Milwaukee Brewers: Are they still looking to deal for Gausman & Schoop?

The Milwaukee Brewers have already boosted their bullpen, and added a bat. Could they still pull of a deal with the Baltimore Orioles?

It looks like the Milwaukee Brewers are going to roll with Travis Shaw moving to second base, while Mike Moustakas handles third base. Moustakas could also see time at first and pick up at-bats as a pinch hitter. The addition of Moustakas should help the offense, but the Brewers now have a softball league-level infield defense. Should they still look to add a second baseman? How about an arm?

Is Jonathan Schoop still a trade target?

Probably not? If the Milwaukee Brewers look to add to their infield, it’s unlikely to be a starting second baseman. Jonathan Schoop needs to play every day in order to provide full value and deliver the power production that he’s known for. He’s also not a great defender, and doesn’t really look like an upgrade over Shaw. Schoop is probably off the Brewers radar at least until the off-season.

How about Kevin Gausman?

While the offense has been upgraded, the Milwaukee Brewers still need to add to their starting rotation. Kevin Gausman has two seasons of arbitration after 2018, and it’s clear that his former teammate, Wade Miley, thinks a lot of him.

Gausman owns a 4.54 actual ERA, and a 4.05 xFIP. He also has a 7.62 K/9 and a 2.31 BB/9 in 20 starts. Keep in mind, he’s doing this with the Baltimore Orioles in the AL East. A change of scenery could go a long way towards improving Gausman’s numbers.

Gausman should remain on the Brewers radar as long as they’re looking to upgrade. He shouldn’t come with the same cost as pitchers like the Mets starters or Chris Archer, and could provide a similar boost by switching leagues and finding a new home.

The Milwaukee Brewers clearly know that they need to upgrade, and aren’t afraid to flip prospects for Major League talent. The Brewers also have a ton of guys who are Rule 5 eligible this off season, and can’t keep all of them. It makes more sense to flip a few of these players now, instead of losing them for nothing in a few months. That likely played a role in the Moustakas deal, and it should have an impact on acquiring an arm like Gausman.