Milwaukee Brewers Rumors: Crew checking in on Manny Machado

The biggest bat on the market, Manny Machado of the Orioles, is on the Milwaukee Brewers radar. The Crew has reportedly checked in on Machado.

According to Jon Heyman of Fancred, the Brewers have checked in on Machado and join a cast of other National League teams in pursuit of him. Heyman also notes that the Brewers have the best prospect list among the other suitors. That should give them a better chance of landing the stud infielder.

While the Milwaukee Brewers could easily offer a Keston Hiura or Corbin Burnes to headline a package, it’s not something they should consider. Machado is a rental and wouldn’t re-sign with Milwaukee in free agency.

Even though the Orioles will likely target Hiura or Burnes in a deal, reports are that teams are unwilling to meet the high asking price for Machado.

The price for a rental has been going downhill in recent years, making it difficult for the Orioles to get what they want. This also helps David Stearns, since it appears there won’t be a bidding war. We figured a prospect package for Machado could look something like this.

In Heyman’s story, he states that one executive he talked to said the Brewers check in on just about every player available. That means this could just be due diligence on Stearns’ part more than serious interest in making a deal.

Why They Should Want Machado

Heyman points out in his article that the Milwaukee Brewers have gotten the worst offensive production in the NL out of their shortstops this year. This is mostly because of uncharacteristically poor seasons from Orlando Arcia and Eric Sogard. This makes shortstop a position in clear need of an upgrade.

Machado is a difference maker. The offense he would provide can boost this offense enough to keep them consistently putting up big numbers all season long. Those offensive woes we’ve witnessed this season would be no more after a Machado acquisition.

Another upside in Machado is that he’s a rental, so he won’t block Arcia long term. The Brewers still view Arcia as their shortstop of the future. Adding Machado allows Arcia to stay in the minors for the final two months of the season and get his swing back to normal.

Why They Shouldn’t Want Machado

The flipside of Machado not blocking Arcia beyond this year, is that he’s going to leave as a free agent in the winter and GM David Stearns won’t want to give up a haul for a player that won’t stick around. Stearns prefers getting players with control, not rentals.

Another reason they shouldn’t get Machado is that acquiring him would take away from what the Milwaukee Brewers could offer for a starting pitcher. Stearns is known to want a top-of-the-rotation pitcher and it’s going to take a lot of prospect power to get a frontline starter. Sending a couple top prospects for Machado lessens the Brewers bargaining ability.

They don’t want to completely gut the farm system, and trying to acquire Machado and the starting pitcher they really need would essentially gut the system.

Besides, Tyler Saladino and Brad Miller have been filling in nicely at shortstop and have provided some offensive production. While they aren’t on the level of Machado, they’re cheaper options that the Crew already has on the roster.

Next: First round pick Brice Turang agrees to terms

The Milwaukee Brewers will likely be connected to a lot of the big names on the trade market this July. They’re the top team in the NL right now, but they have holes that need to be filled if they’re going to stay there.