Milwaukee Brewers Top 5 Minor League Trade Chips

Brewers minor league trade chip #4: RHP Victor Castaneda

The Milwaukee Brewers have a pretty full starting rotation for the near future. With the established guys in the big leagues already along with Aaron Ashby and Ethan Small, it’s going to be difficult for anyone to crack that group.

Victor Castaneda was signed by the Brewers out of Mexico in 2017. The 23 year old righty had a solid season in 2021, spending most of it in High-A Wisconsin, but earning a late-season call up to Triple-A.

Castaneda was one of the few pitchers in the Brewers minor league system that threw over 100 innings last year. He made all his starts, staying healthy and productive.

If he gets the right opportunity, Castaneda could make his big league debut in 2022. In Milwaukee, his role would likely be limited to a bullpen one, but he’s capable as a starter and should get an opportunity to prove he can remain one. That opportunity may have to come outside the organization.

Pitching has formed the foundation for the Brewers at the big league level, but they don’t have too many pitching prospects in the pipeline right now. There’s Ashby and Small, along with Antoine Kelly a little further behind, but other than that there isn’t much for high value pitching prospects. While Ashby and Small are more valuable and would technically be bigger “trade chips”, it’s extremely unlikely Milwaukee would be willing to part with either of those guys.

One pitching prospect they may be willing to part with if another team desires pitching back in a potential trade is Victor Castaneda. He has a starter’s arsenal and could be ready relatively soon.

On his own, Castaneda won’t bring back a huge return, but in a package with some other prospects, possibly some others from this list, they could bring back something solid.