4 members of the Brewers' 40-man roster who could be traded ahead of 2026 deadline

Following the Milwaukee Brewers' additions of Lance McCullers Jr. and Colton Gordon, their 40-man roster approaching the August 3 trade deadline is at max capacity. To make room for the newcomers, the team freed up two spots by transferring Rob Zastryzny to the 60-day injured list and designating Greg Jones for assignment.

Notably, Brandon Lockridge, who is expected to return to the roster right around the time of the trade deadline, will need to be added back to the 40-man roster, as he is currently on the 60-day IL. Rob Zastryzny, meanwhile, is expected to return to the active roster from the 60-day IL at some point during the month of August.

Therefore, as things currently stand, Milwaukee will need to clear two spots on their 40-man roster just to accommodate Lockridge and Zastryzny's returns. The presumed departure of Braden Shewmake to add David Hamilton back to the active roster will open one of those spots, but beyond that, things start to get a little trickier.

If the Brewers want to make an external addition or two prior to the deadline, it's possible they try to trade one or two members of their current 40-man roster, similar to how they parted ways with Nestor Cortes last year. Here are four players currently occupying a spot on the Brewers' 40-man roster who could be dealt before this year's trade deadline. To be clear, it's unlikely any of these four players headline a significant trade before August 3, but their inclusion in a larger trade could be what gets a deal over the finish line.

4 members of the Milwaukee Brewers' 40-man roster who could be traded ahead of 2026 deadline

1. OF/1B Tyler Black

Tyler Black, the 33rd overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, possesses many of the traits that the Brewers typically value. He consistently makes contact, works deep counts to draw walks, and provides speed on the bases. However, he still lacks a true defensive home, his power is inconsistent and below average, and there isn't an obvious path to regular playing time on Milwaukee's major league roster. At this point, a change of scenery may ultimately be the best outcome for both Black and the Brewers.

2. RHP Carlos Rodriguez

Despite being the Brewers' Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2022 and 2023, Carlos Rodriguez has appeared in just 11 games for Milwaukee over the last three years. In that stretch, he's pitched 31.1 innings and owns a 6.03 ERA. This year, shoulder injuries have cost him time and affected his performance, as he owns an 9.00 ERA in Triple-A over 30.0 innings pitched. His time in the organization may have run its course, and it's certainly possible that he finds himself off the 40-man this summer if another organization believes they can revive his value.

3. RHP Craig Yoho

Just a few weeks ago, Craig Yoho's future with the Brewers appeared uncertain. The talented 26-year-old has struggled at times with command and consistently throwing strikes in the majors, but his fastball-changeup combination is good enough to succeed at the highest level. More recently, however, Yoho has begun to turn things around. Over his last seven appearances, all coming in July, he has posted a 2.70 ERA and a 0.50 WHIP, and earned the extra-inning victory over the Miami Marlins coming out of the All-Star break. That stretch has likely made him less of a trade candidate, though he remains a player worth monitoring as the deadline approaches, especially given the Brewers' inconsistent usage of him throughout the year.

4. OF Akil Baddoo

Akil Baddoo was one of the few free agent signings the Brewers made last offseason. He began the year with a lengthy stint on the injured list following a quadriceps strain sustained during Spring Training. However, he posted monster numbers in Triple-A upon his return from the injured list, including seven home runs and a .992 OPS over 24 games. Unfortunately, Baddoo once again landed on the injured list, this time due to an ankle sprain, in late June. Between the rise of Luis Lara, Lockridge's expected return, and Blake Perkins' presence on the 40-man roster lurking in the minor leagues, Baddoo's depth on the roster isn't necessarily needed, but finding a trade partner giving his limited playing time this year could be tricky.

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