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

We're nearly a month away from the Trade Deadline and the needs the Milwaukee Brewers have to address are identifying themselves. The offense is a problem yet again.

The Brewers have several underperforming players in their lineup and if this team is going to achieve its goals, they'll either need those players to immediately start performing up to expectations, or they'll have to add some players at the Trade Deadline to replace them.

Odds are, the Brewers will be needing to add a productive hitter or two (or three) at the Deadline. While it's still early in the process, potential trade targets are starting to become clear.

Here are four position player trade targets the Milwaukee Brewers should pursue at the 2023 Trade Deadline to fix their offense.

Trade Deadline Target #1: Nationals 3B Jeimer Candelario

Jeimer Candelario is having potentially the best season of his career in 2023. After years with the Tigers, Candelario is now with the Washington Nationals. Through 74 games, he's hitting .260/.335/.466 with 24 doubles, 10 homers, and a 123 OPS+. The Brewers have just two regulars with an OPS+ over 100 in Christian Yelich and William Contreras.

Candelario has also been much better defensively at third base this year. While that doesn't address the offense, it is important for a Brewers team built on pitching and defense and that extra defensive performance combined with his excellent year at the plate has given him 2.5 bWAR already this year.

Candelario has a career low 19.3% K rate this year, which is a great development to see not only for him but as a potential Brewers trade target.

Third base has been somewhat of a revolving door for the Brewers of late. Luis Urias has struggled offensively this year after returning from injury while Brian Anderson started hot but has since cooled off at the plate.

A free agent at the end of the year, Candelario is an ideal rental target that won't cost a huge prospect package while upgrading the offense. The Nationals are clear sellers and will be motivated to move him.

Candelario fits what the Brewers need positionally and he'll give the Brewers exactly what they need offensively.

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.