Brewers: 4 Trade Targets The Brewers Should Pursue To Fix The Struggling Offense

Trade Deadline Target #2: Red Sox 1B/3B Bobby Dalbec

The Brewers struggle against left handed pitching. That's no secret around the league. Their corner infield spots have especially struggled this year. That makes Bobby Dalbec an interesting potential trade pickup for Milwaukee.

For his career, Dalbec has a .853 OPS against LHPs. He also has a .268 average and a 127 wRC+ against southpaws. Given the Brewers struggles in that area, Dalbec would be a useful bat at either corner infield spot or even DH against lefties. The Brewers tried Luke Voit, Darin Ruf, and Jon Singleton all in that role year and each of them have failed to take hold of it.

Bobby Dalbec has been pushed out of a job in Boston this year. While that may not make the 28 year old look like an ideal trade target, that doesn't mean he can't come over and contribute meaningfully. After all, Julio Teheran had an ERA over 5.00 in Triple-A for the Padres when the Brewers picked him up and he's done a good job.

Dalbec is a player that could really benefit from a change of scenery. He's on the outside looking in with Boston and his primary positions have been locked up by Rafael Devers and Triston Casas. He's blocked out there. It's not so dissimilar a situation that Rowdy Tellez found himself in a few years ago with Toronto when the Brewers picked him up.

Tellez proved to be an excellent pickup for the Brewers and he thrived in a new environment. Now Tellez is stuck in a massive slump, leaving the Brewers in the position once again to possibly have to look at first basemen on the trade market. Dalbec has several years of team control and could come at a fairly low cost.

Trade Deadline Target #3: Red Sox 3B Justin Turner

Could this finally be the time the Milwaukee Brewers land Justin Turner? They've been after him for years, nearly signing him a few years ago, only to watch him go back to the Dodgers on a similar deal. Then he opted to head back into free agency last offseason and the Brewers were once again interested but ultimately did not sign him.

Since the Red Sox are in last place in a very competitive AL East, they are looking like sellers. A veteran like Turner is exactly the type of player that typically ends up on the move at the deadline and is one the Brewers could be looking for.

Turner is still a productive bat, hitting .279 with 16 doubles, 11 homers, an .806 OPS and a 116 OPS+. His defense at third base isn't what it once was, and he's started playing some first base this year as well. That's likely where he would fit in in Milwaukee but he can also DH if the Brewers prefer to keep their top defensive alignment on the field. Turner would be an upgrade over Jesse Winker presently.

The main issue with acquiring the 38 year old veteran slugger is not the prospect cost, but the contract. Turner signed a two year, $21.7MM contract last offseason. He's making $8.3MM this year and has a player option for $13.4MM for next year. The Brewers would be on the hook for that if they choose to acquire him. If Turner declines his player option, he would still be due $6.7MM. While the Brewers may not want to pay Turner eight figures next year, if he keeps playing at this pace, he may opt out anyway.

Perhaps the Brewers could get the Red Sox to kick in some cash for that deal, but that would likely mean a higher prospect cost. The payoff may be worth finally getting Turner in a Brewers uniform as he's remained productive into his late 30s.

Trade Deadline Target #4: Giants 3B J.D. Davis

The Giants are a somewhat surprise team competing in the NL West, currently sitting just a few games back of the division leading Arizona Diamondbacks, another surprise team. As we get closer to the Deadline, it's highly likely the Dodgers will start making a run and push the Giants down the standings and potentially out of the playoff picture.

If the Giants do indeed start to fall by the wayside in the West, they could look to sell at the Deadline and one bat who would be of interest to the Brewers is J.D. Davis. Davis has been the starting third baseman for San Francisco and he's having a great year. Davis is hitting .285 with 10 homers and an .832 OPS.

He's already accumulated 2.0 fWAR and brings value on the defensive side of the ball as well. Davis would be a massive upgrade for the Brewers lineup and if he's available, they need to strongly consider acquiring him.

Davis would also represent a longer term investment, meaning a higher prospect price. He's under team control for another year and a half, through the 2024 season. Because of the extra year of control, that'll cost the Brewers a bit more to get him, but they don't have anyone in the organization really anywhere close to locking down that position in the near future, meaning Davis can solve a need for next year without blocking anybody.

Davis can help plug holes at both corner infield spots and provide a massive boost to the lineup. He'd also solve a Brewers need for 2024, making him a target to watch.

There's still a lot of time between now and the Trade Deadline. As the selling teams become more clear, the targets to watch will come into focus. However, what's already clear is that the Brewers will need to make additions to their offense by the August 1st deadline.