Brewers add key southpaw back to bullpen group with trade deadline rapidly approaching

It's not a trade addition, but the Milwaukee Brewers are making an important addition to their bullpen group ahead of tonight's series opener against the Los Angeles Angels. After spending nearly two months on the injured list due to a pectoral strain, left-hander DL Hall has been reinstated from the 15-day IL. To make room on the Brewers' active roster, Thomas Pannone, who made his first big-league start since the 2019 season on Wednesday afternoon, has been designated for assignment.

Hall was in the midst of his most successful season in the big leagues before he landed on the IL on June 5. In 24 appearances and 31 total innings pitched, the 27-year-old southpaw maintained a 2.03 ERA with a solid 25.4% strikeout rate and a 50.7% ground-ball rate. His re-addition to the Brewers' bullpen is a welcome development for Pat Murphy's squad, which begins a stretch of 17 games in 17 days today.

Brewers reinstate DL Hall from 15-day IL, designate Thomas Pannone for assignment with three days remaining before trade deadline

The timing of Hall's reinstatement is important for several reasons. First is the aforementioned daunting scheduling stretch that the Brewers face. Hall was one of the more versatile arms in the Brewers' bullpen during the first two months of the season, working as both a one-inning and multi-inning reliever, while covering both low- and high-leverage situations. After the Brewers' bullpen's brutal showing against the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday afternoon, it's clear the group could use a boost, and Hall's return should provide just that. Hall adds a much-needed left-hander to a bullpen group that has survived with just one southpaw, Aaron Ashby, in recent weeks.

Additionally, with the trade deadline just two days away, Hall's return gives the Brewers a clearer picture of the pitching staff that they may bolster with a midseason deal. Hall's return leaves arms like Craig Yoho and Bryse Wilson as the lowest on the depth chart, putting their future roles in question as the front office considers upgrades to the pitching staff.

Meanwhile, Pannone's DFA, and his subsequent replacement by Hall who was already on the 40-man roster, leaves the Brewers with 38 players on their 40-man with the trade deadline right around the corner. That roster flexibility is coveted this time of year, as it ensures the Brewers won't have to DFA or trade a player currently on their 40-man to make room for any deadline additions.

The Brewers would have loved to get a longer look at Hall after his injury before having to make significant decisions at the deadline, but Milwaukee will instead just see an outing or two from their lefty reliever before Monday's deadline. That said, Hall's encouraging four appearances during his rehab assignment should give the Brewers confidence that he will resemble the pitcher he was before his injury and therefore should be included in Milwaukee's bullpen picture for the rest of the season.

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