Brewers: 3 Bullpen Trade Targets From The Colorado Rockies
These pitchers could really help the Brewers bullpen
There is less than one month to go before the MLB trade deadline. Rumors are starting to heat up and teams are starting to dial in on potential trade targets. One team that the Milwaukee Brewers could look to trade with is the Colorado Rockies.
Often times Rockies hitters are mentioned in trade rumors, but this trade target article will consist of the opposite. Per Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post, three Colorado pitchers are drawing trade interest.
Let's take a further look at all three of these Rockies pitchers as trade targets for the Brewers.
Brewers trade target from Rockies: LHP Brent Suter
The Brewers are very familiar with Brent Suter. He spent his first seven big league seasons with the Crew. During Matt Arnold's first offseason as GM, Suter ended up being claimed off of waivers by the Colorado Rockies. He is currently on the IL with an oblique injury, but this year he has a 2.81 ERA in 41.2 innings pitched.
Suter is in his final year of arbitration and is a rental player. Should Milwaukee elect to bring him back he would be re-joining a city and coaching staff that he is very familiar with. Once healthy there is no doubt that he would be an asset in the bullpen. The Brewers could certainly use another experienced lefty out there.
Brewers trade target from Rockies: LHP Brad Hand
Southpaw Brad Hand signed a one year deal with Colorado during the offseason that includes a $7MM club option for 2024. He has 131 career saves throughout his 13 year career with a vast majority of those coming between 2017-2021 with the San Diego Padres, Cleveland Guardians, and Washington Nationals.
This year Brad Hand's numbers are not eye popping, in fact he has a 5.16 ERA. A closer look at the numbers shows that he is striking a lot of batters out and limiting home runs, but walks have been an issue. However, between his closing experience and cheap contract he is an intriguing player for contending teams to consider adding.
Brewers trade target from Rockies: RHP Pierce Johnson
Pierce Johnson has spent five out of his six big league seasons in the NL West. He's pitched for the San Francisco Giants, San Diego Padres, and this year the Colorado Rockies. He's a rental player who signed a one year $5MM deal prior to the start of this season.
Numbers wise Johnson's ERA of 6.49 is not good. Command and limiting home runs has been an issue for him, but aside from that he strikes a ton of batters out. A 30% k rate and 13.2 K:9 is quite impressive, but the truth is any team trading for him will be taking a risk given his results on the mound so far this season.
The Rockies will likely be open to trading all of three of these players prior to the August 1st trade deadline. With left-handed relievers still being a need we will see if Milwaukee shows any interest in their two available southpaws or not.