Brewers linked to two pitchers from David Stearns’ underperforming Mets roster

The Milwaukee Brewers wrapped up their first half with an ugly series against the Pittsburgh Pirates, though they still enter the break with a five-game lead in the NL Central. They're once again one of the key superpowers in the National League, alongside the Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves.

As such, they figure to bring in some outside reinforcements ahead of their playoff push, especially on the pitching side of things. It's not like their rotation or bullpen is helpless, but compounding injuries to Brandon Woodruff and Kyle Harrison -- not to mention Jacob Misiorowski's current bout with fatigue -- will necessitate some sort of backup plan in the second half.

So, where else should the Brewers turn but to their old friend David Stearns? His New York Mets represent the bottom of the barrel in a very strong NL East this season, and their bloated payroll all but ensures they'll look to sell off some veterans come the deadline. That includes some veteran arms who could be of interest to Milwaukee.

Mets' trade candidates Clay Holmes, A.J. Minter could patch up Brewers' pitching staff at a marginal cost

The Mets and Brewers have been frequently paired on the rumor mill this month, given their opposite trajectories, and there are two targets in particular who would fit this team well. Jeff Passan linked right-handed starter Clay Holmes as the Brewers' best target at the deadline, and Jim Bowden responded in kind by connecting them to left-handed reliever A.J. Minter.

Holmes is one of the more fascinating players in baseball right now, given his early success (2.39 ERA, 3.21 FIP over nine starts) and the fact that he's been out since the middle of May following a fractured fibula (leg). The 33-year-old has started throwing live bullpens, so a return at some point in August is the most likely outcome.

That would be a complicated puzzle to solve if he were a rental, but Holmes actually has a $12 million player option for next year. If he pitches well upon his return, he'll likely opt out in search of more guaranteed money, but any setbacks (in terms of injury or performance) could put his next team on the hook for a sizable 2027 salary.

Then there's Minter, who is a rental but also has a spotty injury history, having missed the first few months of the season due to lat and hip issues. He's been incredibly effective since returning to the fold, pitching to a 1.42 ERA in 19 appearances while running reverse splits, and his stellar command (1.4% walk rate) will certainly appeal to every contender in the league.

In totality, that's two flawed pitchers with questionable health, one of whom could be a burden on the payroll next year. However, those concerns will make them cheaper to acquire, meaning the Brewers could address their rotation and bullpen for pennies on the dollar.

And if their last trade with the Mets is any indication of how well this team negotiates with Stearns, acquiring Holmes and/or Minter may not be as risky as it first appears.

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