2 Brewers players who could be next to get dealt after Devin Williams trade

Once the Milwaukee Brewers season came to an early end in October, as the look to the offseason began, it became quite clear that the Brewers were about to lose two of their star players. Willy Adames was heading to free agency and Devin Williams was set for the trade market. Now, both departures are complete.

Willy Adames signed with the Giants on a massive seven-year contract prior to the Winter Meetings, and now, just about a week later, the Brewers have traded Williams to the New York Yankees.

The return, Nestor Cortes and Caleb Durbin, helps the Brewers solve some roster holes in the rotation and infield mix. But the Brewers still aren't done with the offseason. It's only the middle of December, and there are plenty more moves still to come.

The Brewers have been active in the market seeking upgrades, nearly trading for Garrett Crochet earlier in the week. Williams is on the move, so the question now becomes, who's next?

2 more Brewers trade candidates after Devin Williams

1. Aaron Civale

The Brewers generally don't like to carry pitchers into their final season before free agency, opting to trade early and recoup some value before potentially losing them for nothing. With the addition of Nestor Cortes now, the Brewers have two veteran starters entering their final season of arbitration before hitting free agency in Cortes and Aaron Civale.

Some may speculate that the Brewers could flip Cortes for a more controllable starter. However, I think that's the less likely outcome. Brewers GM Matt Arnold praised the leadership of Cortes and what he'll bring to the clubhouse. Given the void left by Willy Adames' departure, that leadership and presence will be much needed in Milwaukee.

Cortes is projected to earn $7.7MM next year and the Yankees sent $2MM in cash along in the trade. Civale is projected to earn a very similar $8.0MM in 2025. Cortes, in that sense, is the less expensive option. The Brewers could flip Civale, who was acquired back in July, and fill other needs, including potentially bringing back a starting pitcher that's perhaps under more years of team control.

The Brewers rotation is in a pretty strong spot now with Cortes in the fold. Freddy Peralta, Brandon Woodruff (if healthy), Cortes, Civale, and Tobias Myers project as the starting five currently. But with DL Hall and Aaron Ashby pushing for rotation spots, and the Brewers wanting to give them that opportunity, a trade of Civale could clear that space for them.

Early in the offseason, I put the chances of a Civale trade at 20%, and I'd argue those chances are still about the same. It's not a clear and obvious move like Williams was, but there's some sense to it.

2. Tyler Black

Tyler Black has put up some great numbers in the minor leagues and has incredible prospect pedigree. However he never got much run at the big league level in 2024, and he still faces a difficult path to playing time. Defensively, he doesn't stack up to the Brewers' liking at second or third base and, while he's solid at first base, he hasn't had enough offensive success to force his way in.

The Brewers will be needing some additional power in their lineup, and that's something Black doesn't bring a ton of. He's more of a bat to ball/OBP/stolen base threat than a home run hitter. Milwaukee already has a ton of on base/speed guys in their lineup and just added another in Caleb Durbin.

It'd be nice for the Brewers to have a left-handed, power-hitting complement to Rhys Hoskins at first base. While Black is left-handed, there is room for upgrade at that spot.

Another important thing to remember is the Brewers were heavily involved in talks for Garrett Crochet, which would've meant a "painful" prospect price tag that Milwaukee was showing a willingness to pay. Someone like Tyler Black, who is a highly touted prospect in need of a path to playing time, would be a very logical trade target for other teams seeking prospects from the Brewers farm system.

While we don't know just which players the Brewers were considering sending to the White Sox for Crochet in talks, it wouldn't be surprising if Black was one of them. Should the Brewers continue to be aggressive in seeking roster upgrades and be willing to deal from their prospect capital to do so, Tyler Black could potentially be one of the next Brewers on the move.

I put Black's chances of being moved at 10% at the beginning of the offseason, and those odds might have jumped up a little bit. They might be closer to Civale's at 20% now. While the Brewers could very easily hold on to Black and make him the backup first baseman to Hoskins in 2025, I don't think they'd be strongly opposed to moving him if an acquisition will cost them prospects.