Milwaukee Brewers: 2017 MLB Trade Deadline Preview

As the calendar turns to July, the baseball world begins to focus on the upcoming non-Waiver Trade Deadline at the end of the month. So what will the Milwaukee Brewers do at the deadline? They’ve got a couple of options.

Noone thought before the season started that the Milwaukee Brewers would have a 3 1/2-game lead over the Chicago Cubs on Independence Day, but here we are.

The 2017 Brewers are in a position to buy at the trade deadline for the first time since 2014. But these are two very different teams. The 2014 Brewers were a veteran team that was expected to produce and make the playoffs. The farm system was in rough shape and they were hoping for one last crack at the postseason.

The 2017 Brewers are young, mostly inexperienced, and have zero expectations weighing them down. The rebuild that began in 2015 has added a ton of talent to the organization and looks to be ahead of schedule. The results have created quite the dilemma for GM David Stearns. Should he continue selling moveable assets? Should he stand pat and just call up prospects? Or should he buy?

Owner Mark Attanasio is notorious for being competitive and doing everything he can to help the team win. So perhaps it was a little surprising to hear his recent comments that he would not pressure David Stearns to make a playoff push at the deadline. That’s the smart move, honestly, and it’s refreshing to hear.

Since we don’t know what the Milwaukee Brewers will do at the deadline, it’s best to prepare for any scenario. What kind of players could they buy, if they decide to do so? Which prospects could get the call instead? Which current players could get traded away, if Stearns decides to sell?