Milwaukee Brewers: 3 Most Tradeable prospects right now

The Winter Meetings are over, but several key players are still in need of new addresses for 2019. The Milwaukee Brewers are still very much involved on a number of fronts, and we have their most tradeable assets from their Minor League system below.

While names like Keston Hiura and Corey Ray would draw the most interest in a trade, they’re both key to the future of the Milwaukee Brewers. We’ve got a list of the top three prospects that wouldn’t have a great impact on the 25-man roster, but could still get a return.

We went looking for quality prospects that are a year or less away from the Major League roster, but appear blocked at the moment due to the Brewers roster depth at the highest level of the organization.

It wouldn’t come as a huge surprise to see any of the names on our list end up with a new franchise before the start of Spring Training.

2. Lucas Erceg

Lucas Erceg is a solid prospect who happens to be completely blocked by a franchise cornerstone.

As long as Travis Shaw is on the Milwaukee Brewers Major League roster, Erceg will be stuck in Triple-A. If the Brewers reconnect with Mike Moustakas or add another third baseman and move Shaw to second, Erceg’s path to the Majors is even more difficult.

Erceg spent the entire 2018 season in Double-A. He played 123 games, and managed a .248/.306/.382 slash line. He bashed 13 homers, stole three bases, drove in 51 runs, and scored 52 times.

His 2018 season was down from a solid effort in 2017 at High-A. In 2017, Erceg slashed .256/.307/.417 with 15 homers.

Erceg won’t turn 24 until after the start of the 2019 season, and he should start the year in Double-A with an eye towards an early call-up to Triple-A. He could also start 2019 in Triple-A if he shows progress during the Spring.

However, he may be better off moving on to another organization to get a chance at an everyday role. Brett Phillips needed to move on to Kansas City in order to get a chance at a starting job, and the same may end up being true for Erceg.

Less than three years removed from getting selected in the top-50 picks of the 2016 amateur draft, Erceg is an above average season in the upper Minors away from being ready. However, he won’t get a chance at a starting job with the Milwaukee Brewers because Shaw isn’t going anywhere for a few years.

Adding Erceg to a trade package for an upgrade at catcher or second base makes sense for the Brewers in 2019, and could benefit Erceg’s career in the long term.

1. Marcos Diplan & Trey Supak

As we’ve noted before, the Milwaukee Brewers are exceptionally right-handed throughout their organization. They only have two real left-handed prospects in their Minor League system, and neither will arrive in Milwaukee before 2021 at the earliest.

The Brewers have a ton a of right-handed pitchers in their system, and they can’t keep all of them. A glut of young, controllable arms at the Major League level is a great problem to have, but it’s going to be a challenge for pitchers not named Zack Brown to crack the 25-man roster. Marcos Diplan and Trey Supak are essentially blocked at the Major League level for the foreseeable future, and trade involving one or both could make sense for the Brewers and their young righties.

Supak posted a 2.91 ERA in 16 starts with the Biloxi Shuckers. He struck out 75 and walked 28 in 86 2/3 innings in half a season in Double-A. He boasts four solid offerings, and has above average command for a 22-year old starter.

Diplan managed a 4.58 ERA in 11 starts and one relief appearance in half a season with Biloxi. He struck out 57, and walked 36 in 57 innings in Double-A last year. He has a solid fastball/change-up combo with a useful breaking ball, but it’s clear that he still needs to work on his control.

Both Diplan and Supak ended 2018 in Double-A, and should start the 2019 season with the San Antonio Missions in Triple-A. Even if they both dominate next year, the chances of a call up before September are slim, and it’s hard to see rotation spots opening up in 2020. Unless they both transition into high-leverage relief roles, they might be stuck in San Antonio.

They could serve the Milwaukee Brewers better in a trade package for catcher J.T. Realmuto, starter Madison Bumgarner, or second baseman Whit Merrifield.