Brewers: 3 Potential Trade Partners For Kolten Wong This Offseason

Brewers GM Matt Arnold is moving quickly to reshape the Crew's roster this offseason. He's already jettisoned Hunter Renfroe in a trade, parted with four relievers, including Brent Suter, and swung a couple of minor moves.

Reports are that the next move the Brewers will make is a trade of Gold Glove second baseman Kolten Wong. It's starting to feel less like a question of if, and more a question of when and where. The question of when could be, well, anytime. The question is of where, however, could be narrowed down a little more.

Surely there will be interest in Wong on the trade market, with his reasonable $10MM salary, quality offensive production, and excellent defense. We already know of one team with interest.

Here are three potential landing spots for Kolten Wong should he be traded by the Brewers this offseason.

Kolten Wong landing spot #1: Seattle Mariners

This was the team that we already know has specific interest in Wong, and they make a ton of sense as a trade partner. Seattle is coming off their first postseason appearance in 21 years and is looking to further improve their roster. Second base is a position of weakness that Wong would immediately upgrade.

The Brewers and Mariners have lined up on a number of trades together in the past and they very well could do so again this offseason. Seattle could fill some needs for Milwaukee with their pitching surplus.

This is a strong fit on paper and the Mariners are already interested, making them a clear top potential landing spot for Wong. But that doesn't mean they're the only team that makes sense as a trade partner for the Brewers on a potential Wong deal.

Kolten Wong landing spot #2: Chicago White Sox

The White Sox are in need of some serious retooling of their roster. The White Sox have underperformed in the last two years, coinciding with the tenure of Tony La Russa as manager. La Russa's back into retirement and the White Sox are going to be looking to contend once again in the very wide open AL Central. It's a division they should be winning with the talent they have.

Even with the talent of players such as Tim Anderson, Luis Robert, and Eloy Jimenez, the White Sox need some help on offense. One major position of need for them is second base. Their current projected starter at the keystone is Romy Gonzalez, who had just over 100 plate appearances in 2022 with uninspiring numbers. Josh Harrison and Danny Mendick are free agents for Chicago.

Wong would present an immediate and substantial upgrade for the White Sox at a key position of need.

The question is, what do they have to offer the Brewers to entice them to complete the deal? It appears the Brewers are targeting young players that are pre-arbitration and could help out their team in 2023. Chicago doesn't have many players that fit that bill and the ones that do, they would not part with, especially for just Kolten Wong.

The White Sox make sense as a pursuer of Kolten Wong, but whether they can line up as trade partners will depend on if the Brewers find any players to their liking from that organization.

Kolten Wong landing spot #3: Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies just declined their contract option on Jean Segura, making him a free agent and opening a hole at second base. The internal options the Phillies have aren't exciting and Wong would present an instant upgrade.

Milwaukee could try to center a package around a reliever such as Connor Brogdon, who has put up good numbers and is still pre-arbitration, along with maybe some close to big league ready options.

For a couple of years it's been rumored that perhaps the Phillies could trade first baseman Rhys Hoskins. After their World Series run and how important he was, Hoskins may not be on the block, but he would be an interesting target. He also has one year remaining before free agency and is projected to earn $12.6MM next year, but in a trade for Wong the Brewers would only be adding $2.6MM to the payroll. Hoskins would upgrade first base for Milwaukee over Rowdy Tellez. However, Milwaukee may have to kick in a little more than Kolten Wong to get Hoskins in return.

The Phillies also don't have a strong farm system, but the Brewers likely aren't looking too hard at prospects that are a few years away from the big leagues. Even though they would be shedding payroll and moving a productive veteran in Kolten Wong away in these potential trades, they're still looking for guys that can help now in return.