Harold Hutchison

Seriously, Mitchell's history over his major-league career does point to trouble staying on the field.

I agree. Honestly, it seems to me that Sproat gets through the batting order the first time without much trouble, but it's the second time that gets tricky. Bumping him to the bullpen could help out a lot. Maybe the best deal is Grant Anderson or Jared Koenig for Wacha and a prospect or two from the Royals (Yandel Ricardo and Hunter Patteson)? We pick up all the salary of Wacha.

Mitchell's power bat doesn't do much if he is on the injured list. The Brewers have been lucky so far. What happens when the luck runs out?

I think Frelick's more valuable in Milwaukee as a reliable fourth outfielder. He's generally been an everyday player who hasn't been hurt often. Mitchell's great when he's on the field, but he's not really proven over his career that he can avoid the injured list.

If the Brewers can lock down Contreras (MLB is talking about a salary floor, so a Contreras extension would help the Brewers, and keep a known quantity behind the plate), I could go along with including Quero in a deal. Dinges is someone I'd hold on to, simply because his bat is better than Quero's, so he could be a right-handed option at first base, and it wouldn't hurt to see if he could handle left field or right field in a pinch.

Over his career, he's played all over the diamond. Gold Glove-caliber defense? No. But he's got one trip to the All-Star game, and his bat's pretty solid. I'm more interested in the versatility (Castro is an upgrade over Ortiz in that category) and the solid bat (the floor is higher than Ortiz's, and it's more consistent). I feel better about having Castro to give the starters (Chourio, Frelick, Lara, Pratt, Turang, etc.) time off so that they're more rested for the playoffs. Plus his team control is just right for Luis Pena's arrival, and Pena's who I have in mind to take over as the supersub (in other words, I don't see him as a trade asset, I see him as being for the Brewers what Baez was for the Cubs in the 2016-2018 timeframe). It's look at a team need, and Castro was not the only player suggested. My preference would be to go for Angel Martinez, even if it means dealing Mitchell. Martinez is a definite upgrade as a backup OF over Blake Perkins and Brandon Lockridge. Besides, we know who Milwaukee's Center Fielder of the Future is, thanks to Luis Lara's $31 million contract. At this point, I'd move Mitchell now, with his value at a relative high. Mitchell's great when he's on the field, I don't dispute that, but 2023-2025 shows that Mitchell's no William Contreras when it comes to availability.

Image courtesy of Ken Blaze-Imagn Images In 2025, the Brewers managed to get the top seed in the playoffs and home-field advantage throughout the postseason. There was just one problem: Getting there meant they ran out of gas in the National League Championship Series, getting swept. The real issues were seen on the offensive side, as the team couldn’t muster any sort of offense against the Dodgers. We know how that series ended. So how do the Brewers avoid that same petering-out in 2026? The answer may well be picking up an upgrade for the bench—someone who delivers proven offense, but can fill in at multiple positions with competent defense. The Brewers' Current Bench As things stand, the "bench mob” for the Brewers includes Gary Sánchez, David Hamilton, Joey Ortiz, Luis Lara, and Blake Perkins. Depending on how you choose to taxonomize it, you could exclude Ortiz, or include Garrett Mitchell and Andrew Vaughn. With Sal Frelick and Jake Bauers down with injuries, though, Vaughn and Mitchell have pretty secure, everyday places in the lineup. That's a pretty strong group, but it's possible to upgrade it, especially now that injuries have added some pressure to find versatility among the non-starters each day. So, whom might the Brewers want to target in a deal before the deadline? Here are three possibilities. Angel Martínez, Cleveland Guardians Cleveland needs some help in center field. The Brewers’ center fielder of the future, Lara, is in Milwaukee now, but not getting everyday time because Mitchell has been pretty hot. Cleveland’s in need of a center fielder, with Petey Halpin getting the bulk of the playing time lately despite an atrocious .200/.238/.316 line. Martínez would be a big asset for Milwaukee, able to play all three outfield positions, second base, and shortstop. He’s a switch-hitter with some real pop (although his approach is awful), and he’s no slouch on the basepaths, either. He’s also under team control for four more years after this one. Here's the catch: the Crew might have to give up Mitchell to get him. Willi Castro, Colorado Rockies Colorado’s still rebuilding, but the Brewers might be able to help them along with it by scooping up another bench option. Colorado's current shortstop, Ezequiel Tover, is posting -1.0 WAR, according to Baseball Reference, and has mustered a 47 OPS+ playing half his games in Coors Field. The Brewers, of course, have a nice upgrade available for the Rockies who comes with a fair bit of team control, in Ortiz. In return for Ortiz, Milwaukee could land the versatile and well-liked Castro, who is capable of getting as hot at the plate as Ortiz can. He's not as good a defender, and he's not under team control for as long, and he's more expensive, but that's where the value lies: The Brewers would also be in position to snare some pitching help in this trade. It would have to be Castro and an arm Milwaukee likes in exchange for Ortiz, but if that fit exists, it's worth exploring. Jett Williams could obviate Ortiz in Milwaukee soon, anyway. Brock Rodden, Seattle Mariners Earlier this week, we discussed the possibility of dealing Gary Sánchez to Seattle, where Cal Raleigh’s bat has dropped off from last year’s near-MVP performance. Rodden is one player the team could target in such a deal. He's seen action at second base, third base, and shortstop, with limited action in left field and center field. He’s a switch-hitter who has flashed pop, OBP skills, and the ability to swipe a few bags here and there. He’d need to be added to the 40-man this fall, and ideally, he'd help you sooner than that. He's too old (and not toolsy enough) to be much of a prospect, but he could slot in as a fine little bench piece for the team late in the season. He's not better than Ortiz or Hamilton. However, the Brewers might end up wanting to move Ortiz, and not in one of the other small deals proposed here—but rather, as part of a big pitching acquisition. Rodden would be one option to backfill the bench in that scenario. Do you think the Brewers should upgrade their bench for the pennant race? Let us know in the comments below! View full article

At this point, in my "keyboard GM" mode, I'm making a couple of deadline moves. 1. Garrett Mitchell and Carlos Rodriguez to the Mets for Peralta. 2. Joey Ortiz, Brock Wilken, and Jared Koenig for Spencer Steer 3. Tyler Black and Joel Kuhnel for Willi Castro. Lineup: 2b: Turang rf: Chourio dh: Yelich c: Contreras lf: Bauers 1b: Vaughn 3b: Steer cf: Lara ss: Pratt Bench: Sanchez, Castro, Hamilton, Frelick Rotation: Misiorowski, Harrison, Henderson, Peralta, Drohan Bullpen: Megill, Uribe, Anderson, Hall, Ashby, Sproat, Patrick, Gasser

He's an option to DH a bit, play some first base. The team has turned catchers around, too.

Image courtesy of Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images It's best to pretend the 2020 season didn't happen. Effectively, it didn't. It shouldn't have. But the 2020 MLB Draft did happen, and it matters for the Brewers. There were only five picks in that draft, which meant the team didn’t have a lot of room for error. But this draft has worked out quite well for Milwaukee. We’ll go through each of the picks. Best Pick: OF Garrett Mitchell It’s not hard to make this call. Mitchell’s been dynamic when he’s on the field. In 2026, he’s become a mainstay of the Brewers offense. It’s what the Brewers were hoping for as a first-round pick. The big problem with Mitchell is keeping him on the field. He missed large chunks of the 2023, 2024, and 2025 seasons due to injury. He’s remained healthy so far this season. With a lot of outfield prospects forcing their way up (Josiah Ragsdale, Josh Adamczewski and Braylon Payne, among others), the day his legacy is cemented by a trade return may be sooner, rather than later. Between now and then, though, there's a lot more value to deliver on the field. Honorable Mention: OF Joey Wiemer Wiemer stepped up when Mitchell was lost for the season in 2023 and held down center field as Gorman Thomas Lite (with the help of Blake Perkins and Sal Frelick), providing right-handed pop, defense, and a lot of strikeouts as the Brewers fought their way to a division championship. The Brewers dealt him the following season for Frankie Montas, who solidified the back end of the rotation in 2024. For a fourth-round pick in a chaotic draft, that was a good outcome. One That Got Away: UT Zavier Warren Warren was picked as a catcher, but instead turned into a versatile option with a fair bit of pop from both sides of the plate. Despite the versatility, switch-hitting, and a bat with some power, the Brewers left him unprotected in the minor-league phase of the 2025-2026 offseason’s Rule 5 draft, and Cincinnati selected him. Warren, in some ways, was a victim of the organization’s overall success. For prospects, making the majors with Milwaukee means reaching a higher standard than most organizations set. No doubt Warren was a solid prospect, but with Milwaukee’s depth, a lot of solid prospects end up on the margins. To Be Determined, But A Long Shot: SS Freddy Zamora In some years, Freddy Zamora would not be a horrible shortstop or bench asset; think along the lines of Andruw Monasterio, Bill Spiers, or Craig Counsell. His problem is the same one fellow 2020 draftee Zavier Warren ran into: Milwaukee’s minor-league talent level has exploded in recent years. Despite putting up solid numbers and making it to Triple-A Nashville, the second-round pick from the 2020 draft is nowhere close to being in the top five shortstop prospects for the organization (Cooper Pratt, Jesus Made, Luis Pena, Brady Ebel, and CJ Hughes probably have those spots), and it’s fair to question if he’s even in the top 10, with the presence of Jett Williams, Ricki Moneys, Diego Frontado, Trey Ebel, and Jose Rodriguez. Even though Williams has only seen spot duty at short in 2026 and the other four are either in the DSL or a 2026 draft pick, Zamora’s lost in the crowd. The best thing for him (and for the Brewers) could be a trade that nets him an opportunity and maybe gives the Brewers a small boost. Lucky Trade: SS Hayden Cantrelle Cantrelle, the team’s fifth-round pick, was moved for catcher Alex Jackson in April 2022 after free-agent signing Pedro Severino was lost for half the season due to a PED suspension. Prior to that, Cantrelle flashed some speed and OBP skills with a lot of strikeouts on the side before the Brewers dealt him, looking like a two-true outcome player with speed. It was lucky for Cantrelle, who would have been buried in the Milwaukee system behind the glut of shortstops. It was also lucky for Milwaukee, as they got Jackson, who provided catching depth and was later flipped for Evan McKendry when the Brewers needed pitching depth. Cantrelle’s bounced between Double-A and Triple-A for the Marlins, Giants, and Cubs since then. He won't make much of an impact in the majors; the Brewers squeezed value from him while they could. How would you grade the Brewers’ 2020 draft? Let us know in the comments below! View full article

Combination of the smaller stature, not the best stuff, but gets lots of outs.

Well, with Seattle, I was thinking about asking for Brock Rodden and Po-Chun Lin. Rodden is a highly versatile, switch-hitting version of Caleb Durbin with more pop and walks, minus the HBPs. Lin's giving me that bulldog vibe - a healthy Logan Henderson.

Image courtesy of Benny Sieu-Imagn Images The Brewers have been seen as a buyer in the trade market by most in MLB, but they may actually be able to do a bit of smart selling and come out ahead. All it takes is figuring out where other teams are desperate for help in a place where the Brewers have depth. For some contenders, that help is desperately needed behind the plate; that's where Milwaukee comes in. They have an asset two top AL contenders really need, in the form of Gary Sánchez. Where might the Crew be able to get a haul for Sánchez? Let’s break it down. New York Yankees The Bronx Bombers have a lot of good players, but behind the plate, the production has bombed in a bad way for them. Their primary catcher, Austin Wells, is posting a .524 OPS. Backups J.C. Escarra and Ali Sánchez haven’t done much better. In fact, as of Friday’s games, Sánchez has more home runs (eight) and RBIs (25) than the entire Yankees catching corps combined (six and 24). Seems like the Yankees need some help. A semi-frequent trade partner of Brian Cashman of late, the Brewers could be in position to lend that assistance. It's a complicated idea, because Sánchez came up with the Yankees and was put through the media wringer there, but the Yankees always have great organizational pitching depth; the Brewers could be pleased even to scoop away a second-tier arm from Cashman. Seattle Mariners You’d think with Cal Raleigh, the Mariners wouldn’t need help at catcher. Well, this year, Raleigh’s OPS+ has dropped by 103 points (to 65) after a season in which he hit 60 home runs. Mitch Garver is 35, and his OPS+ is 76. By comparison, Joey Ortiz has a 79 OPS+ after his hot streak. Sounds like it would behoove the Mariners to address the position before the trade deadline. The Brewers could send them Sánchez and, again, would look to raid a good pitching pipeline in a low-grade way. Replacing The Kraken One issue, of course, comes to mind: Once you’ve dealt the backup catcher, particularly for prospects, you need to replace him. William Contreras’s durability has been impressive, but he did seem to run out of gas in past seasons. Fortunately, the Brewers have an option at Triple-A Nashville for the spot. It's not top prospect Jeferson Quero. Quero’s had some injury trouble the last three seasons, but he’s also had a good bat and his defense has been touted for a long time. Unfortunately, he hasn't caught in over a month, so clearly, there's some lingering issue there, physically. He can't come up and be a catcher in the majors; he's not even catching in the minors. Darrien Miller, however, has had an offensive breakout this season and hasn’t missed a beat in the small sample size at Nashville after posting big numbers in Biloxi. Miller’s long shown excellent OBP skills and is competent behind the plate, giving him a decent floor as a lineup extender. His lefty bat could also complement Contreras and Quero down the road. If the Brewers are willing to roll the dice on the long-time backstop in Miller, trading Sánchez could be a way to keep boosting the farm system without taking a significant bite out of the big-league team. Think of all the extra ABS challenges that would remain available, too. Do you think the Brewers should trade the Kraken? Let us know in the comments below! View full article

There are some teams who could use help at shortstop or third base. Perhaps a heated-up Ortiz could land some future pieces?

He's doing quite well, and I'm confident the Brewers pitching lab can level any pitcher up. See: Colin Rea, Quinn Priester, Trevor Megill, Kyle Harrison, Shane Drohan, Chad Patrick... plenty of examples.

I'm reluctant to deal for a top reliever as well. First, Craig Yoho's looked better in this latest stint, and only got lit up when he went out for a second inning against the Marlins. So, we have one potential in-house solution. Second, I think McCullers might also help out as a multi-inning arm (Eckersley reinvented as a closer, so did Smoltz). Finally, there are some starters the Brewers could bring up to bolster the bullpen (Burnes/Woodruff in 2018, Misiorowski in 2025, etc.). I might pick up the phone to see what bringing Freddy Peralta back from the Mets might cost (Dylan O'Rae and Brock Wilken would be a good package to offer, maybe throw in a rookie-league pitcher or two). Bolster the rotation, move Drohan back to the pen (where he dominated).

As a lefty out of the pen, Kelly would be useful, with the struggles of Koenig this year. That said, Craig Yoho had some good outings until he was asked to go two innings against the Marlins, and I think he could take some of the burden in late innings.

Image courtesy of © Dave Kallmann / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images If the 2018 Brewers draft is, in hindsight, an almost unqualified success, then the 2019 draft is… well, the opposite—for now. Just as the 2018 draft’s final chapter has yet to be written, however, the 2019 draft’s story can certainly change. Let's consider where things stand right now. Best Pick: RHP Taylor Floyd Floyd was selected in the 10th round of the 2019 draft, and seems to have topped out as a Double-A pitcher. Floyd hasn’t stagnated in the Brewers organization, though, because in 2023, the club sent him to the Minnesota Twins for a guy named Trevor Megill. Megill broke out for Milwaukee that summer and has been their closer more often than not since the start of 2024, when he filled in for an injured Devin Williams. With 75 saves over that span and a gaudy 24.8 K-BB% this season, Megill is likely to fetch a decent return when the time comes for a trade, and Abner Uribe can take over as the Brewers’ late-inning specialist. Floyd, though, has scuffled at the Double-A level for Minnesota, Seattle, and Cincinnati. This is the type of deal that helps the Brewers make postseason appearances. It turned a pick who never had much chance to reach the big leagues into a key contributor on multiple division-winning teams. Honorable Mention: SS David Hamilton Hamilton helped Milwaukee early on, when he was part of a package that convinced Boston to take on the contract of Jackie Bradley Jr. and send Hunter Renfroe to the Brewers. A year later, the Brewers dealt Renfroe and landed some relievers, including Elvis Peguero, who was a serviceable part of the team's bullpen for multiple seasons. That was before Hamilton came back to Milwaukee as part of the deal that added Shane Drohan and Kyle Harrison to the Crew’s pitching staff. He’s been a solid lineup extender and disruptive baserunner for the 2026 Brewers, and he has a few years of team control left, so it remains to be seen what happens. Methodologically, we probably shouldn't count the value he creates from now on as part of the value of selecting him. On the other hand, knowing the player well enough to have picked him and having insight on his makeup surely helped the front office feel confident bringing him back. One That Got Away: LHP Antoine Kelly Kelly had some injury struggles, but lately, he looks to have revived his career as a possible left-handed relief option, which was his floor when the Brewers picked him in the second round. The team dealt Kelly along with utility player Mark Mathias, and got Matt Bush in return. Bush was lit up more often than not while with the Brewers, and eventually was released in July 2023 after he posted a 5.94 ERA in 37 appearances for them. That's definitely a trade the Brewers wouldn’t repeat if they had the chance for a do-over. Still Potentially Helpful: C Darrien Miller Miller seems like he’s been around forever, but he’s only 25, and he’s in the midst of an offensive breakout. He’s always had OBP skills, both in drawing walks and getting plunked. His left-handed bat has also flashed some power. After tearing up Double-A Biloxi, Miller was promoted to Triple-A Nashville, where he’s not fallen off much. He may be overshadowed by prospects like Jeferson Quero and Marco Dinges, but Miller’s a competent lineup extender, and he’s someone the Brewers have not minded keeping around. His ceiling is extraordinarily low, but he could be a useful backup backstop if the need arises. Overall Grade: D+ The big issue with this draft is whom the Brewers didn’t pick. In the first round, they could have selected infielder Michael Busch (now with the Cubs) or shortstop Gunnar Henderson (Orioles) instead of pitcher Ethan Small. After Kelly in the second round, Jared Triolo and Michael Harris II were selected and delivered reasonably well. That said, the draft grade could still go up some. The potential trade returns for Megill and Hamilton could alter how this draft shakes out. Miller, if he reaches the majors and serves as a backup/platoon mate to Quero, could also bump the grade higher. But this is one draft with which the Brewers can only wonder what might have been, with different selections. View full article

I wonder if McCullers is a pitching lab candidate to revitalize his career? We already saw Bryse Wilson rebound in a very short sample, and Craig Yoho's been lights out in his latest stint. Take on the McCullers salary, get Gordon as a fireman/back-end starter... for Wilken? I'll take the deal. Wilken's been bypassed by Luke Adams. Pretty much salvages value for that first-round pick, which has not panned out.

What held me back from an A grade were the Fry and Olson trades, TBH. Fry really was a find at that point in the draft, and easily would have been valuable the past four seasons. He played multiple positions decently, could have been a factor behind the plate, too (imagine that in terms of giving Contreras time off). Olson, it's a bit of a double-edged sword. He's a quality back-of-the-rotation guy, but then again, Olson might have meant no Quinn Priester trade, and Priester turned into a much better pitcher in 2025. On the flip side, who might Milwaukee have had with the prospect/draft capital it dealt to Boston to get Priester?

Image courtesy of © Jeff Curry-Imagn Images The 2026 MLB Draft is in the books, and for a bit, most of the names who just paraded past your eyes will now drop off your radar. As we wait for the team to sign its class, though, it's good to remind ourselves of how important this avenue of player acquisition is. If you want a classic example of a draft that goes well, Milwaukee’s 2018 class fits the bill. In one sense, the final grade for this draft still has not been determined, with the effects of trades and free-agent compensation still rippling. Best Picks: IF Brice Turang and RHP Drew Rasmussen (tie) We have a tie in this spot, even though one of these players was barely in Milwaukee. For Turang, who’s already staked a credible claim as the best second baseman in Milwaukee Brewers history, the case is obvious. The defense alone has been a game-winner, and he's also become a threat on the basepaths. Since 2025, though, his bat has leveled up, and he’s arguably now the best second baseman in MLB. Rasmussen, though, has arguably had an equal impact, even though he only made 27 appearances on the mound. In May 2021, he was one of two pitchers shipped to the Tampa Bay Rays for pitcher Trevor Richards and shortstop Willy Adames. Adames, of course, laid his claim as one of the Brewers' all-time greats at shortstop, second only to Robin Yount by the end of the 2024 season when he left as a free agent. Here's the kicker: Rasmussen actually was a 2017 first-round pick by the Rays, who elected not to sign him. So, the Rays eventually got him, but had to cough up an All-Star-caliber shortstop to do so. But the Rasmussen deal can still benefit the Brewers even more. With the departure of Adames came a compensation pick, and shortstop Brady Ebel has looked very impressive in his first full professional season. Honorable Mention: LHP Aaron Ashby Ashby is a great pick, too. He’s a crucial member of the Brewers’ bullpen, even as his contract is slated to jump to $7.7 million in 2027, with $9-million and $13-million team options following that. Injuries did cause a detour from the starting rotation, but a top-end reliever could still fetch a decent trade return in the offseason. More importantly, of course, he's been key to the team's recent success, soaking up innings and putting out fires for a perennial contender. Ones That Got Away: UT David Fry, RHP Reese Olson Fry was one of my personal cheeseballs, a potent right-handed bat with low-grade positional versatility. The Crew sent him to Cleveland in March 2022 to complete an earlier trade for J.C. Mejia, who pitched around a dozen innings for them in 2022 and 2023. This is one trade they probably want back. Fry’s been a valuable bench asset for Cleveland, something the Brewers could have used in recent years. To be fair, though, he's been injury-wrecked and inconsistent at the plate since a brief star turn in October 2024. Reese Olson was a pitching prospect dealt for lefty reliever Daniel Norris, who didn’t work out well for the Brewers. Olson’s occasionally been a decent back-of-the-rotation type for the Tigers. While he's currently on the 60-day injured list, he could have been an asset for Milwaukee and may have helped the team preserve both prospect capital and a competitive-balance pick in early 2025. It's not as though he's proved durable or star-caliber, though, and you have to give up something to fortify playoff-bound pitching staffs. Still Potentially Helpful: LHP Clayton Andrews Andrews was another personal cheeseball, who had a two-way stint for the Advanced-A Carolina Mudcats and Double-A Biloxi Shuckers in 2019 (16 starts in center field—take that, Shohei Ohtani!). But even though he had only four games and 3 1/3 innings pitched, he could still give Milwaukee some benefit. In 2024, the Brewers dealt him to the Yankees for right-handed pitcher Joshua Quezada, who has been collecting a lot of strikeouts and could become decent bullpen help for the Brewers down the road. Quezada is 22 and has spent most of the season in Low A, so don't get too excited, but if any organization can one-red-paperclip their way to value in situations like that one, the Brewers are that outfit. Final Grade: B+ This is an immensely successful draft for the Brewers, who came away with a lot for the picks they made, even as high-ceiling outfield prospects Joe Gray and Micah Bello flamed out and with the trades in which they gave up Fry and Olson not netting them the timely help they hoped for. Still, one cannot really complain about the 2018 draft’s contributions to recent Brewers teams at all. Turang might sign an extension and stick around, but it's more likely he's traded in a couple of years. When he is, it will add new branches to the tree on which the fruits of this class keep appearing. View full article