Checking in on the Brewers' 2025 trade deadline acquisitions after one month

MLB's trade deadline took place just over one month ago, and the Milwaukee Brewers, like many contenders, made moves aimed at improving their roster for the stretch run. This year's haul for the Brewers was catcher Danny Jansen, outfielder Brandon Lockridge, reliever Shelby Miller, and starter Jordan Montgomery, who was included as a throw-in for a salary dump and won't appear in a game for the Brew Crew this season.

So far, roughly one month removed, the Brewers' trade deadline additions have had an overall underwhelming impact on the club, in large part due to their most potentially impactful addition going down with a season-ending injury.

Checking in on the Milwaukee Brewers' trade deadline acquisitions

Danny Jansen

Appleton native Danny Jansen was the Brewers’ first addition at this year’s trade deadline, marking his second consecutive season being moved in the middle of the season. While Jansen is primarily known for his strong defense and leadership in the clubhouse, he’s also shown flashes of power throughout his career, which was the Brewers' biggest area of need at this year's deadline. However, he’s struggled to find his rhythm at the plate in Milwaukee, posting a .186 batting average and a .536 OPS in 16 games. In a backup role with limited at-bats, it’s been difficult for him to build any offensive momentum.

Brandon Lockridge

When Brandon Lockridge joined the Brewers, he was immediately thrust into action due to a string of outfield injuries. Jackson Chourio landed on the IL with a hamstring strain, Sal Frelick was sidelined with a knee issue, and Blake Perkins was still ramping up after making his season debut on July 18. Over 20 games, Lockridge held his own, slashing .261/.308/.370 while providing steady defense across all three outfield spots. Despite his solid play, he was optioned back to the minors following Chourio’s return.

Shelby Miller

Lastly, Shelby Miller made 11 appearances for the Brewers before suffering a season-ending UCL injury. Miller was just settling in when he went down with the elbow injury, but two bad outings leave him with an uninspiring 5.59 ERA during his time in Milwaukee. Meanwhile, Jordan Montgomery, who underwent Tommy John surgery earlier this year, was never expected to contribute and will be a free agent at season’s end.

How the Brewers' moves compare to the rest of the league

Milwaukee’s trade deadline moves didn’t dominate headlines like San Diego’s acquisitions of Mason Miller, Ramón Laureano, Ryan O'Hearn, and Nestor Cortés, or Houston’s reunion with Carlos Correa. They weren’t as flashy as the Seattle Mariners landing slugger Eugenio Suárez, the New York Yankees adding David Bednar, the New York Mets picking up Ryan Helsley, or the Philadelphia Phillies adding Harrison Bader and Jhoan Duran. However, the Brewers' approach also didn’t force the team to part with significant prospect capital, allowing them to preserve a strong farm system and minimize the long-term risk if their trade acquisitions ultimately don't pay off.

However, the Brewers' main competition for the top seed in the National League, the Phillies, made more aggressive deadline moves, and to this point they have arguably seen the strongest returns. Bader has posted an impressive .889 OPS since joining the team, while closer Jhoan Duran has converted 12 of 13 save opportunities. Meanwhile, the Padres, who were the most active buyer this year, are also enjoying the rewards of their aggressive deadline. Laureano has a .939 OPS in a Padres uniform, O'Hearn is finding his groove after a slow start in San Diego, and Miller has a 1.26 ERA in 14 appearances.

Over in the American League, Suárez, who had 36 home runs prior to being traded, has added nine more with the Mariners but is batting just .205. Correa has already slugged four homers and five doubles with the Astros, while posting a .755 OPS since the deadline. On the pitching side, Bednar has delivered a solid 2.70 ERA for the Yankees, while Shane Bieber has made three solid starts for the Toronto Blue Jays.

While the Brewers' trade deadline may have lacked excitement seen elsewhere, nor signaled an "all-in" strategy by going after bigger names, it reflected a team that didn’t need to make drastic changes. Their roster was already well-rounded, so they elected to add depth for a postseason push and avoid gambles that could backfire. In the end, their deadline additions have been more helpful than harmful, but not as impactful as other teams who had greater needs.