secure McMahon’s services for the Crew (let’s call the rest of the package Oliver Dunn and Jorge Quintana).
Tobias Myers
1-1, 4.95 ERA in 20 IP (Milwaukee)
0-2, 3.38 ERA in 29.1 IP (Triple-A Nashville)
Myers was a surprise hero in 2024, posting solid top-of-the-rotation numbers for the Crew all season and adding a solid outing against the Mets in the Wild Card series. In 2025, injuries and some initial struggles sent him back to Triple-A. With the Brewers looking at a breakout from Chad Patrick, top prospects Logan Henderson and Jacob Misiorowski knocking on the door of MLB rotation spots, the steep price paid for Priester, and the presence of DL Hall, Aaron Ashby, Robert Gasser, and Coleman Crow, among others, Myers could be a trade asset.
Myers might be an option to send to a team looking to sell an asset for long-term help, or he could be used to help the Brewers increase their options in the farm system. One option could be Baltimore, with the Crew sending Myers for infielder Aron Estrada and catcher/first baseman Ethan Anderson.
Jose Quintana
4-1, 2.77 ERA in 39 IP
Quintana has been a steal for the Brewers in the offseason, but he is going to be a free agent at year’s end. That said, securing some return for him may be an option, especially if he pitches like he did early in the season. One possible option might be to send Quintana to the Blue Jays in return for a prospect.
The Crew will ultimately have to gamble, either with a couple of Rookie-level prospects or talent with some tarnish. In this case, the Crew could consider Ricky Tiedemann, a left-handed pitcher with dominant stuff, but coming off Tommy John surgery.
Freddy Peralta
5-4, 2.92 ERA in 71 IP
Dealing Peralta might be controversial, especially if the team is in the middle of a pennant race, but given his control through 2026 and the relatively cheap price ($8 million salary for 2026), Peralta could net the Brewers a significant haul – one exceeding that obtained in the Josh Hader deal of 2022. Here, the Cleveland Guardians could make for an intriguing partner for Peralta and reliever Nick Mears.
Who could the Crew get in return? Consider that Peralta is an ace pitcher with a year of extra control and coming at a relatively low price; they could ask for and get the moon. How about a prospect package starting with OF Jaison Chourio, IF Welbyn Francisca, and catcher Cooper Ingle, along with reliever Hunter Gaddis? It's a short-term hit, but there could be some real long-term gains for the Crew - and with the way Logan Henderson has pitched, the team might not miss a beat.
The need to clear out some starting rotation space is becoming clear for Milwaukee. Perhaps the best route might be to be a seller before the trade deadline.
Which starters would you deal, and what would you want in return? Let us know in the comments below!
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