Milwaukee Brewers: 5 current players who could get traded soon

The Milwaukee Brewers have a deep pitching staff and a glut of outfielders throughout their organization. If the team looks to add to other areas, they could choose to deal from their two positions of strength. We have five names that could end up with a new address for the 2019 season here.

If the Milwaukee Brewers are going to upgrade their roster this off season, they’re going to need to shed salary or talent from other areas. Ace starting pitchers either cost a ton in free agency, or require a substantial return in a trade. If the trade rumors for J.T. Realmuto are to be believed, then the cost of acquiring a franchise catcher is also hefty.

The good news is that the Milwaukee Brewers have a deep roster to pull from. They also have several affordable contracts that could be flipped for a solid return.

5. Keon Broxton

The arrival of Lorenzo Cain and Christian Yelich meant that Keon Broxton would either spend most of the year in Triple-A or ride the bench. That’s pretty much how his 2019 season played out.

Broxton played 143 games for the Brewers in 2017, but only made 51 appearances in 2018. He’s still only 28 years old, under team control, and has skills that a Major League team can use. He posted a .254/.323/.421 slash line in Triple-A, and is only one year removed from a 20/20 season with the Brewers. He still has value, even if 2018 was a lost year for him.

There were trade rumors swirling around Broxton last year, so it makes sense that there’s smoke around him again this year. Broxton could get added to a trade package for a solid starter, or get flipped for a useful arm.

4. Domingo Santana

Remember when Domingo Santana posted a 30-homer/15-steal/85-RBI season? 2017 was fun!

Santana was expected to play in a rotation with Ryan Braun, Yelich, and Cain in 2018, and ended up…going back to Triple-A. Santana slashed .265/.328/.412 in 85 games with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2018. He also spent 55 games back in Triple-A after he got off to an awful start.

Santana is only 26-years old, has legit power, and can handle a corner outfield spot. His value is lower than it was last year, but it’s not completely gone. Santana could also go in a package for the ace that David Stearns has been chasing for the past two years, or get flipped for assets that still need a few years before they arrive.

Another year of the ‘outfield rotation’ isn’t best for the Brewers or Santana. A trade made sense last year, and it makes even more sense this year, especially if the Brewers are looking to add to their 25-man roster.

3. Zach Davies

Zach Davies has over 400 innings on his resume at the Major League level, and he has three seasons of arbitration eligibility left. He also may not have a starting role with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2019.

Davies suffered through shoulder and back problems in 2018 that limited him to only 13 starts with the Brewers. He posted a 4.77 ERA with 49 strikeouts and 21 walks in 66 innings.

Jhoulys Chacin, Corbin Burnes, Freddy Peralta, Brandon Woodruff, Chase Anderson, and Jimmy Nelson are all in the mix for the starting rotation. And that list doesn’t even include a high-priced free agent, or a trade target that the Brewers could acquire.

Davies would find a larger role on another roster, and he could also feature in a package for a starter or catcher.

2. Eric Thames

Eric Thames is the Milwaukee Brewers version of Wally Pipp.

Thames was expected to deliver another 30+ homer season and drive in a ton of runs. However he suffered through thumb and leg injuries, and Jesus Aguilar stepped up to take the every day first base role from Thames.

Thames only played 96 games, but still bashed 16 homers, and posted a .219/.306/.478 slash line.

He was essentially forgotten by the time September rolled around, and the Brewers even acquired Curtis Granderson to fill a role similar to Thames. He was also left off the playoff roster in the NLDS and NLCS. It’s clear that he may not have a future with the Brewers, despite an affordable contract that runs through 2019 with a club option for 2020.

He has legit power, but probably shouldn’t play everyday in the field. If the Brewers could find a match with an American League team with a need at first base/DH, Thames could get flipped for a solid prospect, or get added into a package for a larger catch.