Brewers: 3 Trade Deadline Partners Who Have Multiple Players the Crew Needs

In the last 11 games since the All-Star break, the Brewers are 7-4, even sweeping the Reds at one point, and own the division by a half game. They can stretch that lead back out with a win in the rubber match against Cincinnati.

It is now official. The Brewers are contenders and thus should be buyers. However, there are still a lot of holes on this roster. If the Brewers are serious about making a playoff run, they need to get the front office loaded up and ready to make some deals. 

A lot of talent is coming up, and the Brewers have a potential powerhouse with Wiemer, Turang and Mitchell and superstar in the making Sal Frelick. They need to keep the bigger talent coming up in the farm but move some pieces to make a run this year. So before we talk needs, let's put out notice that the baby crew that's brewing stays intact. OF Jackson Chourio, RHP Jacob Misiorowski, and C Jeferson Quero are not moveable and should remain with the team. 

As for needs, the Brewers have several. First is the need for speed; we have it, it's inherent, and there is nothing we can do about it. We need to score more, and you need OBP plus speed to do that. Currently, the Brewers are ranked 27th in the MLB for batting average (.231), 24th in runs (412), and 22nd in home runs (103). 

On the mound, they are 19th in HR given up (120), 18th in strikeouts (836), and 15th in walks (311). Most of their HR against come in the 5th-8th innings, as strikeouts decrease and walks increase tremendously during those innings. In particular, the Brewers are giving up a lot of left-handed HRs and walks in these innings. In short, there is a need for relievers that can get left-handed outs. 

Brewers Trade Deadline Partner #1: The Chicago White Sox

These numbers indicate Milwaukee also needs a strong left-hander in the rotation with an excellent inning-per-start ratio. One such pitcher, the White Sox's Lucas Giolito, comes to mind. The White Sox are rebuilding, not in the Brewers' division, and have a few players outside of Giolito that make them the perfect trade partner. 

Giolito is 6-6 with a 3.91 ERA, 124 SO to 40 BB in 117 innings this season. Ignoring the record, if the Brewers managed a trade for him, He would immediately vault to co-ace status. More importantly, he is only allowing a .203 average with 46 SO to 16 BB against left-handed hitters. 

The White Sox also have Reynaldo Lopez in the final year of his contract. His 50 SO to 22 BB in 40 innings with a .221 average against is an easy get. At just 29 years old and $3.6MM, he is one under-the-radar delivery that could be instrumental in Milwaukee. 

The last trade chip in Chicago is 3B Jake Burger. He could replace the disappointing and now-injured Rowdy Tellez. The 27-year-old is still under his rookie contract and is not eligible for arbitration till 2026. He has a .785 OPS with 21 home runs and 47 RBIs. It is surprising the White Sox are open to trading him.  

Brewers Trade Deadline Partner #2: The Washington Nationals

Next, they will need two players with a high average and adequate power to constantly get runners around the bases. First on the Brewers' wish list, not to mention plenty of other teams, should be Nationals third baseman Jeimer Candelario. 

It is almost a certainty Candelario will be moved within before August 1, but the sooner, the better for Milwaukee. After he was non-tendered by Detroit, he was signed by the Nationals to a $5MM deal. It was a terrific bargain and the switch-hitting infielder has posted a .255/.332/.807 line, 47 RBIs, and 15 home runs with solid defensive metrics.

Carl Edwards is in the final year of his contract and pitched well in relief last year. Kyle Finnegan is also available to pick over from the Nationals. He is stellar against lefties and can be a functional setup man. 

If the Brewers need to increase the trade to make things work, the Nationals could add in Jeter Downs. Downs is major-league-ready, but the Nationals have no place in the lineup for him. They have given him just one at-bat in three weeks with the club. He recently came off the IL on June 28 and is a genuine threat on the base paths.