8 Teams Who Would Be A Perfect Match As Potential Brewers Trade Partners

The Milwaukee Brewers appear likely to focus their efforts to improve the roster through the trade market. The budget is limited, the free agent position player class is weak, and the Crew has assets ready to move.

Brewers GM Matt Arnold laid a lot of foundations at the Winter Meetings and history tells us that trades could soon be on the horizon now that the Winter Meetings are over.

While we don't know what exactly Arnold is working on with all those trade irons in the fire, we can make some safe guesses. The Brewers are rich in outfielders and prospect depth and they have needs in the corner infield, backup catcher, and pitching staff.

There are several teams that line up perfectly as trade partners for the Brewers with those needs and assets in mind.

Toronto Blue Jays

Needs: Outfield help
Assets: Pitching, catching

The Blue Jays just came up empty-handed in their pursuit of Shohei Ohtani and watched as their backup option in Juan Soto got traded to a division rival. They need to make a splash and they have a massive need in left field. The Brewers just so happen to have a bevy of splash-inducing outfielders that could intrigue Toronto.

What do the Blue Jays have to trade? There are a couple names that the Brewers should find intriguing. Firstly, Alek Manoah is a possible trade candidate coming off a struggle-filled 2023. The Brewers specialize in helping pitchers reach their potential and we've already seen what Manoah can do at the big league level when he received Cy Young votes in 2022. With four years of team control remaining, Manoah could help lift the Brewers rotation not only in 2024, but in years to come. He has ace potential when he's right, which could help fill the void left by Brandon Woodruff and soon to be Corbin Burnes.

If Toronto doesn't want to part with Manoah, Yusei Kikuchi is another rotation piece that the Brewers should be intrigued by. He has one year left on his contract at just $10MM for 2024, so he isn't a long term solution but he can stabilize this Brewers rotation after losing Woodruff.

On the position player side, Wisconsin native Danny Jansen also stands out. He's currently slotted to be the DH as Alejandro Kirk is the everyday catcher. The Brewers need a backup option at catcher and help at DH. Jansen's in his final year of arbitration as well and could be a nice bridge to Jeferson Quero.

Cleveland Guardians

Needs: Outfield
Assets: Top tier pitching, infield depth

Prior to Cleveland shipping Christian Bethancourt away to Miami, catching also would've been on the list of assets for the Guardians. With Bo Naylor and Austin Hedges now signed, they appear unlikely to have the backup catcher option the Brewers will need. However, the Guardians have another trade asset to move.

Shane Bieber has been the long-rumored starter available for Cleveland on the trade market. He's entering his final season of arbitration and is projected to earn about the same as what Brandon Woodruff would've received, except Bieber will be able to pitch in 2024. The Brewers could offset the loss of Woodruff by adding Bieber and the rotation wouldn't skip a beat.

The Guardians need outfield help. Myles Straw is their light-hitting centerfielder and they stand to upgrade the position. The Brewers just so happen to have a couple of centerfielders they can move that would be a great return for a player like Bieber that could convince Cleveland to move him.

For the Brewers, moving one of those top outfielders for just one year of Bieber may not be palatable and they could look for a secondary, controllable piece beyond that.

Cleveland has several middle infielders that are big league ready or already have experience in the majors and not enough spots. Someone like Gabriel Arias could be a target for the Brewers in that case. Also prospects Juan Brito or Angel Martinez are just about ready and show traits the Brewers like.

Baltimore Orioles

Needs: Pitching
Assets: Young infield depth, prospects

The Orioles are scouring the market for a top of the rotation arm. The Brewers have one in Corbin Burnes and they're at the very least open to hearing offers for Burnes' final year of arbitration. Could a trade come together?

These two teams have long looked like a fit on paper to match up for a trade, but that's really mostly just because of Burnes. Baltimore doesn't need any of Milwaukee's young outfielders and they already have a strong farm system.

If the Brewers are willing to trade Burnes, the Orioles have several assets that will be of interest to Milwaukee. Corner infield prospect Coby Mayo is atop the list. He's put up big numbers in the upper minors, he's big league ready, and there isn't a job for him in Baltimore. Third base is occupied by reigning AL Rookie of the Year Gunnar Henderson and first base is taken by Ryan O'Hearn.

As such, it would make sense for the Orioles to trade Mayo to fill other needs on their roster, namely the top of the rotation arm they desperately need. Mayo could immediately slot in for the Brewers at either third base or first base and give the lineup the boost it needs.

There's also a depth of prospects from Baltimore that could fill out a trade package for Burnes. Cade Povich is one of their top pitching prospects that's close to the big leagues. There's no shortage of talent in the Orioles organization for the Brewers to pull from to make a Burnes trade happen. Baltimore has the pieces, but are they willing to part with them? Are the Brewers willing to part with Burnes this offseason as well as Woodruff?

If anything happens on this front, Baltimore will have to strike out on all the other top of the rotation options available this winter, leaving them with Burnes as their only chance for an upgrade, and only then would they be willing to part with the pieces necessary to pry Burnes away from Milwaukee.

Seattle Mariners

Needs: Outfield
Assets: Pitching depth, first base

It's somewhat of a mystery just what the Mariners are doing this offseason. Are they trying to compete or are they pulling back? They traded away some big league pieces like Eugenio Suarez, Jarred Kelenic, and Marco Gonzales, and they haven't exactly done much to upgrade their roster in those moves. They haven't been shopping for the upgrades they need either.

The Brewers have been in a somewhat similar situation. They expect to compete but have parted with Brandon Woodruff and outside of signing Jackson Chourio to an extension, haven't done much yet to upgrade their roster either.

These two teams have matched up on several trades in the past and they very well could do so again. With the outfield in flux again in Seattle, perhaps they would be interested in one of the Brewers outfielders as a splash addition to improve their lineup and list of controllable assets. Also relievers are always of interest between these two clubs.

As for what the Brewers could look to get from Seattle, first baseman Ty France would represent a significant upgrade for Milwaukee over Jake Bauers. He has two years of control remaining and is a reliable player, playing in at least 140 games each of the last three seasons. France was an All Star in 2022.

There's also pitching that Seattle has. Whether it be a bullpen arm like Taylor Saucedo or a starter like Logan Gilbert that could be available, there's arms here that could intrigue Milwaukee.

There may not be an obvious, perfect trade fit from the outside looking in, but with these two teams' history with each other, there's always a chance a trade comes together.

San Francisco Giants

Needs: Prospect depth, starting pitching
Assets: Backup catcher, corner infield, bullpen

The Brewers are in need of a backup catcher and the Giants may be a good place to look. They have two first round picks on the roster in Patrick Bailey and Joey Bart. They also have Rule 5 pick Blake Sabol on the 40 man.

Bailey has overtaken Bart, who was the 2nd overall pick in the 2018 Draft. He's struggled at the plate in his career and may be in need of a change of scenery. The Brewers could be that place for him to go in exchange for some prospect depth. The Brewers aren't going to be shipping any of their major league talent away for a backup catcher like Bart, but they can part with a prospect or two to grab Bart if they so choose.

In other areas, the Brewers do need corner infield help, although it's unclear if the Giants are willing to part with players from their starting lineup. Wilmer Flores and J.D. Davis would surely be of interest to Milwaukee if the Giants made them available. Either one could help address Milwaukee's first base or even third base problem. The Brewers liked Flores way back in 2015 to almost trade for him in that ill-fated Carlos Gomez trade. Maybe they could finally get him for 2024.

On the pitching side, Ross Stripling or Anthony DeSclafani could also potentially be available and of interest to the Brewers if the Giants eat some cash. The Brewers need innings and those two could provide some out of the rotation. Their bullpen was also strong in 2023 and arms like Tristan Beck or Ryan Walker could be of interest.

The Giants don't need outfielders and none of what they have to offer is really worth a starter like Corbin Burnes. The Brewers can offer prospects and close to MLB ones if the Giants prefer that. The assets the Giants have outside of Flores and Davis don't exactly call for elite prospects, so the Brewers wouldn't be parting with much.

Tampa Bay Rays

Needs: Pre-arbitration talent
Assets: Pitching, position player depth

The Rays are always stocked with talent and always turning over their roster. Once players start to get into arbitration and get out of their price range, they're moved out for cheaper assets and there's always someone just as good or better ready to take their spot. The Rays are in that spot now with their corner infielders, among others.

Rumors have it that Harold Ramirez and Isaac Paredes could be available in a trade and either one would help fill a corner infield need for the Brewers. They'd be ideal pickups for the Crew. Randy Arozarena is reportedly potentially available, but it's unlikely the Brewers swing for an outfielder, even one as good as Arozarena.

Tampa always has pitching. Tyler Glasnow is the big name that's expected to be traded this winter. He's due $25MM in 2024, which is quite pricey for Milwaukee but it's one year of Glasnow and then he hits free agency. There are a lot of teams in trade talks for him and the Brewers may be priced out of his trade market.

There's also relievers that Tampa could move. Shawn Armstrong and Andrew Kittredge are in their final years of arbitration and could be trade candidates of interest to Milwaukee.

The Rays are always searching for pre-arbitration talent and the Brewers have plenty of that. If they end up moving away someone like Arozarena or (more likely) Manuel Margot, that could open up a spot for one of the Brewers young outfielders in a different trade if they so choose.

These two teams have connected numerous times on trades in recent years and it stands to reason they could connect again as both teams have needs and assets that line up.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Needs: Pitching, shortstop
Assets: MLB ready prospects

The Dodgers have their eyes on hoarding as much talent as possible. After signing Shohei Ohtani to a sweetheart deferred contract, they have added the best player in the game while maintaining as much financial flexibility as possible.

After letting Corey Seager walk in free agency, the Dodgers need a shortstop. They've had their eyes on Willy Adames for years and with one season left before he reaches free agency, the two sides could connect if the Brewers are willing to part with him. It would take a high price, but the Dodgers have the assets to pay it.

The same goes for Corbin Burnes. The Dodgers need more pitching and Burnes is another dream target for them. If the Brewers do decide to move Burnes, the Dodgers will be a major player for him. Again, the price will be high, but the Dodgers can afford to pay it.

As much as the Dodgers need pitching, they are loaded with talented, yet unproven starting pitchers. They're young and have limited MLB experience, but that may make them perfect for a Brewers team that will need to reshape its rotation. For players like Adames or Burnes, the Brewers can be expected to target arms such as Ryan Pepiot, Emmett Sheehan, Gavin Stone, Nick Frasso, Landon Knack, and Kyle Hurt.

Another name that could be of interest to Milwaukee is Ryan Yarbrough, a veteran swingman who could fill a spot in Milwaukee's rotation or bullpen but definitely can eat up innings. He has just a year left before free agency, so he wouldn't be involved in a potential Burnes or Adames deal, but rumor has it Yarbrough is available.

Right now, the Brewers appear likely to hold on to both Burnes and Adames, but if that changes, the Dodgers are a logical trade partner.