Brewers: 3 Left-Handed Relievers to Trade for After the Justin Wilson Injury

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At the MLB trade deadline, teams generally have a good idea what positions need to be addressed well in advance. But sometimes, things happen to create new needs just days before trades are no longer allowed to be made.

The Milwaukee Brewers are a team that just fell into the latter category. That is because Justin Wilson, who was just reinstated from the 60-day IL yesterday morning, is now back on the IL after suffering a new injury while warming up in last night's game for his debut with the Crew. The feeling is that this new injury is serious.

The hope was that Wilson would take some of the workload off of Hoby Milner, who has been great this season but has often been the only lefty in the bullpen. Now, with Wilson out, there are no obvious plans to give Milner that support, meaning the team may now have to turn to the trade market. Luckily, there are some players out there who may be worth targeting.

Here are three left-handed relievers for the Brewers to trade for after the Justin Wilson injury.

1. Brent Suter, Colorado Rockies

The Brewers need to feel more comfortable with the left-handed situation in their bullpen. So what better way to do that then by reuniting with an old friend who just happens to play for a team that tend to be sellers around this time of year, at least recently.

Southpaw and fan-favorite Brent Suter was a big part of the Milwaukee pitching staff for seven seasons before he was claimed by the Rockies after being placed on waivers ahead of last offseason's non-tender deadline. Even with Coors Field as his home, the 33-year-old is having arguably the best season of his career.

Suter is 4-0 in 34 games with a 2.51 ERA and a 1.050 WHIP, both of which would be career lows for any season except 2019 when he pitched in only nine games. He has also done a fantastic job of keeping the ball in the ballpark having served up just two homers, good for a career low rate of 0.4 HR/9.

A free agent at the end of the season, Suter would be a rental from a team who is a clear seller. It's a match made in heaven that seems too obvious not to happen.

2. Sam Moll, Oakland A's

Moving to a bit less obvious of a fit, in recent seasons the Brewers have at times targeted relievers who may not have elite numbers on the season but show signs that a change of scenery could potentially lead to a strong finish to the season. That strategy hasn't gone well the past couple of seasons, but if they go that route again, another target could be A's reliever Sam Moll.

At first glance, Moll's numbers aren't all that exciting. Through 44 games, he is 0-3 with a 4.62 ERA and a 1.432 WHIP. But taking a deeper look, there are reasons to think that a trade for the lefty wouldn't be such a bad idea.

For one, his numbers last year were quite good at a 2.91 ERA and 1.269 WHIP in 53 games. While he is walking batters at the same rate and actually giving up fewer homers, it's his hit rate that's gotten a little elevated, rising from 6.9 H/9 in 2022 to 8.3 H/9 this season. Those hits haven't been major ones, though, as batters were slugging nearly the same against him last year (.335) as they are this year (.336).

Like Suter, Moll is somewhat of a late bloomer. He is 31 years old but doesn't hit arbitration until the 2025 season, so he has tons of control remaining. Any trade return for him would have to balance his age with his non-rental status, but considering how the last big trade went that involved the Brewers and A's, perhaps Milwaukee wouldn't have to give that much up for him after all.

3. Brad Hand, Colorado Rockies

Turning our attention back to the Rockies, we find ourselves looking at another lefty pitcher who could be up for grabs at the deadline. He also happens to be one who knows a thing or two about pitching in high-leverage situations in Brad Hand.

Hand is a 13-year MLB veteran who has played for eight different teams in his career and is a three-time All-Star. He has an overall 37-53 record in 557 career games and has compiled a 3.67 ERA and 1.256 WHIP. He also has 131 career saves.

Hand's numbers are up a little this season as he has a 4.76 ERA and 1.500 WHIP, though his 10.3 K/9 is his highest rate since the 2020 season. But most importantly, he has excelled against left-handed batters this year, holding them to just a .149 average and allowing just three runs. That is exactly who Brewers manager Craig Counsell would be deploying him against anyway.

Hand is under contract through next season, but it is a $7MM team option that the Brewers would be sure to decline. If Suter commands too big a price from the Rockies, perhaps Hand could be a good fall back option.

The hope was that the Brewers wouldn't be in a position where they would need to add a lefty to the bullpen, yet here we are. Thankfully this happened while there was still a little time before the deadline to get a deal done as opposed to after.

Next. 3 Moves Following Santana Trade. 3 Moves for the Brewers to Make Following the Santana Trade. dark

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