1 Trade Candidate From Every MLB Team For The Brewers To Consider
The Brewers are likely to make more trades this offseason and these are some possible targets
![Wild Card Series - Texas Rangers v Tampa Bay Rays - Game Two](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_4801,h_2700,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_752,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/GettyImages/mmsport/80/01heefhat89d4na2cz83.jpg)
The Milwaukee Brewers have already made one trade this offseason, shipping Mark Canha to Detroit in exchange for a minor league pitcher. This is not likely to be the last trade the Brewers make this offseason, so who else could be a target?
For the purposes of this, the trade targets listed are only going to be players that are on a team's 40 man roster. While trades including minor leaguers may happen, these are trade candidates that would find a spot on the Brewers roster in 2024.
Let's go through each team's potential Brewers trade targets division by division.
AL East
Baltimore Orioles - INF Ramon Urias
The Brewers need some infield help and Urias was the starting third baseman for the Orioles prior to the arrival of Gunnar Henderson. With Henderson, Jordan Westburg, and soon Jackson Holliday in the Orioles infield, Urias could be a strong candidate for a new team. Urias is the brother of former Brewer Luis Urias.
Boston Red Sox - 1B/3B Bobby Dalbec/SP Nick Pivetta
I'm going to cheat here and give two trade candidates for the Red Sox because I think both are quite plausible and would make a lot of sense. Bobby Dalbec is a corner infielder that lost his first base job to Triston Casas and third base is occupied by Rafael Devers. He crushes lefties with a career .855 OPS against them and is a perfect change of scenery candidate.
Nick Pivetta is a solid, experienced starting pitcher with one year of arbitration left before hitting free agency. With Brandon Woodruff likely out for all of 2024, someone like Pivetta could fill that void. He's durable, eats innings, doesn't walk many, and gets his fair share of strikeouts. He doesn't wow with the ERA and struggles with home runs, but he'd be a good short term addition to the rotation.
New York Yankees - C Kyle Higashioka
Rumor has it the Yankees are willing to trade their backup catcher, Kyle Higashioka. He slugged 10 homers last season and hit .236. Since Victor Caratini is a free agent the Brewers are in need of a new backup catcher and Higashioka could be the perfect guy. He's in his last year of arbitration and is projected to earn $2.3MM in 2024.
Tampa Bay Rays - 1B/OF Harold Ramirez
Harold Ramirez would be the perfect addition to this Brewers offense and he's likely very available in trade talks. He's a first baseman and corner outfielder, but he's kind of out of a job in Tampa Bay. Randy Arozarena and Josh Lowe have the corner outfield spots locked down and Yandy Diaz is a stud at first base. Ramirez may be out of a starting job after hitting .313/.353/.460 with 12 homers in 434 plate appearances this year. The Brewers could install him as their everyday first baseman and he still has two seasons of team control left.
Toronto Blue Jays - SP Alek Manoah
This is an opportunity for the Brewers to acquire an ace-level talent for pennies on the dollar. Alek Manoah has incredible stuff, but out of nowhere he just lost his way on the mound this year. He was demoted to rookie ball and struggled to figure things out. The Brewers specialize in maximizing a pitcher's talents and if the Blue Jays feel they can't tap into Manoah's talent, they could look to trade him and the Brewers could fill a rotation void with a high upside arm for cheap.
NL East
Atlanta Braves - SP Jared Shuster
The Braves are tough considering nearly everyone on their roster is signed to some long term extension or is too valuable to their contending team to consider trading away. But Jared Shuster seems to be on the outside looking in on Atlanta's rotation and the Brewers could have more regular opportunities for him. Shuster's a left handed pitcher, which the Brewers don't have much in the way of and he wouldn't cost very much for a young pitcher with lots of team control.
Miami Marlins - SP Trevor Rogers
The Marlins have a good crop of pitching and Trevor Rogers showed some high end talent with a 2.64 ERA in 2021 before struggling in 2022 and dealing with injuries in 2023. Rogers' trade value has certainly declined from his 2021 peak but he's just 25 years old and that talent is still in there. The Brewers could buy low on a talented arm, banking on his health in 2024, which is still risky, but if it pays off, Milwaukee's rotation won't skip a beat without Woodruff next year.
New York Mets - 1B Pete Alonso
The Brewers and Mets had discussions about Pete Alonso back at the Trade Deadline and they certainly could have more discussions this offseason. With former Brewers president David Stearns now in charge, he knows the Brewers system as well as anyone and a trade could be possible. The Mets are gearing up for 2025 and may not be looking to compete this year and if they can't agree to an extension with Alonso, then a trade may be the best move for his final year of team control.
Philadelphia Phillies - RP Jeff Hoffman
The Phillies aren't likely to trade anyone from the core of their roster this winter, but one player that could be available is bullpen pitcher Jeff Hoffman. He's in the final year of arbitration and is coming off a solid year as the setup man. The Brewers are always looking for relievers and perhaps a deal could be swung for Hoffman.
Washington Nationals - C Riley Adams
The Nationals are another tough team to find a trade candidate for, since they've traded away most of their valuable players recently and the players that remain are part of their future plans. Backup catcher Riley Adams isn't a part of those plans though as Keibert Ruiz is their long-term answer behind the plate. With Caratini in free agency, Adams could be the Brewers next backup catcher behind William Contreras.
AL Central
Chicago White Sox - DH Eloy Jimenez
The White Sox are a disaster. Rumor had it the Brewers were in talks with the Sox about Eloy Jimenez at the Trade Deadline and talks could be revisited this offseason. Jimenez has had his share of injuries in recent years, but when he's healthy, he's one incredible hitter. Jimenez's ability to hit for both average and power would be a much needed boost to the Brewers lineup. He's under contract for at least 2024 with club options for 2025 and 2026.
Cleveland Guardians - Shane Bieber
This would be the best possible replacement for Brandon Woodruff in the Brewers rotation in 2024. Bieber has one year of arbitration remaining as well, he's a high level pitcher, and Cleveland could very well look to trade him and get something for him, similar to what many fans believed the Brewers could do with Woodruff or Corbin Burnes this winter. Bieber would be a short term investment to strengthen the rotation and keep a big three atop the group.
Kansas City Royals - SP/RP Austin Cox
Similar to the Nationals, the Royals don't have much to trade. Most of their veterans are all gone, the Brewers have no need for Salvador Perez, and whatever good, young players they have they will want to keep. Austin Cox was solid, but not spectacular out of the Royals bullpen, he has experience as as starter in the minor leagues, and perhaps getting him away from the Royals pitching development staff could help him. Kansas City has struggled to develop pitching. Cox is a left hander, and the Brewers could use another left handed reliever at their disposal.
Detroit Tigers - RP Tyler Alexander
Just like the Royals, the Tigers don't have much in available big league assets. For Canha the Brewers only got a Double-A pitcher, which speaks to what Detroit has available. Tyler Alexander is a left handed relief arm that had a solid, not spectacular 2023 season. He has two years of team control left and perhaps he could be available for a decent price.
Minnesota Twins - RP Caleb Thielbar
Let's make it three straight left handed relievers from the AL Central. Caleb Thielbar is a 36 year old lefty that is somehow still in arbitration. It's his last year of it and he's coming off a strong 2023 campaign. Perhaps the Twins could cash him in while they can.
NL Central
Chicago Cubs - 1B Patrick Wisdom
It's unlikely the Brewers and Cubs connect on a trade at all, but from a baseball perspective, a Patrick Wisdom trade makes some sense. Wisdom is now splitting time at first base with Matt Mervis and he's a pure power bat. Wisdom hit just .205 but he slugged 23 homers. Milwaukee needs an infusion of power in their lineup and Wisdom brings just that.
St. Louis Cardinals - C Andrew Knizner
The career backup catcher has been improving as a hitter but his defense is quite lacking, which is not great for a backup catcher. But the Brewers have proven adept at improving catchers defensively and with William Contreras' improvement in that department, they can focus less on finding an already great defensive backup.
Cincinnati Reds - INF Jonathan India
It's been speculated by many that Jonathan India is a logical trade candidate. The Reds have promoted a plethora of infield prospects and have even more in the pipeline. There simply isn't room for all those young players and India. India was drafted by the Brewers out of high school (he didn't sign) and Milwaukee has a need in the infield. Trading India within the division may be unlikely, but the needs do line up.
Pittsburgh Pirates - RP Ryan Borucki
Borucki is a relatively experienced big league arm and put up good numbers this year out of the Pirates bullpen. He's a left handed reliever and entering his last year of arbitration. The Brewers could look to pick him up as an extra southpaw besides Hoby Milner for pretty cheap. The Pirates and Crew have linked up on trades a number of times in recent years.
AL West
Houston Astros - IF/OF Mauricio Dubon
The Brewers had Mauricio Dubon once and had to trade him to get Drew Pomeranz. Dubon has become a valuable utility piece for the Astros and put up good numbers this year. Milwaukee could use him as their super-utility option if the Astros are willing to part with him.
Texas Rangers - SP Andrew Heaney
Who to pluck from the World Series champions' roster? As much as I'd love to put Adolis Garcia's name here, I'm going to go with a slightly more realistic option in Andrew Heaney. He just picked up his $13MM player option for 2024 after having a slightly down season in 2023. He had a 4.15 ERA in 28 starts this year and could very well bounce back next year on a fairly reasonable salary. Heaney's a lefty as well, which would make him all the more valuable as a Brewers trade target.
Seattle Mariners - 1B Ty France
Ty France has put up some solid numbers as a first baseman, but when Evan White returns to the field in 2024, France may be out of a starting job, which makes him a potential trade candidate this winter. France has two years of team control left and would give the Brewers a solution at first base that's better than Rowdy Tellez was this year. France has trended downward offensively but he doesn't strike out much and has decent pop. He could perhaps benefit from a new, hitter friendly ballpark.
Los Angeles Angels - IF Brandon Drury
The Angels won't sell off anyone until they know Shohei Ohtani isn't coming back. But if and when he leaves, they could sell off some veteran assets, one of whom being Brandon Drury. He's in the final year of his contract and will make $8.5MM in 2024. He's been a consistently productive bat with both average and power. He is a strong defender as well, so the Brewers won't sacrifice defense to improve their lineup if they get Drury.
Oakland Athletics - SP Paul Blackburn
Paul Blackburn is one of just three arbitration-eligible players on the Athletics and is slated to be the second-highest paid player on the team at just $3.2MM next year. Knowing Oakland, that means he's probably on the trade block. He's their best starting pitcher, and I know that isn't saying much but Blackburn has some good stuff in his arsenal and his ERA is likely to improve as soon as he gets off one of the worst teams in baseball history. He does a good job of limiting hard contact and would be a solid addition to the Brewers rotation.
NL West
Arizona Diamondbacks - C Seby Zabala
The Diamondbacks aren't likely to trade away much from the roster that got them to the World Series. Backup catcher Seby Zavala could be of interest to Milwaukee because of the Crew's need for a backup given Victor Caratini's free agency. Zavala is a quality defender and had some good offensive numbers in 2022 before they dropped this season.
Colorado Rockies - SP Austin Gomber
The Rockies entire starting rotation had ERAs over 5.00 this year, which is quite rough, but it's also Colorado and this happens to pitchers quite a bit. Austin Gomber had a 7.05 ERA at home, but just a 3.68 ERA on the road. Even at his best, Gomber is likely a back end starter, but he's left handed and would help the Brewers fill the void in their rotation. He has two years of arbitration left and given his overall numbers, could come quite cheap in a trade.
Los Angeles Dodgers - SP Ryan Yarbrough
Ryan Yarbrough's ERA has climbed in recent years, but he's still elite at limiting hard contact and limiting walks. His fastball doesn't have elite velocity but it's deceptive and hitters have a hard time with it. Yarbrough is the kind of veteran innings eater that the Brewers could use in their rotation. He has one year of arbitration remaining for a reasonable projected cost of $3.8MM. The Dodgers are swimming in young pitching talent and need to clear room for them.
San Diego Padres - OF Juan Soto
Hey, why not? The Brewers were involved in Soto's market before when the Nationals were trading him. Now Soto has one year of team control left before a massive free agent payday and the Padres might be willing to sell. Their team was a disaster this year and may need wholesale changes. Soto would be exactly what the heart of this Brewers lineup needs. The outfield fit can be figured out later, but Soto would be a dream addition if the Padres indeed sell.
San Francisco Giants - 1B Wilmer Flores
There are a number of trade candidates from the Giants, including several in the starting rotation. I was debating between Sean Manaea, Ross Stripling, and Anthony DeSclafani here, but ultimately went with Wilmer Flores, who was nearly a Brewer years ago. Flores is quietly a good all around hitter, supplying power and average with elite contact rates. He puts the ball in play and gets on base. He's under contract for $6.5MM in 2024, which is quite affordable for Milwaukee given his production level and he'd solve a big need in the lineup.
manual