4 ways the Milwaukee Brewers could screw up the trade deadline

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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.

If the Brewers don't add an outfielder at the deadline that can hit, its a mistake

Much has already been made about Milwaukee's lack of offense in 2023, but the problem is particularly acute when you look at the Brewers' outfield even with Christian Yelich's 127 wRC+ goosing the numbers in their favor. With Garrett Mitchell on the injured list after having shoulder surgery, the Brewers don't have an outfielder with a wRC+ over 90 which is decidedly not great.

Joey Wiemer is probably too valuable as a defender to replace, but there is room for an outfielder that can actually produce at the plate. Adam Duvall is probably the best option as a guy that has real upside at the plate, can actually defend, and is a rental so he shouldn't cost an arm and a leg. The Cardinals are likely to have some outfielders available, but the chances that they make a trade with a division rival seems pretty small unless it is VERY in their favor.

This is a tough trade deadline to need an offensive outfielder, but this is one area where the Brewers need to be aggressive. Otherwise, they probably won't be able to keep pace with the Reds in the second half.

Milwaukee failing to boost its offense at the trade deadline would be a failure

The outfield spot is where an upgrade is most needed, but the biggest takeaway is that the Brewers need some offensive production from somewhere. Scarcity may mean that getting an upgrade in the outfield doesn't happen, but failing to upgrade the offense at all would be a colossal misstep.

In an ideal world, Willy Adames remembers how to hit, but Milwaukee can't bet on that happening. If the Brewers decide to make upgrades at first base, DH, and/or second base, they should have some options. Dominic Smith hasn't hit for much power in recent years, but he has in the past and could be an interesting buy-low candidate.

The Nationals also have Joey Meneses who would be a great get, but he has a ton of team control which will jack up the price. Brent Rooker would be sweet as well and Oakland has shown a desire to trade anyone that isn't bolted down, but he has enough team control that that could be tough.

The Brewers need to add a long-term solution at first base

Rowdy Tellez has been very disappointing the last two years for Milwaukee. It is fun when he goes on one of his patented heaters and hits a bunch of homers, but those streaks are few and far between. We already mentioned Dom Smith as a short-term stopgap who also plays the position reasonably well, but the Brewers need a long-term solution at first.

A stop-gap for 2023 makes some amount of sense, but a hybrid deal that is a mix of short-term and long term players may be the best way forward. It is kind of unfortunate that some of the best first base prospects are in the NL Central which makes them even more difficult to acquire, but the Rays, Diamondbacks, Rockies, and Blue Jays all have first base prospects that the Brewers could try to work into a deal that would give them a long-term option.

The Brewers failing to add bullpen depth in this market would be a colossal missed opportunity

Finally, we come to the bullpen. While the top end of the Brewers' relief corps has performed admirably in 2023, but Milwaukee could use some more depth. Having a strong stable of bullpen arms is critical down the stretch especially with Brandon Woodruff theoretically coming back ($) relatively soon as he could be on an innings limit early on.

Fortunately, there are loads of options for the bullpen that should be available. Keynan Middleton and Chasen Schreve are interesting rental options while Kendall Graveman, Scott Barlow, Jason Foley, and Daniel Bard would be strong choices as well if the Brewers wanted someone with some extra team control attached.

In any case, bullpen upgrades are going to be plentiful at the deadline and if Milwaukee doesn't make an upgrade or two there, it will be a massive missed opportunity to upgrade the roster in a division race.

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