Brewers rumors: Milwaukee reportedly interested in 2025 All-Star starter

Just before their series opener with the Chicago Cubs on Monday night, the Milwaukee Brewers swung a trade for Tampa Bay Rays catcher and Wisconsin native Danny Jansen. The move came as a slight surprise to Brewers fans who weren't anticipating the front office bringing in a catcher at the trade deadline. However, it doesn't appear as if Matt Arnold and company are done adding just yet, and their next move could have major roster implications.

According to MLB insider Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Brewers are interested in adding the American League’s starting DH from the 2025 All-Star Game, Ryan O'Hearn. O'Hearn, who currently plays for the Baltimore Orioles, has been rumored to be a potential fit for the Brewers throughout the last month, as his bat offers the pop that the Brewers are desperately hoping to add to their lineup before the trade deadline.

O'Hearn got off to a scorching hot start this season, slashing .333/.420/.542 with 9 HR through the first two months of the season. His numbers have dipped since June 1, but even with his recent cold stretch, O'Hearn's .827 OPS on the season would be the best among qualified Brewers hitters by nearly 50 points. Additionally, as pointed out by Anthony Franco of MLB Trade Rumors, O'Hearn has gotten very unlucky over the last two months as evidenced by a batting average on balls in play (BABIP) of just .245. For someone who consistently hits the ball hard, positive regression is seemingly on O'Hearn's horizon, making it the perfect time for a contender like the Brewers to acquire him.

Meanwhile, O'Hearn's underlying metrics remain strong. His expected batting average is even higher than his actual .284 mark, his walk and strikeout rates are each in the 74th percentile or higher, and his hard hit and launch angle sweet spot rates each rank in the top quartile, according to Baseball Savant. In other words, there's reason to believe that O'Hearn will continue to hit as he did during the first two months of the season down the stretch, and it's not hard to see why the Brewers are interested in him. What is more difficult is figuring out how he would fit into the team's defensive alignment.

Brewers reportedly interested in first baseman Ryan O'Hearn, were interested in Josh Naylor prior to Mariners trade

In Rosenthal's piece for The Athletic, he also mentioned that the Brewers were interested in Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Josh Naylor, prior to the D-backs sending him to the Seattle Mariners for two pitching prospects last Thursday. The two rumors combined suggest that the Brewers are willing to add power to their lineup, even if it comes at a position where they don't clearly need an upgrade. The trade for Danny Jansen yesterday night confirmed this strategy.

While O'Hearn does have the ability to play a corner outfield position, a vast majority of his starts over his career have come at first base or DH, just like Naylor. With Andrew Vaughn already in the statue conversation, and Rhys Hoskins set to return from his thumb injury in mid-to-late August, the Brewers could have a logjam at first base down the stretch if they add O'Hearn before Thursday's deadline.

It seems near impossible to have O'Hearn, Vaughn, and Hoskins all in the lineup at the same time; doing so would put Yelich in LF, O'Hearn in RF, Vaughn at 1B, and Hoskins at DH, meaning both Sal Frelick and Isaac Collins would be pushed out of their starting roles, something that neither is even close to deserving of. It even seems unlikely that O'Hearn, Vaughn, and Hoskins would all be on the roster at the same time, but with Hoskins' timeline uncertain, that may not be an issue for several weeks following the trade deadline.

O'Hearn would be a huge addition to the Brewers' offense. He would likely slot in somewhere in the middle of the lineup, potentially batting in either the 4th or 5th spot. And while acquiring him won't come cheap, in terms of prospect capital, he will be less expensive in that regard than Suárez, who is likely to garner an all-out bidding war.