Brewers quietly DFA'd former minor league standout to clear spot for recent trade acquisitions

When you're a buyer at the trade deadline, any time you're left thinking "Oh, what could have been?" is often in reference to a trade target that slipped through your fingertips. Perhaps that applies to the Milwaukee Brewers this year, who watched Tarik Skubal sail past their grasp and into the waiting arms of the Dodgers.

However, this particular moment of longing isn't for a player who never came, but rather one who never arrived. Granular and technical though that difference may be, it still applies to the fate now awaiting Carlos F. Rodriguez, who has been designated for assignment in the wake of the Brewers' deadline haul.

More than a statement about his lack of production at the major-league level, this is mostly the result of a roster crunch. In fact, said crunch was so bad that Codi Heuer, who was acquired mere days earlier, was redirected to the Baltimore Orioles in a separate trade in order to make room for Dustin May, JoJo Romero, and Antonio Senzatela.

Carlos Rodriguez's failed Brewers tenure is a timely reminder about the volatility of prospects

Rodriguez's journey is a fateful one to retell this time of year, since he now serves as a cautionary tale to those prospect-huggers who hate to part with any talent. A two-time Minor League Pitcher of the Year with the Brewers, including an honor as the Southern League Pitcher of the Year in 2023, the right-hander simply hasn't been able to translate his game to the highest level.

Over the past three seasons, he's made 11 MLB appearances, pitching to a 6.03 ERA and 4.96 FIP. Command troubles have haunted him (10.7% walk rate), and he isn't striking out enough batters to offset all the traffic he's putting on the basepaths. Rodriguez has also gotten pretty unlucky in the BABIP department, allowing a .370 mark despite being adept at producing low exit velocities.

Perhaps another team will take a chance on him in hopes that his fortunes turn around, though anyone betting on his talents will be hoping to revert him to his 2022-23 form, when Rodriguez produced a sub-three ERA while climbing all the way from Low-A to Triple-A. He's now older (24) and further removed from prospect status, but there's a reason the Brewers have stashed him on the 40-man roster for so long.

If no one claims him, Rodriguez can be outrighted back to Nashville, where he'd serve as a depth piece off the 40-man. That's probably unlikely given his track record, but it would give Milwaukee a few more months to work with him before he becomes a minor-league free agent at the end of the season.

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