Brewers: 5 Fast Rising Prospects Who Could Be Trade Bait At The Deadline

The Milwaukee Brewers are positioned to be buyers at the 2023 Trade Deadline, which means they'll be looking to move some prospects in order to improve their big league roster. The Brewers have been cautious in trading away their prospect talent in recent years.

In order to make the necessary improvement to this club, the Brewers will have to dip into their farm system. Other teams are surely scouting a much improved farm system and there are prospects that are performing well and rising that sellers will be looking for.

The Brewers are unlikely to trade from the top of their farm system, including players such as Jackson Chourio, Jacob Misiorowski, and Jeferson Quero. But there are plenty of players in this system that are rising fast, but still further down the ranks that could find themselves as trade bait this Deadline.

These five fast rising Brewers prospects could find themselves on the move this summer in a trade for a big league piece.

Brewers prospect trade chip #1: INF Jadher Areinamo

Jadher Areinamo was an underrated signing as an international free agent a few years ago, but he's shown some exceptional bat to ball skills. MLB Pipeline currently has him ranked the 18th best prospect in the Brewers system, but he could be moving up soon.

So far this season for the Low-A Carolina Mudcats, Areinamo is hitting .286 with a stellar 11% strikeout rate. He's struck out just 29 times in 254 plate appearances.

Areinamo makes so much contact that it cuts into his walk totals, but his ability to make solid contact so often allows him to hit for a pretty high average and that will get you into the lineup every single day. He doesn't have much power, and since he's just 5'8" and 160 pounds it's unlikely he'll ever add much to his game, but he doesn't need to. His contact ability is what drew the Brewers to him and will draw other teams to him.

As a solid mid-level prospect in the organization, Areinamo should carry some good trade value. His value is around the range where we could see him traded for the type of upgrades the Brewers will be looking for at the Trade Deadline.

Brewers prospect trade chip #2: C Matthew Wood

Based on his performance this year, Matthew Wood should be rising up prospects lists during the mid-season re-ranks. He hit .293 with a .956 OPS with the Carolina Mudcats before being promoted to High-A Wisconsin.

A 4th round pick last year, Wood is an advanced hitter from the college ranks that has walked more than he's struck out. He's solid behind the plate and swings a good bat from the left side. He's a very good, very valuable prospect.

Catching is always in high demand, especially catchers who can swing lefty and swing it well. The Brewers may not want to part with him for that reason but it'll be an easier pill to swallow when you remember that Jeferson Quero is swinging the bat even better at a more advanced level in Double-A plus William Contreras is here for the next five years. Milwaukee's catching department is in good hands and they could withstand moving Wood in a trade for another upgrade.

Teams will be calling about Wood and he's currently ranked 24th on MLB Pipeline's Brewers Top 30, though he's sure to move higher when they re-do the list. He would be a solid return for a rental piece or part of a bigger deal for a player with longer term control.

Wood has a pretty high floor as a backup catcher in the big leagues but his bat could be good enough to make him an everyday starter. Someone dreaming on that upside will be trying to get the Brewers to part ways with him. Since the Brewers are in good hands with Contreras and then Quero, they could be convinced to move him.

Brewers prospect trade chip #3: SS Daniel Guilarte

The Brewers have had a lot of success in their international scouting in recent years. Daniel Guilarte was signed in the same class as Jackson Chourio and although he hasn't moved through the system as quickly, he did earn a $1MM bonus in that same class and was a highly thought of talent.

Guilarte made his full season debut this year in Low-A Carolina and has posted a .292/.404/.346 slash line with 22 RBIs and 16 stolen bases in his first 33 games. Guilarte has been out for a bit with an injury but he's on a rehab assignment in the Arizona Complex League and will be back in Carolina soon.

Guilarte doesn't hit for much power, but his plate discipline is strong and he makes a lot of contact. Defensively, Guilarte is exceptional at shortstop and he can stick at the position long term. there's little question about that.

His defensive prowess and overall success at making contact and getting on base has Guilarte quickly rising up prospect lists. It's also sure to be catching the attention of clubs looking to pick up prospects at the Trade Deadline.

There's a chance Guilarte could add some power as he continues to mature physically and a team willing to bet there's more power in there would be happy to take Guilarte as a headliner in a potential trade this July.

Brewers prospect trade chip #4: OF Hendry Mendez

Hendry Mendez is another success story from the international ranks for the Brewers. He's still just 19 years old and is already playing in High-A Wisconsin. He's battled injuries a bunch this year but when healthy, he's been good.

Jackson Chourio wasn't the only 18 year old in A-ball last year, Mendez was right alongside him. Last year for the Mudcats, Mendez hit a solid .244 with a .357 OBP, five homers, 62 walks and 70 strikeouts. His hit tool and plate discipline are his standout tools at the plate. Mendez had one of the lowest strikeout rates in Low-A last year, which is remarkable for such a young player.

Mendez being an outfielder when the Brewers are absolutely stacked at the position makes him a little more expendable in trade talks. Yes, a player like Mendez who doesn't strike out much is certainly a good one to have, but you have to give something to get something in trade negotiations. The Brewers being so loaded at Mendez's position means he likely won't be able to crack the big league team in a few years when he's ready. While it's too early to call him "blocked", the Brewers may look to move him while his value is high.

Mendez is another prospect in the 10-15 range in the Brewers system, which is the range the Brewers are likely more willing to move from to still get themselves more than just a bench bat to help out the offense.

Being such an advanced hitter at such a young age and already reaching High-A says quite a bit about how talented Mendez is. The Brewers have taken notice of that and other teams have as well.