3 tiny trades the Brewers front office made that have had big time results in 2024

3. RHP Bryse Wilson acquired from Pittsburgh Pirates for cash considerations - January 4, 2023

Bryse Wilson has been an unsung hero for the Brewers pitching staff the last two seasons. The Brewers got him for cash considerations. He was designated for assignment by the Pirates after a tough year in the starting rotation. This was after being a Top 100 prospect for the Braves but struggling to gain a foothold in Atlanta.

Prior to arriving with the Brewers, Wilson's best big league results came in 2020 when he had a 4.02 ERA in 15.1 IP. He was out of minor league options and wasn't cutting it as a starter. But the Brewers gave him a shot.

Since then, he's taken that shot and run with it. Wilson took on a variety of bullpen roles last year, pitching to a 2.58 ERA, tallying three saves, and totaling 76.2 IP over 53 appearances. In 2024, he's taken on an even more crucial role, stepping in to rescue a starting rotation decimated by injuries.

Wilson has made five starts this year, filling in as in quick order Jakob Junis, Wade Miley, and DL Hall hit the injured list. He went just 3.2 IP in his first start, then 4.1 IP in his next. Then Wilson had back to back 6.0 IP outings, giving up just one run combined in them. His last start went just four innings and he didn't have his best stuff, but still gave up just two runs.

On the season, Wilson has a 2.65 ERA in 34 IP with a 1.1 fWAR already. Last year, he had a 1.4 fWAR.

Where would this Brewers rotation be without Wilson right now? Where would the bullpen have been in 2023 without him? It cost the Brewers a tiny sum of cash to get Wilson and he is having a gigantic impact on this team.

These three players in 2024; Megill, Hudson, and Wilson, have a combined 2.9 fWAR as of May 14th. Hudson and Wilson are top five on the entire team in fWAR.

Credit to the Brewers front office for finding these players who were designated for assignment, paying a tiny price to get them, and giving them the chance to have a big impact on this team.