Brewers 2021 Trade Deadline Target: 3B Kyle Seager

Trade season is rapidly approaching and it is very evident that the Brewers have a need to acquire a third baseman. Following the injury to Travis Shaw, who was slumping prior to being injured, the in house replacement options may not be suitable enough for a team that likely is going to be contending for a play off spot.

Right now, Luis Urias seems the most likely to play more consistently at third base. Pablo Reyes, Jace Peterson, Zach Green, and Hernan Perez are also options but projecting the level of impact any of these players will have is murky at best.

Without a clear favorite to play third base, is it time that we re-visit trading for Kyle Seager? He has been a rumored trade target over the past few seasons for the Brewers and right now it could make a lot of sense.

On the season, Seager has just a .211 batting average, 279 OBP, and .704 OPS. Despite these lower than you would like numbers, he has been very productive when collecting hits as he has 12 home runs to go along with 39 RBI’s.

When compared around the league, his OPS+ is 100, which means he has been league average in terms of batting this year. One big difference in his game is that his strikeout percentage has increased this year to 24.5%, the highest it has been throughout his 11 year career.

Historically, Seager has been a solid defender at third base. With a career DRS of 34, he’s been a big positive with glove, but he currently sits at 0 DRS for the 2021 season. He has committed eight errors this year as well, which is very uncharacteristic for him.

After hearing all of this information you may start finding yourself shying away from Kyle Seager. However, if there is one thing we have learned in the David Stearns era it is that sometimes players just need a change of scenery.

With having played with the Mariners his entire career and losing quite frequently, it is hard to stay motivated. This may be what is happening with Seager this season.  With just one year left on his former 7 year, $100MM deal, it may be time for Seager to leave Seattle.

From a trading perspective that is great news. With his numbers down and the Mariners not appearing to be contenders, one might think that the Mariners may sell lower on Seager right now than when trade rumors had flown a few years ago.

Perhaps the Brewers could consider trading away near MLB ready talent in: Alec Bettinger, Angel Perdomo, or Tyrone Taylor in a package, but It would seem more than likely that the Brewers would still have to part ways with at least one top 30 prospect if a trade were to occur.

David Stearns does have quite the extensive history in making deals with the Mariners, so we will see if a trade occurs or not.