Two Bold Intradivisional Trades to Bring the Brewers a Big Bat

On Monday, Cody Schoenmann of Twins Daily wrote about a series of trade proposals involving the young, controllable Twins infielders and the young, controllable Brewers outfielders. All three were reasonable, plausibly beneficial deals for both sides. However, there are others who, even more distasteful as they may be as partners, might take a keen look at the plethora of athletic outfielders the Brewers have, and who have the prospects to make a big trade happen. Let's see which teams within the NL Central might have an eye on this young crop of stars:

The Brewers have too many outfielders for the season ahead, with arbitration-eligible Tyrone Taylor accompanying Sal Frelick, Joey Wiemer, Garrett Mitchell and Blake Perkins as players rumored to be in the shopfront window. With Taylor having three years' service time remaining with the Brewers, and the others even more, any trade should bring back equivalent high-ceiling or high-floor talent in a position of need. Let's take a look at who that could involve, inside their own division:

Cincinnati Reds - Noelvi Marte for Sal Frelick
Both of these players had introductions in the second half of 2023, albeit with completely different profiles at the plate. Marte has the type of raw power you dream of in a prospect, and he's still learning to tap into it more. However, he finds himself in the midst of a crowded infield, with Elly de la Cruz, Matt McLain, and newly-signed Jeimer Candelario manning the more athletic infield spots. Meanwhile, the Reds have many options in the outfield, but not many with the type of competence on both offense and defense that Frelick possesses. TJ Friedl was their best hitter among outfielders. Yet, he was 11th-percentile or lower in exit velocity, xwOBA, and hard-hit rate--all key predictors of sustainable success. He was also the only outfielder with a positive Defensive Runs Saved figure for the Reds, who ranked 28th in the league in DRS overall. Putting Frelick alongside him in the outfield, and setting the tone at the top of the order, could fit really nicely for the Reds. 

Marté, on the other hand, is currently playing third base, but is an adequate shortstop and above-average second baseman (although his arm may be under-utilized at the keystone). He's the type of bat the Brewers just could not get into their infield last season, hitting .316/.366/.456 in 114 at-bats for the Reds. The scouts suggest that he's still learning how to tap into his power better, but he's a good fit for the Brewers, in dire need of both some extra juice and a capable infielder at the plate.

The only downside is that the Reds may consider him more use in acquiring a high-end pitching talent, something they're in even more desperate need for. The Brewers could try centering a Corbin Burnes trade around Marté, but the Reds might be loath to give up their dynamic infielder for a player they'd only have for one season.

St Louis Cardinals - Garrett Mitchell for Nolan Gorman
Even suggesting a trade with the Cardinals seems insane, but here goes. For all the talk of Pete Crow-Armstrong in the Windy City, Garrett Mitchell might be the best defensive center fielder in the game of baseball when healthy. With quality reads, electric speed and a strong arm, he's ubiquitous in the outfield, with the type of bat that can change a game when he runs into one. Mitchell has the wheels to steal 40-plus bases in a fully healthy campaign, something he was denied last year due to a freak injury on the basepaths. He's still fine-tuning his decisions at the plate, but his underlying talent is not in question. A full season of average production at the plate is likely a four-win player, given what else he brings to the table, and he has five years of club control remaining.

Nolan Gorman has a more proven bat, with an electric start to 2023 petering out after some injuries in the summer. A subpar defender at second base with (perhaps) a more natural home at third, his left-handed swing is his carrying tool, but boy, does it carry him. He hit .236/.328/.478 with 27 home runs in 119 games. At some points early in the year, he touched the 1.000 OPS mark. He was battering the ball, but his struggles later in the season and the poor quality of the St. Louis outfield bring Mitchell back into the realm of possibility here. Currently lined up to use Tommy Edman in the outfield, they could do with an upgrade, while also allowing Tommy Edman and Masyn Winn to form a dynamic partnership up the middle of the infield. At second base, the Brewers could use the power bat, or even just a competent one. There's enough uncertainty surrounding future performance (on both ends) for this to be viable.

Both of these trades bring in potential in the form of the bat, at the cost of some of the defensive excellence that allowed the Brewers to punch above their offensive weight in 2023. However, with either Gorman or Marté, the bat can more than make up the difference, while trading from a position of surplus. Either Mitchell or Frelick have the potential to go on and be stars for their respective teams. Still, the Brewers can't afford to hang onto their prospects needlessly, if their goal is to compete in 2024.