Brewers: 3 Teams The Brewers Could Trade For Offense From

The Brewers are reportedly looking to acquire some more offense this winter in trades.

The Brewers need help on offense.

After posting the worst team batting average in franchise history, the Milwaukee Brewers made the expanded postseason by the skin of their teeth. Unsurprisingly, the offense sputtered against the Dodgers pitching staff and the Crew was quickly eliminated.

Things could have easily been different if Christian Yelich and Keston Hiura had played anywhere near their normal levels. Still, even if they had produced as expected, the rest of the lineup struggled.

With a number of players performing poorly and several of them entering free agency this offseason, the Brewers have a couple of holes on offense they need to plug with hopefully long-term solutions.

The 2021 payroll budget is going to be limited, which hampers the ability to go after big free agents. That means making trades is going to be the more likely way the Brewers can add to their offense.

Robert Murray of FanSided recently reported that the Brewers are making calls, looking to trade for more offense and offering up players from their pitching surplus. They have needs at both corner infield spots and possibly catcher.

What teams could line up well on a trade? Here are three.

Los Angeles Dodgers

The World Series champion Dodgers have an incredible amount of position player depth. A few of those players are free agents, namely Justin Turner, Joc Pederson, and Kike Hernandez. If any one of them return, some of the young up-and-coming players that deserve playing time won’t get that playing time.

With rosters dropping from 28 players back down to 26 players next year, there’s even fewer spots available for that bevy of position players.

A trade with the Brewers could really help clear that logjam.

What would the Brewers give up to get some help for their offense? The first name that comes to mind is Josh Hader.

It’s been widely known that the Dodgers have been interested in trading for Hader for quite some time now. With Kenley Jansen entering the final year of his contract, acquiring Hader could give them their closer of the future and another powerful bullpen arm.

In return, the Brewers can patch some holes on this roster. Getting someone like Gavin Lux, who is big league ready but lacks a starting spot in a loaded Dodgers infield would be huge for the Brewers. Whether or not the Dodgers would part with Lux in a Hader trade remains to be seen but if negotiations begin, GM David Stearns is likely to ask for Lux.

The Dodgers also have a logjam at the catcher position. Both Will Smith and Keibert Ruiz have been coveted prospects but Smith has essentially taken over the starting role. That leaves Ruiz with basically no path to the starting job in Los Angeles. He could have that job in Milwaukee, especially if they move on from Omar Narvaez, who struggled offensively in 2020.

Los Angeles has offense to spare, the Brewers have some pitching to spare. Even if it doesn’t involve Josh Hader, there’s trade possibilities here.