Michael Trzinski

Must be lots of BF readers at the games. Seems like since this piece came out, he gets a nice ovation every time he comes up to the dish.

Jesus MadeLuis PenaLuis LaraJosh AdamczewskiBraylon PayneAndrew FischerJett WilliamsBlake BurkeTyson HardinBrady EbelMarco DingesJeferson QueroBishop LetsonLuke AdamsJosh KnothRicki MoneysEthan DorchiesDiego FrontadoMike BoeveJaron DeBerry

I would put Henderson/May #2/#3, with Harrison moving down until he proves he is healthy again.

I guess they weren't looking for anybody lol

Image courtesy of IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect The 2026 MLB trade deadline is rapidly approaching—it's on August 3—and even though the Milwaukee Brewers are seemingly set for position players, we at Brewer Fanatic would like to offer a dozen or so players who could be good pieces to fill in for injuries or demotions. Great though it's been to see Joey Ortiz go on a bit of a tear, we don't believe in ignoring the downside that still lurks for Ortiz, Cooper Pratt, and others. So, here's where the team might pivot if needed. Enjoy! Higher-Salary Players Oswaldo Cabrera, New York Yankees (AAA), 27 Cabrera is currently playing at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and is hitting .284/.343/.435 with 10 home runs across 299 at-bats, so he has some pop as a switch-hitter. He has played every position except for catcher and center field this year, so he offers good versatility for a team that craves that asset. He has a one-year, $1.2-million contract for 2026, which obviously isn't much in baseball terms—but it's kind of a lot for a fifth infielder. Edmundo Sosa, Philadelphia Phillies, 30 The right-handed Sosa has played at least 10 games at second base, third base, shortstop, and left field for the Phillies this year. His batting numbers are down a bit (.213/.250/.350) from his career averages of .253/.304/.408, but he has hit five dingers across 160 at-bats. His $4.4 million contract might keep potential suitors away. But for a contender like the Brewers, the fact that Sosa has played in 19 postseason games is a huge plus. (Of course, the Phillies are also a contender, so they (like the Yankees) might not be eager to give up their own depth.) Didn’t You Used to Be Somebody? Jeimer Candelario, Los Angeles Angels (AAA), 32 The switch-hitting corner infielder has had a solid 11-year major-league career, but is toiling at Salt Lake this season. He's hitting .263/.364/.442 for the Bees, with six homers across 217 ABs. He signed a 3-year, $45-million contract with the Halos before the 2024 campaign, but he might be willing to sign a smaller deal to get back to the big leagues. Santiago Espinal, Texas Rangers (AAA), 31 Released by the Los Angeles Dodgers in late May, Espinal signed a minor league contract with the Rangers just before Independence Day. The righty-hitting utility infielder has been at Round Rock and is hitting .250/.300/.306 over 36 ABs but is heating up a bit lately, going 5-for-11 in his last three games. Espinal was an All-Star with Toronto in 2022 and has seven years’ experience in the bigs. Stuck in the Minors Christian Koss, San Francisco Giants, 28 Koss got called up to San Francisco when third baseman Matt Chapman went down with an abdominal injury in early July. He has had limited success in a small sample, going just 3-for-21 since being promoted. Koss has spent seven years in the minors, slashing .277/.340/.458 with 59 home runs across 1700+ at-bats. It is likely he will return to the minors when Chapman returns in late July, so he could possibly be a versatile, cheap pickup for Milwaukee. Nick Sogard, Boston Red Sox (AAA), 28 Sogard is a switch-hitter who has lots of minor league time under his belt with numbers similar to those of Koss. He is a cousin of former Brewer Eric Sogard and the nephew of Steve Sax, so baseball is in his blood. He recently returned to action after suffering a right oblique strain and had done well in a brief stint with Boston, batting .257/.350/.371 across 35 ABs. Having another Sogard playing for the Brewers wouldn’t be a bad thing. Tyler Tolbert, Kansas City Royals, 28 Tolbert plays some short and outfield as he is filling in for the injured Bobby Witt, Jr. He has been impressive in his time with the Royals, hitting .328/.364/.443 across 61 ABs. In two seasons with the Royals, he has stolen 32 bases during just 111 ABs, so his speed would fit right in with Milwaukee. Witt is expected to return in late July, so Tolbert might be readily available. Charles McAdoo, Toronto Blue Jays (AAA), 24 McAdoo can play almost anywhere and has some pop, hitting 50 home runs in four minor league seasons. He played three weeks in Toronto earlier in the season but was returned to Triple-A Buffalo. McAdoo also has some speed, having pilfered 34 bases last season in Double-A. He is stuck behind Ernie Clement and Kazuma Okamoto at second and third, respectively, so he might be on the trading block. Hey, You Look Familiar Anthony Seigler, Boston Red Sox, 27 Seigler is having a decent season in Boston, hitting .245/.314/.383 across 94 ABs as a fill-in at second and third. Orlando Arcia, Minnesota Twins (AAA), 31 It seems like he has been around forever, and he has, witnessed by his 11 big-league seasons. Although his best days are behind him, he is still a solid all-around player. Raynel Delgado, Houston Astros (AAA), 26 Despite having a good season at Nashville in 2025, he became a free agent and has played in the Tampa Bay and Houston organizations since. He played in 17 games in a three-week stint for Houston earlier this year, batting .273/.314/.394 across 33 ABs. Maybe it is time for Milwaukee to give him another chance. Rowdy Tellez, Atlanta Braves (AAA), 31 Tellez was a Brewers fan favorite and slugged 35 dingers in 2022, giving him 123 in his nine-year career. If the Brewers need a LH power bat, this might be the guy. Will the Brewers go after any of these guys, or will they stand pat? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. View full article

Probably true lol

That was an ugly game for sure, but for the most part, the Brewers have played pretty well this year. Hopefully they can get back on it and play impeccable, irreproachable, unblemished, and exemplary ball the rest of the year.

Jesus MadeLuis LaraCooper PrattLuis PenaAndrew FischerJosh AdamczewskiBlake BurkeBraylon PayneMarco DingesJett WilliamsJeferson QueroLuke AdamsDylan O'RaeBrady EbelJosh KnothTyson HardinBishop LetsonColeman CrowJayden DubanewiczCraig Yoho

Quintana was also acceptable and adequate last year, not just cromulent. 😎

Russell Branyan, anyone?

I think Coop is going to be a fine player for years. We all need to remember that he has less than 50 PAs in the bigs and although his batting isn't where we hoped it would be, he has still played solid defense and has five SB. There will be some growing pains but in the end, he will be a solid contributor for Milwaukee.

Despite the fact the Hamilton is not a solid all-around player, he and Ortiz could be a decent platoon at 3B. Time will tell...

Rengifo didn't do much in Milwaukee and I was never a big fan of his. Will/can he take a demotion?

Experts out there...is this gonna be a two-week audition or a longer tryout, like into the AS break? I know there are a lot of unknowns here, but all things being equal: what's your best guess?

Great analysis, Yirsandy!!! Look forward to seeing more of your work!

I didn't necessarily say he was too cheap, just that he should spend the money. A slight difference, but a difference nonetheless. But, I bet if players around the league start getting injured because of similar situations, something will get done. It wasn't that long ago that stadia did not have protective netting around most of the field. Because of several injuries and a death, now they do.

will do!

You would think so...lol.

I'm sure some smart person could figure out something to make it work...

Check out my 'Apology' story. We are on the same page.

Image courtesy of Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY In agate font in newspapers across the country on August 1, 2025, the following transaction was whispered: The San Diego Padres acquired LHP Nestor Cortes, SS Jorge Quintana, and cash considerations from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for OF Brandon Lockridge. I'm not sure how anybody else felt about this, but my initial thought was 'meh.' Lockridge appeared in 20 games (13 starts) in the month of August, posting a below-average slash line of .261/.308/.370 across 53 plate appearances before getting demoted to Triple-A Nashville in September. He reappeared in the playoff run against Chicago and Los Angeles but only batted twice, going hitless in four games. During the offseason, Lockridge was considered to be in the outfield mix in Milwaukee, either as a possible starter or, most likely, the fourth or fifth OF. I was not a fan, but felt like he could get a couple of starts each week and enter contests as a pinch-runner or defensive replacement as needed. But as a full-time starter? No way. Way. Lockridge has played in three-quarters of the Brewers' games this season, starting 23 of the 28 games he has been involved in. His slash line (through May 8) reads like the line of a solid major league starter: .294/.368/.341. Lockridge will never be mistaken as a power hitter, but has been 'clutch' with two outs and runners in scoring position (RISP), slashing .533/.588/.667 in a small sample of 15 at-bats. To put it into perspective, those numbers are far better than the 'clutch' numbers this year of both Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani, each widely considered as fearsome batters when the game is on the line. But all that success has been temporarily put on hold after Lockridge suffered a horrific injury in Friday night's game against the New York Yankees at Uecker Field. Playing full-bore as he always does, Lockridge, playing left field, ran full speed in an attempt to corral a foul drive off the bat of Cody Bellinger in the fourth inning. Realizing he was rapidly running out of real estate, Lockridge dropped into a slide, which resulted in his slamming his right knee into the unpadded section of wall, one made of concrete. Lockridge tossed off his glove and lay face down for a couple of moments before the training staff and manager Pat Murphy arrived to offer assistance. After being helped to his feet, Lockridge was carted off the field by medical personnel, disappearing through a gate in the left field fence. So what is known? Lockridge suffered a deep laceration down to the bone, as evidenced by blood on his sanitary sock. X-rays were negative for broken bones, but further tests will be performed as the swelling in his leg decreases. Saturday, the Brewers placed Lockridge on the 10-day injured list, recalling Blake Perkins from Triple-A Nashville to replace the fallen Brewer. This injury begs the question: when will the Milwaukee Brewers organization pad the wall from top to bottom? I seem to remember this type of injury happening to a Brewer outfielder (Sal Frelick, maybe?) in right field foul territory not that long ago. C'mon, Mark Attanasio, spend a couple of grand to protect your players! Brandon Lockridge, please forgive me for doubting you. I hope you can quickly return and keep up the great play that you have shown us for the first quarter of the season. I want to dedicate this column to my good friend Bob Garski, who passed away on April 30 at age 69. He was a bigger Brewer fan than I am. Rest In Peace, Bob, and keep cheering on the Crew in Heaven. View full article

To me, it seems like he is dropping his back knee more than last year.

Certainly looks like the Brewers did the right thing in the spring, choosing 'The Sanchize' over Reese McGuire.