Harold Hutchison

Willy Adames has been the heart and soul of the Brewers since he arrived in a 2021 trade. The 2024 season appears to be his swan song with the Crew, but does that have to be the case, or should the Brewers find a way to keep him playing half his games at American Family Field? Image courtesy of © Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports Overview Willy Adames came to the Brewers in a 2021 trade that saw pitchers Drew Rasmussen and J.P. Feyereisen get shipped to the Rays. The deal has worked out well for Milwaukee, with Adames becoming one of the best shortstops the Brewers have had in their history, posting a .773 OPS with 91 home runs and 304 RBI for the Crew as of July 24. His defense has also been superb carrying him to 3.0 Wins Above Replacement or more from 2021-2023. As of July 24, he’s posted another 2.4 WAR. The box score contributions aren’t the full measure of what Adames provides for the Brewers. He’s been a crucial leader for the team and a vital clubhouse presence, neither of which show up in the box scores, but those contributions count big time. So, what are the Brewers’ options? Option 1: Let Adames Walk After The Season If Adames walks, the Brewers are not short of contenders to replace him on the field. Both Joey Ortiz and Brice Turang could slide over from third base or second base, respectively, and the defense would not take a hit, with Ortiz offering perhaps the closest thing to a straight-up replacement for Willy’s right-handed power bat. Turang has been an OBP/speed machine who has figured out how to do damage against MLB pitching. Sliding one over to shortstop as an Adames replacement is the easy part. The hard part is that the hole in the clubhouse Adames would leave behind would be very hard to fill, to put it mildly. Can this be avoided? The Brewers have some options. Option 2: Make A Qualifying Offer After The Season Following the season, Milwaukee can extend Adames a qualifying offer (QO). In the 2023-2024 offseason, the figure was $20.325 million. That’s a lot of money for the Crew, which is in one of the smaller markets in MLB. That said, given his contributions to the Crew on the diamond and in the clubhouse, no one can argue that Willy Adames isn’t worth the money. The question becomes fitting him in. If Adames takes the QO, the Crew has to come up with about $8.1 million to reflect the increase in salary from the $12.25 million he gets. Wade Miley comes off the books (an $11 million mutual option likely to be declined), as does Jacob Junis (an $8 million mutual option that’ll probably be declined). The buyouts for those options are $4.5 million, leaving $14.5 million – more than enough to cover Willy’s salary boost. It costs the Brewers any hope of draft pick compensation, but Adames would be a crucial contributor for a team poised for a championship run in 2025. The problem with this strategy is that Adames can decline the qualifying option and enter the free agent market this winter. While the Brewers lose Adames in this situation, they gain a supplemental draft pick in the 2025 MLB Draft. Option 3: Extend Adames In A Long-Term Deal Okay, that’s the scenario of Adames taking the QO. But let’s think longer. There is a chance that the Brewers could get a long-term deal with Adames. It’s a slim chance, but let’s figure out what it might cost. Javier Baez landed a six-year, $120 million deal with the Tigers, following some monster seasons with the Cubs (which included a 2nd-place MVP finish, a Gold Glove, and two All-Star game selections. Dansby Swanson received seven years and $177 million from the Cubs following two Gold Gloves, two All-Star game selections, and three top-20 MVP finishes with Atlanta. Compared to them, Adames is hardware-poor with one top-20 MVP finish. These oversights of Adames, while they stink, could make it very possible for Milwaukee to reach a deal before the QO even comes up. A five-year, $112.5 million ($22.5 million AAV) deal, with a significant amount deferred (say, $37.5 million paid out over 30 years), could have Adames remain a fixture in Milwaukee alongside Christian Yelich and Jackson Chourio to the end of the decade (2029 without the QO). Yes, it would be another big contract alongside Yelich’s, and that might tie the team’s hands a little. On the other hand, locking down Adames – even at a high price – gives the Crew a superb infield through 2029 and retains a crucial clubhouse leader (in addition to the on-field production). Overview Willy Adames has been a major contributor since his acquisition in 2021. It may well be in the Crew’s best interests to hope he takes the QO (with the 2025 team looking ready for a championship run) or to knock out a long-term deal to keep him in Milwaukee. In this case, given that Adames provides big-time production on the field and is also a key contributor in the clubhouse in ways that don't show up in box scores, the deal is probably well worth the cash. View full article

The last two first-round picks for the Milwaukee Brewers, shortstop Eric Brown Jr. and third baseman Brock Wilken, have big-league futures. However, could their best value for the organization be as trade assets, rather than eventual Brewers? Image courtesy of © Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports Reviewing The Picks In the 2022 amateur draft, the Brewers used their first-round pick to select shortstop Eric Brown Jr. To date in his career, Brown has shown defense, speed on the basepaths, and superior OBP skills. His big issue has been staying healthy, though, and his offense has slumped to a batting average slightly below the Uecker line (hitting .195 as of Jul. 13), with a stint on the injured list. The following year, Brock Wilken was Milwaukee’s first-round pick. He’s rapidly climbed to Biloxi in less than a year, but his 2024 season has been thrown somewhat off track by a scary incident wherein he was hit by a pitch and missed significant time. He provides a right-handed power bat and solid defense at third base. The In-House Alternatives The Brewers have long had a buffet of options at shortstop. At the major-league level alone, Joey Ortiz could secure the spot for the next half-decade, while Andruw Monasterio and Brice Turang could be options, as well. Down on the farm, Jadher Areinamo, Cooper Pratt, and Filippo Di Turi are among several contenders who have flashed serious potential. Jesus Made and Luiyin Alastra are showing some potential in the rookie leagues. At third base, the Brewers have completely changed their situation from what it was at the start of 2023, and not just due to Wilken being selected. In that same draft, the Brewers added Mike Boeve and Eric Bitonti, while Tyler Black had a solid season at the hot corner that year. Down in Carolina, Juan Báez has also emerged as a contender for the position after converting from being a bat-first shortstop. Areinamo has also seen action at the hot corner. Ortiz has held down third base in 2024. Luke Adams is also flashing a potent bat and superb OBP skills over several seasons in the minors. The Case For Not Trading Them Both Brown and Wilken make Brewer Fanatic’s Top 20 and MLB Pipeline’s Top 30 prospect lists for the Brewers. In just about any scenario, these players look to be assets for the Brewers. Wilken would hold down third base for at least a half-decade, before the harsh hot-stove economic realities hit. Brown could slide in as a high-end utility player, giving Wilken, Ortiz, and Turang days off and notching 3-4 starts a week, depending on the situation. Conventionally, it is the safer play to hold onto young, cost-controlled talent, especially for a team with limited financial muscle. The team has made substantial financial investments in these two ($2.05 million in the case of Brown, $3.15 million for Wilken). So, why not give them every chance to be stars for the Brewers? The Case For Making A Deal As former first-round picks, Brown and Wilken can help fetch a premium return. Take, for instance, trying to put together a package for Tarik Skubal. Wilken and Brown would make an intriguing two-part starting point for the deal, with the Crew tossing in Carlos F. Rodriguez, Luis Lara, and a piece or two from their crowded MLB bullpen (Elvis Peguero, Rob Zastryzny) to make it happen. Perhaps Wilken and Brown could, on their own, net a solid rotation piece in the mold of Aaron Civale (think Yusei Kikuchi from the Blue Jays). A Joel Payamps/Eric Brown Jr. package could net the Crew Kikuchi, while bolstering the rotation. Another option could be to see if Wilken and Brown could net the Crew a long-term asset. Wilken could probably secure Edward Cabrera from the Marlins in a straight-up swap (issue with the crowded 40-man roster notwithstanding). Brown could pair with Bradley Blalock to acquire Mason Black, from the Giants. Overview Eric Brown Jr. and Brock Wilken were exciting pickups when they were drafted. They could be real assets for the Brewers down the road, but there is a strong case that they could help the Brewers more as trade assets from positions of depth. Either way, they're names worth keeping in mind for the next week. View full article

Yeah, once he's healthy. Unless, of course, Contreras isn't as lucky after the next big collision at the plate or Sanchez strains his calf again.

The pending return of Gary Sanchez from the injured list has the Brewers in a potentially tough spot due to Eric Haase being out of options. But could a solution to their backup catcher conundrum be available at Biloxi? Image courtesy of © Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin / USA TODAY NETWORK The 26-Man Roster Crunch William Contreras has been a highly durable option for the Brewers at catcher – with Gary Sanchez primarily serving as designated hitter for the Crew. Sanchez has been on the injured list with a left calf strain and could return after the All-Star break. In the meantime, Eric Haase, who was initially on the 40-man, had to be outrighted when he didn’t make the 26-man roster out of spring training due to being out of options. When Sanchez returns, Haase is likely to be designated for assignment again, and this time, the Crew will not be as fortunate as they were in March. So, the question is, do they lose Haase for nothing or salvage some return? But a trade could leave them without a backup catcher… or is an answer already in-house? Biloxi’s Outstanding On-Base Machine Darrien Miller has been one of the more under-the-radar prospects for the Brewers since being drafted in the ninth round in 2019. Jeferson Quero got a lot of attention and is on the prospect lists. Still, since being drafted out of high school, Miller has quietly displayed outstanding on-base skills (195 walks in 1139 professional at-bats through July 10) and, in most years, has flashed some pop in his left-handed bat. In 2024, Miller’s formidable on-base skills have taken a quantum leap at Double-A Biloxi. From 2021-2023, including his winter stint at Brisbane, Miller posted a .368 OBP. As a Shucker in 2024, his OBP is .432 through July 10, fueled by 45 walks, and it includes a selection as Hitter of the Month by Brewers Player Development. Miller has also gotten on base the hard way – as of July, he’s been hit 16 times in 2024, with a career total of 67. If Miller has an issue, it’s that he’s been unable to keep baserunners from taking larcenous liberties – in his professional career, he’s thrown out just 16% of would-be base stealers. So, in one sense, he is a bat-first catcher, although not to the extent of Satchell Norman. Otherwise, he’s a solid backstop. The Case For Selecting Miller The Brewers need another catcher on the 40-man to address any additional IL visits by either Sanchez or Contreras – and Contreras may be wearing down and in need of more off days. While most backup backstop issues may be fixed by having Christian Yelich DH more, the Crew needs a backup that can take the shuttle from Milwaukee to Nashville in 2024. Quero was to have been that guy, but his shoulder injury wiped out his 2024 season. Miller, though, could be that guy for the Crew and offers additional benefits. His left-handed bat complements the righty bats of Contreras, Quero, and Sanchez. Plus, he will have three option years – and the Crew can use him for the shuttle. If his on-base skills and pop translate to the majors, so much the better for the Crew, they will have plenty of options. The Alternatives Why Miller over Wes Clarke, Francisco Mejia, and Brian Navarreto? Mejia has a solid case to be added to the 40-man roster – plenty of MLB experience, a switch hitter, substantial pedigree as a top prospect, and playing at Triple-A Nashville. The problem with Mejia is that it puts the Brewers in the same position they are in with Haase—Mejia burned his option years in 2018, 2019, and 2020. In August 2023, the Rays outrighted Mejia. The Brewers can do much better than a “lather, rinse, repeat” of the Eric Haase situation. Mejia is a guy who thinks about flipping for help, either in the bullpen or to find a prospect. Navarreto’s biggest problem is the bat. It’s nowhere near as good as Miller’s; he is another right-handed hitter. At 29, he is a solid depth option and mentor for catching prospects who make the high minors, but the Brewers can do better regarding MLB options. As for Clarke, the potential issue is rust. While he was the primary backup to both Quero and Miller in 2023 and 2022, this year, he has all six games behind the plate. The big reason is that his three-true-outcomes bat made it to Triple-A Nashville, where Haase and Mejia have done the catching. Clarke deserves a 40-man spot due to his bat, but it may need to wait until the offseason. Overview The fact is, the Brewers have some blues when it comes to a backup catcher for the short term, given Quero’s injury and Haase’s lack of options and vulnerability to the DFA process. The Brewers should look to deal Haase – perhaps to Cleveland, which could use an upgrade at catcher (even if Austin Hedges is more of a coach). The Brewers could give Cleveland an upgrade over Hedges as a player in exchange for Cleveland’s competitive balance pick in the 2024 draft. After that deal, the Brewers could then make a call to Biloxi that could fix these backup backstop blues, not just for 2024 but for years down the road. View full article

My thinking? Have Darrien Miller ready for a call-up. While he has never had the hype of Quero, he's got excellent OBP skills, bats left-handed, and would have option years. Deal Haase for some minor-league pitching help, add Miller to the 40-man after selecting his contract, then he can be optioned to Nashville when Sanchez is healthy.

A little past the half-way point of the major league season is a good time to take a look for the future. In this case, which under-the-radar position-player prospects have earned a spot on the 40-man roster, protecting them from the Rule 5 draft or keeping them in the fold? Let’s face it, there are some players who are making a very compelling case for either immediate promotion, or a spot on the 40-man in the higher levels of the minors. Let’s take a look at five of these prospects. IF/OF Isaac Collins Collins was a waiver-wire pickup from the Colorado Rockies system in the 2022-2023 offseason. Since then, he posted an .855 OPS in the pitcher-friendly Southern League in 2023, and is posting a .905 OPS with Triple-A Nashville to date. His power has gone up a step (36 extra-base hits in 263 at-bats to date, compared to 25 in all of 2023), he’s also adding speed (16-for-20 in stolen base attempts), and his OBP skills are superb. In addition, he plays multiple infield and outfield positions. With this performance, he will be at or near the top of lists for teams to grab in the Rule 5 draft, which means the only return the Crew gets is $100,000 cash. That’s not a good return for what could be at minimum, a valuable bench asset. The Crew ought to make sure that doesn’t happen by putting him on the 40-man. He represents a clear upgrade over Vinny Capra or Oliver Dunn in terms of offense. UT Noah Campbell Campbell was signed as an undrafted free agent following the truncated MLB draft, but earlier had been picked by the Crew. He’s been a bit of a steal, providing all-over-the-diamond positional versatility (even collecting a save). His offensive profiles features the ability to get walks, some speed, and occasional power. That competent bat is not his biggest virtue. His biggest virtue is his defensive versatility, in which he can handle any position on the diamond – useful when a team had all of four bench spots. His ability to take the mound is another asset, giving the Crew someone for those “garbage time” outings. 1B/C/DH Wes Clarke Clarke is perhaps one of the Brewers biggest late-round steals in recent years. In 2023, all he did was outperform Jackson Chourio in home runs, doubles, walks, and OPS while splitting time between first base, catcher, and designated hitter. His three-true-outcomes bat (54 homers, 200 walks, and 349 strikeouts in 1003 professional at-bats as of July 4) might make for a useful complement to Tyler Black at first base. Clarke’s defensive abilities also should give him an edge. In 2023, he was Jeferson Quero’s primary backup at Double-A Biloxi and fulfilled the same role for Darrien Miller in Advanced-A Wisconsin. Come 2025, should the Crew go with William Contreras and Jeferson Quero in Milwaukee, it’s likely Contreras sees a lot of time at DH, and having a third catcher like Clarke could be a huge boost. 1B/OF Ernesto Martinez Martinez has had a long road to date in his professional career, and the Crew re-signed him when he reached minor-league free agency in the 2023-2024 offseason. That decision’s looked good as Martinez has held down first base for Double-A Biloxi. While injuries have delayed Martinez’s rise, he is still only 25, but the tools and past production point to an Eric Thames offensive with a couple of bonuses. One such bonus is speed – Martinez has posted excellent stolen-base numbers since the pandemic – 67 stolen bases in 81 attempts. He’s also flashed greater defensive versatility than Jake Bauers or Thames, by filling in at center field in 2024 (and 2021). If the Crew did decide to move some outfielders or a player like Tyler Black, Martinez is not a bad fallback option. C Darrien Miller While Jeferson Quero has generated the prospect accolades, Darrien Miller has quietly developed into at least a solid number two catcher, and he could be an excellent complement to Contreras and/or Quero. His left-handed bat has flashed power, but throughout his career, Miller has also displayed superb OBP skills (192 walks in 1134 professional at-bats as of July 4). He’s also willing to get on base the hard way (plunked 72 times in those 1134 pro at-bats). Miller is a potential minor-league free agent in the 2024-2025 offseason but will only be 24 in the 2025 season. Brewers Player Development named him their Player of the Month for June. He’s a clear candidate for a 40-man spot, if only to have a little offensive variety with his lefty bat and OBP skills. Overview When the Brewers look at the upcoming offseason, these are players they could very easily lose to the Rule 5 draft or free agency. The Crew has done well with some not-so-heralded pickups in the offseason, luring them with 40-man spots (see Blake Perkins), but it may be time to do the same with home-grown talent. View full article

I'd work the deal a little differently, and use it to clear 40-man space, which the Crew will have to do: 3B Brock Wilken, CF Blake Perkins, RHP Carlos F. Rodriguez, and 1B Jake Bauers. Detroit gets upgrades at 1B (Bauers over Torkelson) and DH (Perkins bumps Greene to DH, displacing Canha). They also get a near-MLB-ready arm in Rodriguez and our 2023 1st-round pick.

I'd go with a package of Blake Perkins and Elvis Peguero for Eovaldi. Gives the Rangers a CF upgrade - Crew gets a veteran ace for 2024-2025 to go with Peralta and maybe Woodruff, and they net a 40-man spot for DL Hall/Devin Williams.

As of July 4, the Milwaukee Brewers had a 52-35 record. They lead the focus of evil in the National League Central by seven games. Image courtesy of © Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports Yes, they need help in their starting rotation. Yes, they acquired starting pitcher Aaron Civale from the Rays, but that cost the Crew Gregory Barrios, a shortstop posting solid offensive numbers with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers at the Advanced-A level. This is not the best way to go about it – not for the team’s long-term future – although, given the injuries, it probably was necessary. That being said, the Brewers need to sell at the deadline—in 2024—while leading the division with what looks like one of the best offenses in the majors. Before the pitchforks come out, let’s explain why they need to sell. They have a significant roster crunch coming in the 2024-2025 offseason. Part of this is due to having seven pitchers on the 60-day injured list. Those don’t count against the 40-man roster limit… until the season ends. That’s if the pitchers don’t return, and at least two of the seven pitchers on the 60-day list, DL Hall and Devin Williams, are expected back sometime in July to bolster the staff, so that’s two 40-man spots the Crew has to open up in short order. That number goes to three if Joe Ross makes a return. Down the road, the math gets tougher, too. Even if you account for the free-agent departures of Wade Miley, Jakob Junis, and Ross after 2024, the Brewers still need to accommodate the returns of Brandon Woodruff, JB Bukauskas, and Robert Gasser to the 40-man at the end of the season, when the injured lists go away. This crunch comes before the Crew even gets to the prospects needing protection from the Rule 5 draft that must be added. So, the undeniable truth is that the Brewers will need to clear some roster space soon. The usual way to clear the space is to designate players for assignment, waive them, or non-tendering them after the season. However, that denies the team a return on some players who – as we are finding out in 2024 – could be valuable contributors to a major league team. The good news is they have some talent they can sell for prospects to bolster the farm system or for additional short-term help in the starting rotation. Let’s look over some of the potential assets they could move. RHPs Elvis Peguero and Joel Payamps Let’s face it: when Devin Williams returns, the bullpen will shift around a bit. Make that a lot since Jared Koenig and Enoli Paredes are on the 15-day injured list and could return by the end of July. Peguero and Payamps could very well end up at the back end of the bullpen, even though they have been quite capable. But a back-end-of-the-bullpen guy on the Brewers might be a late-inning option for at least half the teams in MLB. This is where the Crew starts looking to sell at the right price and situation for these two pitchers. Payamps has two years of team control – and Peguero has four. That could only help the Brewers re-stock. At the start of the season, I said they were trade chips and that calculus isn’t changing – it’s becoming more apparent. LHP Hoby Milner Milner has one year of team control beyond 2024, and between Jared Koenig, Bryan Hudson, and Rob Zastryzny, the Brewers have controllable lefty relief options. While dealing Milner might seem like the Crew is repeating the infamous Josh Hader deal of 2022, the circumstances are far different – Milner is not a generational talent who is a dominating closer. The return might not be Hader-esque, but the team has plenty of options already on the table. OF Blake Perkins Blake Perkins has been one of the big breakouts for the Crew in 2024, a hidden gem signed in the 2022-2023 offseason. That said, it’s clear he is perhaps the fifth-best outfielder on the Brewers, behind Christian Yelich, Garrett Mitchell, Jackson Chourio, and Sal Frelick. Perkins has made some excellent plays and improved his approach at the plate. That said, it’s about putting the best players on the field, and Perkins is clearly behind almost all of the outfielders on the 40-man. That said, it is also true that he is a fourth or fifth outfielder on the Brewers, but he could start for a few teams – and could be a major upgrade for the Angels or Blue Jays in center field. He’s good enough to fetch a substantial return with five years of team control past 2024. OF Joey Wiemer Wiemer has been in AAA trying to re-work his swing. To put it mildly, the results have been mixed with a call-up to Milwaukee disrupting things. That said, in 2023, he showed he had a defense and power mix that made him a solid reserve - or a fourth outfielder. 1B/OF Jake Bauers Bauers has been a solid left-handed complement to Rhys Hoskins in 2023, posting a .710 OPS as of July 4. That being said, it may be time to flip him. For starters, the Crew will need a place for Tyler Black to get regular at-bats over the short term, and first base could be as good a place as any. Plus, there is a chance that Rhys Hoskins will move on (he has an opt-out for 2025), and that would require the Crew to look at a longer-term option at first base and DH. Could Christian Yelich make the move? Will Tyler Black settle in? In either of those cases, Bauer is a redundancy, not a complement. If Hoskins returns, Black is a cheaper alternative with greater positional versatility. Either way, the fair thing to do is to find him an opportunity. What To Ask For? The Brewers will need to carefully calibrate their asking price. They will certainly want to get assets to assist in the future. Ideally, it would be minor-league players two years away from a Rule 5 decision. Or, they can package a couple of these players for a short-term rental – gaining a net 40-man space (think a Peguero/Janson Junk package to the Blue Jays for Yusei Kikuchi or Blake Perkins to the Angels for Joel Hurtado and Adrian Acosta). Overview The Brewers will need some 40-man roster spots by the end of the season – and a few more afterwards. It may be time for them to sell now to free up those spots while netting a significant return that could help the team now or down the road. View full article

Put it this way... I would not make a major deal at the deadline. I did put forth my idea of the kind of deal we would see here: Dealing Perkins for Kikuchi could help the Crew win now (Especially with Garrett Mitchell coming back) and Kikuchi wouldn't break the bank if the Crew wanted to keep him on for another year.

I see Paul Molitor in the 1987-1994 timeframe. It's that type of toolset.

I think he sold out for launch angle in 2020 - and the numbers bear it out. Four doubles to 13 homers that year - and 85 strikeouts. I think he wanted to loft the ball more, and it wrecked his swing.

Tyler Black has recently returned to Milwaukee, but how can the Brewers best help him reach his potential? For starters, perhaps they should let Tyler be Tyler. Image courtesy of © Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports A recent article suggested that Black has some similarities to Tampa Rays third baseman Isaac Paredes. While both have played first, second, and third base in their professional careers, the similarities may not quite hold up. Black and Paredes, Compared According to Baseball-Reference, Tyler Black is a left-handed hitter, 5'10" tall, and 204 pounds. Paredes is a right-handed hitter, with a five-foot-eleven height and weighing 213 pounds. Do an inch and ten pounds matter much? Well, Brice Turang’s offense took a leap up when he played to his skill set, but the fact he added muscle didn't hurt him too much, either. That said, while Black and Paredes arguably share batted ball data in common, and both have enough power to put balls in the stands when they pull the ball, they differ in two very important aspects of offense, and those differences matter a lot. Walks According to Baseball-Reference, Paredes has drawn 235 walks in 1,898 minor-league at-bats, or he walks about once every 8.07 at-bats. This is not a bad percentage, and that eye has held up in the majors with 149 walks in 1258 at-bats, or one walk for every 8.44 at-bats. It’s safe to say that Paredes has a decent eye to go with that power. Black, though, has 197 walks in 975 at-bats. That is one for every 5.21 at-bats. This is a huge difference and a sign that Black has a phenomenal eye for the strike zone. This sort of difference matters. All things being equal, Black’s likely to put up higher OBP by racking up a lot of free passes. Black’s superior OBP skills – and his eye – call for a different strategy than what might work for Paredes. There’s one other aspect of their offensive skill sets to look at. Speed Paredes posted nine triples and 13 steals across his 1,898 minor-league at-bats. Those don’t seem like bad numbers for a power hitter, particularly when looking at someone who has hit 56 homers in that timeframe. Black’s 975 minor-league at-bats for those categories are 20 triples and 84 swipes. In fact, during his breakout 2023 campaign, Black dwarfed Paredes’s minor league career totals in those categories in a total of 450 at-bats with 12 triples and 55 steals. There really is no comparison – on the basepaths, Black is a threat. When he gets hits, he can easily stretch doubles into triples and turn singles into doubles. This capability is completely absent from the skill set of Paredes and should be considered very carefully before one asks Black to completely sell out in this fashion. Hiura’s Cautionary Tale The Brewers drafted Keston Hiura in the first round of the 2017 draft. He rapidly rose through the minors to make his 2019 MLB debut as a second baseman. He posted a 138 OPS+ and was seen as a major contributor. But things started to go off-track in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. Although Hiura led the Crew with 13 homers and 32 RBI, everything else went down the drain. He had an NL-leading 85 strikeouts and other numbers also dropped, including an OPS+ of only 87. In 2021, he completely cratered and split time between Milwaukee and Triple-A Nashville in that year and 2022. His partial rebound in 2022 wasn’t enough to keep him from being out-righted in 2023. In 2024, he’s split time between the Triple-A affiliates of the Tigers and the Angels. One factor may have been the “launch angle” revolution. In 2022, Hiura’s average exit velocity and BABIP were relatively comparable to his 2019 totals as a rookie, but the strikeout rate was higher. His skill set before that was a lot like Paredes's, albeit with a higher strikeout rate. There’s a lesson here. Overview The Brewers have a very dynamic bat in Black, as he has demonstrated in the minors. In this case, though, the answer may be more along the lines of allowing Black to play to his superb skills – with some serious offseason conditioning to add some more muscle. By letting Tyler Black be Tyler Black (albeit bulked up a little), the Brewers could get a truly special offensive player. View full article

The Toronto Blue Jays are a decent team in a tough division. Could the Brewers leverage their 2024 situation into some short-term solutions – or even a longer-term fix? Image courtesy of © Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports In some ways, Toronto looks like a seller. They are 13 games back of the division-leading Yankees, and the AL East is a tough division. The Tampa Bay Rays have made the playoffs for the last five years. The Baltimore Orioles won 101 games in 2023. The Yankees are looking very good this season, while the Red Sox have not exactly been pushovers. This just hasn’t looked like the Jays' year, but they have a lot of talent that could help them catch lightning in a bottle over the next few years, and they have some holes the Brewers could fill. Over 30 years ago, the Blue Jays were party to one of the biggest heartbreaks Brewers fans ever had. But could they bring Brewers fans a sweet memory? Let’s look and see what birds they have in hand for the Crew. Toronto Blue Jays: (32-33), 4th Place in the AL East The Blue Jays might be nearly in the cellar, but they are not as bad off as the White Sox, Marlins, or similarly moribund franchises. This is a team that has tasted success in recent years, even if they are decades removed from World Series titles in 1992 and 1993. In the only season of the last four in which they didn't reach the postseason, they were 91-win hard-luck losers. In the infield, Bo Bichette, Cavan Biggio, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. have been mainstays. Their biggest issue on the offensive side of the ball has been the decline of George Springer and Kevin Kiermaier, both of whom have OPSes below .610 as of Jun. 7, with Kiermaier at a meager .557. Production at catcher and designated hitter has also dropped substantially, with Alejandro Kirk slumping and Justin Turner not quite performing at the level that Brandon Belt did for the Jays in 2023. On the other hand, Toronto has some strong pitching. Jose Berríos, Yusei Kikuchi, Chris Bassitt, and Kevin Gausman have all posted solid numbers this season. Their bullpen has been shakier, but some electric performances help the Jays remain in games with tough division opponents. Why Would They Sell? They are just two games back for the last Wild Card spot in the American League. So, they’re not looking to raise a white flag, but they have some holes to fill. They are in desperate need of improvement in center field. Over the medium to long term, they will be looking for young starting pitchers. None of their top four starters are below the age of 30, and the Jays are a club who looks to be in need of at least a soft reset to remain competitive while getting younger, given some of the veterans who have declined. Their payroll of $213 million limits their flexibility to address their holes. Plus, some of their players are on the cusp of free agency. Whom might they deal? One option would be Kikuchi, whose three-year deal ends after 2024, putting him back on the market. Another could be catcher Danny Jansen, who is arguably their best offensive player (.847 OPS in 113 at-bats), but also a pending free agent. The clock is also ticking on reliever Yimi Garcia, who’s posted a 1.50 ERA and three saves in 23 appearances, helping to cover for the injured Jordan Romano. Why They Could Be A Trade Partner If the Blue Jays need young talent, Milwaukee has a lot of it, including a couple of potential logjams where the Jays are looking for help. One of those logjams is in the outfield, where the Brewers have Sal Frelick, Jackson Chourio, Blake Perkins, Chris Roller, Garrett Mitchell, and Joey Wiemer on their 40-man roster, alongside Christian Yelich. On the flip side, the Brewers need starting pitching. While Joe Ross, DL Hall, and Jakob Junis could be back relatively soon, it is crucial for the Crew to line up one more arm, particularly with Robert Gasser going on the 15-day injured list with his elbow issue. With a number of teams looking for pitching help, the Brewers are going to have to make a solid offer or find a potential seller that other teams may not consider calling early on. The Blue Jays fit this bill, since they have some needs, but are not quite out of the playoff hunt yet. Brewers Trade Targets Blue Jays General Manager Ross Atkins has ruled out dealing Bichette or Guerrero, per MLB Trade Rumors. However, the Brewers aren't looking for infield help, and Atkins has said nothing about the team’s starting pitchers being off the market. Since the Crew needs someone for the rotation, it may be a chance to buy early, and get a decent deal. Which starter (or starters) should the Crew target? Let’s look over their top four. Bassitt and Gausman may look appealing, but both are old (Bassitt is 35, Gausman 33), and both have salaries in excess of $20 million for 2025. Bassitt’s deal runs through 2026. The Crew needs rotation help, but should only acquire Bassitt or Gausman if the Jays pick up substantial salary and if the cost in terms of young talent is lower than expected. Berríos is the youngest of the Jays starters, and arguably the ace of their rotation. He is also under team control as part of a seven-year, $131 million deal. He gets $18.7 million a year in 2025 and 2026, after which he can opt out. If he doesn’t, the Crew would be on the hook for $24.7 million in both 2027 and 2028. That’s a hefty price tag, but he could be worth it as a veteran ace alongside Freddy Peralta and the Crew’s young rotation prospects. The money would make a deal very complicated, but might also hold down the prospect price tag. That leaves Kikuchi, who has put up very good numbers in 2024, posting a 2-5 record and a 3.66 ERA over 66 1/3 innings pitched in 12 starts. The 33-year-old Japanese lefty has taken his game up a notch in the last year with a new curveball, but his contract expires after this year, and he’s represented by Scott Boras. As a partial-season rental, he could arguably fill in well enough for 2024. The pro-rated $10 million doesn’t break the bank, and it's unlikely he'd command the kind of prospect haul that a more controllable starter would. The Match-Up The Brewers could solve Toronto’s center field problem for the next few years with any number of candidates. Blake Perkins is an interesting player. Given the season he's had to date, he could help Toronto round out baseball's best defensive outfield, and his bat would give them nice ways to rest and rotate the likes of Kiermaier and Springer. It might be painful to move Perkins for a rest-of-the-season rental in Kikuchi, but such a deal gives both teams something to address 2024 needs as they continue running for the playoffs. Failing that, the two teams still have other pieces that might generate mutual interest. Toronto is a team to watch this month and next, as the Brewers position themselves for a run deep into October. View full article

The Brewers have managed to do very well this season, and one of the reasons is the fact that trade trees have provided an outstanding harvest for the Crew. Which trades (which may not have seemed like much, or which even looked like bad calls) deserve to be studied under new light now? Image courtesy of © Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports What Is A Trade Tree? To understand this piece, we need to define a trade tree. It is the future transactions stemming from any given trade. Take, for instance, the JJ Hardy trade. The Brewers got Carlos Gómez, whom they flipped a few years later with Mike Fiers for Josh Hader, Adrian Houser, Brett Phillips, and Domingo Santana. Houser was dealt this past offseason with Tyrone Taylor, for Coleman Crow (currently recovering from surgery). Phillips was part of a package the Brewers used to acquire Mike Moustakas. You get the idea. In fact, we can start this analysis with the trade tree stemming from part of the Carlos Gomez return package. The Josh Hader Trade – Short-Term Scuffle, Long-Term Lift This is one many Brewers fans already know about. By the end of October 2022, it looked like a mess. Dinelson Lamet and Taylor Rogers were both either out, or on their way out, while the Brewers were left with Esteury Ruiz, who could rack up a lot of stolen bases, along with left-handed pitcher Robert Gasser. Over the 2022-2023 offseason, though, the Crew made a trade that may not have been possible without the Hader deal. They acquired catcher William Contreras and reliever Joel Payamps (plus minor-league reliever Justin Yeager) for Ruiz. The Hader deal has taken on a whole new complexion now, not just with the knock-on trade, but also with Gasser’s arrival and his emergence as a solid starting pitcher. So Hader netted the Brewers an All-Star-level catcher (Contreras), a very solid bullpen piece (Payamps), a solid rookie starter (Gasser), and we still have yet to see what Yeager does. This is before any future trades involving the players currently on the ladder. The Jackie Bradley Jr. Trade Tree – Salvaging A Bad Signing After one year, the signing of Jackie Bradley Jr. was clearly not working out. He’d posted an OPS of .497 and provided -0.6 Wins Above Replacement in 2021. The Brewers were able to get out of a $9.5 million salary they would have paid Bradley by sending him (along with minor-leaguers Alex Binelas and David Hamilton) to Boston for Hunter Renfroe. Renfroe gave the Brewers a solid 2022 season in right field, posting an .807 OPS and hitting 29 homers. But with a lot of young outfielders, the Brewers made another deal, sending Renfroe to the Angels. In return, they got Elvis Peguero, Janson Junk, and Adam Seminaris. Peguero has been a solid reliever, sometimes dominant and at other times frustrating. Junk has been on the Milwaukee-Nashville shuttle, mostly providing depth. Adam Seminaris has struggled with injuries, but has posted solid numbers out of the Biloxi bullpen. Like the Hader trade, this trade tree is still capable of generating more returns, should one of Peguero, Junk, or Seminaris be dealt. For now, given that it started with a busted outfield signing, it's already yielded impressive returns. The Trent Grisham Trade Tree – A Roller-Coaster Heading Up For A While? Prior to 2020, the Brewers traded Zach Davies and Trent Grisham to the Padres for Luis Urías and Eric Lauer. Urías and Lauer struggled in the pandemic-altered 2020, but were key players on the 2021 and 2022 teams before falling off in 2023. It briefly looked like it could be a major coup, but has settled toward a fairly value-neutral sequence. Lauer was non-tendered, but the Crew dealt Urías to Boston for minor-league pitcher Bradley Blalock. Blaylock is putting up very strong numbers in the upper minors, and could be a solid rotation prospect. As such, there is no telling what heights this could lead to for the Crew, whether Blalock contributes as a Brewer or nets the Crew an asset in a trade. The Kolten Wong Trade Tree – Shooting Up Like A Rocket? The Brewers dealt Kolten Wong to the Mariners for Jesse Winker and Abraham Toro to clear the path for Brice Turang and to line up a full-time DH. The former plan worked. Turang struggled at the plate offensively, but provided Gold Glove-caliber defense in 2023, and we know what he's doing in 2024. Winker provided OBP skills, but little pop as a DH for the Crew. However, the Brewers also got Abraham Toro in the deal. Toro mostly spent 2023 in Triple-A, but did very well in a cup of coffee for the Crew. Then the Crew flipped Toro to the A’s and got Chad Patrick. This season, to date, Patrick is arguably Nashville’s ace, outperforming Carlos Rodriguez (the pitcher) so far. At the very least, Patrick is someone the Crew could flip for some pennant-run reinforcements. But he could also wind up being an excellent fit for the Brewers’ rotation as well. Overview Any trade made at the deadline isn’t just going to be about this season – trades in Brewers history have reverberated far into the future. Other trades, very recent, can likely do the same. View full article

I'd look at maybe stretching out Bryan Hudson to fill a rotation spot - the way the Crew did with Bryse Wilson. Also, with Rodriguez putting it together in AAA, along with the excellent performances from Chad Patrick and Bradley Blaylock, there are some options. In addition, if the Brewers are willing to roll the dice on a bit of a bullpen remodeling and do what the 2018 team did with a couple of future aces named Burnes and Woodruff... they could have a post-ASB pen of: Williams (closer), Megill (8th), Milner (6th/7th), Paredes (6th/7th), Koenig (6th/7th), Misiorowski (long/fireman), Ashby (long/fireman), and Rodriguez (long/fireman).