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Milwaukee Brewers: Do they plan to deal Jonathan Schoop?

By Matthew Dewoskin

ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 10: Second baseman Ozzie Albies #1 of the Atlanta Braves slides under the tag of shortstop Jonathan Schoop #5 of the Milwaukee Brewers for a stolen base in the first inning during the game at SunTrust Park on August 10, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 10: Second baseman Ozzie Albies #1 of the Atlanta Braves slides under the tag of shortstop Jonathan Schoop #5 of the Milwaukee Brewers for a stolen base in the first inning during the game at SunTrust Park on August 10, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images) /
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The addition of Jonathan Schoop to the Milwaukee Brewers hasn’t gone as smoothly as anyone hoped. Schoop owns a .163/.180/.204 slash line in 50 plate appearances for the Brewers. Could he get deal in the off season?

A report from longtime Baltimore Orioles reporter, Roch Kubatko, that the Milwaukee Brewers could look to flip Jonathan Schoop in the off-season. Is this the right move for the Brewers to make?

Why is this idea a head scratcher?

A the time Schoop was acquired, it was thought that he would fit in better with the 2019 roster than the current team. The Milwaukee Brewers had already acquired Mike Moustakas and moved Travis Shaw over to second base. Schoop has spent the majority of his professional career at second. When Moustakas hits free agency in the off season, Shaw could slide back to third, and Schoop could move into the everyday second base job.

If the Milwaukee Brewers deal Schoop, they still need to solve second base. Finding a regular second baseman was a goal that GM David Stearns was unable to accomplish last off season.

What’s Schoop’s contract status?

Well, Schoop is heading into his final year of salary arbitration next year. He’s already paid $8.5 million for this year, and should get a raise next year. Paying $9 million+ for Schoop’s final season before free agency is likely the reason why the Milwaukee Brewers would look to deal him. A non-tender is a possibility, but that means that the Brewers would essentially cut Schoop after just a few months.

Could the Brewers break even on a Schoop trade?

Schoop was dealt for prospects Jean Carmona and Luis Ortiz, and Jonathan Villar. It’s unlikely that the Milwaukee Brewers would land two top 30 prospects and a talent off a Major League roster in exchange for Schoop if he continues to look as rough as he has.

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The trade for Schoop is already looking like a bust. Dealing Schoop for 10 cents-on-the-dollar in the off season isn’t going to make the move look better. The fact that this report came from a Baltimore guy indicates that the source is likely someone connected to Schoop. This is probably just wishful thinking from a struggling player or a struggling player’s agent. It makes the most sense to keep Schoop through 2019. The Milwaukee Brewers could still flip him at the deadline, and have second base figured out until Mauricio Dubon is ready to make his debut.

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