Brewers: Top 5 Minor League Trade Chips for the 2022 Deadline

Brewers minor league trade chip #2: OF Sal Frelick

Don’t get me wrong, the likelihood of the Brewers trading away their No. 2 prospect would be extremely low. But if Milwaukee is looking to make a more significant move at the trade deadline, adding outfielder Sal Frelick to a package would net a much bigger return.

The Brewers took Frelick as the 15th overall pick in the 2021 MLB draft. The way he has started his minor league career, it’s easy to see why he rates not only as the team’s second-best prospect, but also as the 48th best prospect in all of baseball.

In just over a year in the Brewers organization, Frelick already finds himself at the Double-A level with the Biloxi Shuckers. The stage hasn’t proven to be too big either with the speedy outfielder slashing .325/.384/.467 with 35 runs scored in 46 games.

While trading away Frelick would be unlikely, the depth the Brewers have at the outfield position with players like Chourio, Wiemer, 2020 first rounder Garrett Mitchell, and others means it wouldn’t be absolutely impossible. But trading away a possible future MLB starter at center field would have to bring back something awfully unexpected.

Brewers minor league trade chip #1: SS Brice Turang

When you have a shortstop with very good defensive instincts who gets on base, steals bases, and is about to crack the big leagues, you have one heck of a trade chip. That’s exactly what the Brewers have in their No. 5 prospect, Brice Turang.

Turang was the Crew’s first round pick (21st overall) in the 2018 draft. Milwaukee would end up successfully signing him away from his commitment to LSU and he would begin his professional career immediately.

As a result, Turang would end up being one of the youngest, if not the youngest, player at most minor league levels he would play in. But even if he would start slowly at a certain affiliate, it generally wouldn’t take him long to find his way.

For his 371-game minor league career, Turang has a .266/.360/.357 slash line, has stolen 84 bases in 101 attempts, and has scored 230 runs. At 22 years old, he is already showing that he is ready for the next challenge.

The Brewers could decide to retain Turang’s services as a possible major league replacement at second base should they opt not to exercise Kolten Wong’s $10MM contract option for 2023. But if they don’t, Turang might just be the team’s most valuable trade chip on the table.

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So much could happen between now and this year’s trade deadline. Who knows which, if any, of these players are moved for a player that helps with the Brewers’ push to the playoffs.