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We’ve already tried to sit in the GM seat for the Milwaukee Brewers during the offseason. But what would we do if we sat in the GM seat as the trade deadline creeps closer and closer?
There are many areas in which the Brewers could use improvement. Where Caleb Durbin has been a nice addition to the hot corner both offensively and defensively, Joey Ortiz has been struggling at the plate. Rhys Hoskins is likely on the injured list until mid-August, and Sal Frelick has landed on the injured list with his grade one hamstring injury. What type of wheeling and dealing could we see from the Brewers? Let me give it a shot as the GM.
Trade #1: Brewers Acquire UTIL Willi Castro from the Twins
Where every team seems to be looking for a rental third baseman, the same cannot be said for the shortstop position. Enter Willi Castro from the Twins, who is more of a utility player. Throughout the season, Castro has played both the outfield and the infield except for first base.
I must give credit to fellow writer Harold Hutchinson, who put the idea out there that Castro could be the right piece to pick up at the deadline. So, I gave him a look and now agree with this idea.
With a .254/.342/.423 line along with 10 home runs and 27 RBI, Castro seems like the perfect answer for any spot on the field. Not only that, but he also has a .304 batting average and a .908 OPS with runners in scoring position. He might not be a power bat, but he at least provides another reliable bat in the lineup that will get on base.
As for his defense, his -6 outs above average (OAA) might be a little concerning. But keep in mind, most of his fielding this year has been in the outfield. Plus, he had a combined 4 OAA in the infield last season and was a finalist for the American League Gold Glove for a utility player.
Castro, who is on an expiring contract and entering free agency, won’t break the bank on any of the Brewers' top prospects. Perhaps one of Jadher Areinamo, Juan Baez, or Freddy Zamora could be enough to add him to the roster. In this hypothetical move, the Brewers would likely option down Anthony Seigler and DFA Oliver Dunn.
Trade #2: Brewers Acquire RHP Kevin Ginkel from the D-Backs
Every year, even though they don’t need it, the Brewers add a pitcher or two to their already elite bullpen. Even crazier, these pitchers are players that nobody expects to be traded. An example of this is Nick Mears' last season.
The Diamondbacks have a lot of different names they could potentially trade. This includes Merrill Kelly, Zac Gallen, and Eugenio Suarez, who are sure to receive a ton of offers. The Brewers could get outbid for these big names, but I doubt there is much of a market for relief pitcher Kevin Ginkel.
Ginkel has been utilized as a late-inning bullpen arm that can hold the lead for the closer to finish the job. He wasn’t exactly the set-up man, but he was mainly used in the seventh inning. He probably won’t be a closer any time soon, but he is an effective arm down the stretch.
At a glance, his 7.66 ERA with a 1.66 WHIP is scary and not worth trading for. But after his last eight outings, he has allowed only two run across 7 2/3 innings, including six strikeouts and a couple of saves.
He only has club control through the 2026 season. It would be a nice addition to a bullpen that has been worked in the first half of the season.
Perhaps the Brewers can trade a controllable pitcher on the 40-man roster like Elvis Peguero, along with a pitching prospect like KC Hunt (Brewers #25 Prospect according to MLB Pipeline).
Trade #3 Brewers Acquire 1B Nathaniel Lowe from the Nationals
With Hoskins hurt and now Jake Bauers landing on the injured list with no timetable to return, the Brewers should probably add a power left-handed bat to their lineup.
The Brewers have the pieces to add a big bat at the deadline. However, I also see them getting outbid by more desperate teams. Let’s take a slightly cheaper option, such as Nathaniel Lowe.
Hoping to compete in the NL East, the Nationals traded for Nathaniel Lowe from the Rangers. It’s panning out as they hope, as they are currently in dead last in their division. Unfortunately, the same can be said for the slugging first baseman.
His .224 batting average and .681 OPS are the worst he's had in a season for his career. However, with 15 home runs and 62 RBIs, he’s on pace to hit career bests in those categories. If you aren't sold on that, how about his .308 batting average with RISP?
Lowe would be a nice platoon with Andrew Vaughn for the rest of the season and even in 2026. Lowe has one more year of club control. He is owed $10.3 million for the 2025 season, but the Brewers will pay only a fraction of that. amount
If the Brewers think he’s too expensive for next year, they can flip them for a prospect or two during the offseason. Think of Mark Canha when he was traded to the Tigers in the 2023-24 offseason.
What happens to Hoskins or Bauers when they get healthy all depends on the Vaughn/Lowe platoon. Best case, Hoskins gets activated in September and Bowers gets DFA. Worst case, Hoskins gets activated, Vaughn gets optioned to Triple A, and Bauers stays on the team.
Lowe shouldn’t cost much to acquire. However, because trades are unpredictable, I believe it could cost as much as Tyler Black to acquire him. Perhaps Black could get more playing time in the big leagues with the Nationals. Then again, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Brewers trade a prospect outside the top 30 for Lowe.
What would you like to see the Brewers do at the deadline? Do you agree with any of the trades in this story? Should the Brewers make any trades at this year’s trade deadline? Let us know in the comments.
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