4 ways the Milwaukee Brewers could screw up the trade deadline

The Milwaukee Brewers are in a weird spot going into the second half of the 2023 season. Being just one game back in the NL Central behind the red-hot Cincinnati Reds is pretty good news to be sure. They are also seven games above .500 which is more than most of the rest of the division can say.

However, they have gotten to this point almost despite themselves. The offense has one of the worst groups in the league this season (their team 89 wRC+ is 25th in MLB) and the pitching staff has been about the same (their 5.7 team pitching fWAR is also 25th). Really, the only reason they are in contention at all is due to defense and a fair bit of luck going their way.

The trade deadline is a chance for Milwaukee to stop relying on good fortune and to actually put together a run, but they are going to have to make the right moves.

Here is how the Brewers could screw up the trade deadline

To be clear, it is highly unlikely that the Brewers will be able to do everything on their to-do list at the trade deadline. There only so many players to go around to a lot of contenders. Milwaukee is unlikely to want to part with top prospects like Jackson Chourio or Sal Frelick given who is likely to be available at the deadline, so they won't necessarily be shopping in any aisle they want to. However, they certainly have enough prospect capital to make some noise and capitalize on a prime opportunity for a playoff push that they cannot let pass them by.

Lets take a look at ways the Brewers could screw up this trade deadline.