8 Hitters The Brewers Could Target In The Final Hours Of The MLB Trade Deadline

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The Milwaukee Brewers are looking for one more bat before the MLB Trade Deadline passes in just a few hours. Some hitters have already been taken off the market and that's leaving a smaller number of options for Matt Arnold to choose from.

The need for another hitter in the Brewers lineup is clear and that appears to be the focus of the front office right now. It's likely that Milwaukee acquires someone in the waning hours of the Deadline. But who could it be.

Ken Rosenthal's latest article seemed to indicate the Brewers are looking at a wide variety of hitters and they plan to get at least one of the popular group of position player targets on the trade market.

Let's run down that list.

These are the eight position players the Milwaukee Brewers are likely to be targeting in the final hours of the trade deadline.

1. Jeimer Candelario, 3B, Nationals

This is the hottest name on the market and there are a reported eight teams involved in talks for Candelario. Once the Nationals are offered the caliber of prospect they're looking for, they'll make the move. In order for the Brewers to stand out in negotiations and get a deal done, they'll have to be comfortable moving a higher caliber of prospect than they're currently willing to.

Candelario's .823 OPS with 30 doubles and 16 homers would be a massive boost to the Brewers lineup. He's an excellent defender as well, making him a perfect fit.

2. Eloy Jimenez, DH, White Sox

While this name wasn't listed in Ken Rosenthal's article, reports are the White Sox are willing to listen on everybody, including Eloy Jimenez. With his several years of team control, acquiring Jimenez won't be cheap, but he'll be a difference maker and a force at DH for years to come.

Because of Jimenez's checkered injury history and DH-only profile, the acquisition cost may be lower than some expect, at least that's what the Brewers will be arguing for. We'll see if Jimenez gets moved, but if he does, the Brewers seem involved in that market.

3. Mark Canha, OF, Mets

The Brewers have been connected to Canha in rumors as well. He's been solid, if unspectacular this year for the Mets. His 102 OPS+ is slightly above league average and his power numbers are down, but he'd be an improvement over Tyrone Taylor and Blake Perkins in the outfield, which is something the Brewers desperately need. He's posted consistently above league average numbers since 2018.

4. Tommy Pham, OF, Mets

Rosenthal also lists Pham, who was just connected to the Brewers this morning, as a hitter on the market. The Brewers have seen Pham in the division previously and have been connected to him as a target before. He's having a good season, hitting .268 with 10 homers and a 126 OPS+. Pham grades as a poor defender, making him a likely DH option if Milwaukee were to acquire him.

Pham has a .871 OPS against lefties this year, which is a big need for Milwaukee and he can help solidify this lineup against southpaws.

5. Teoscar Hernandez, OF, Mariners

The Mariners find themselves in unexpected sell mode as a lot of their moves have fallen flat this year. He's hitting just .238 with a .288 OBP, which isn't good, but he has slugged 16 homers this year, providing a lot of thump from the right side. Hernandez is available, but that doesn't mean he's the best fit in Milwaukee. Defensively, he doesn't grade out well, and the Brewers do want solid defense.

The Brewers got one DH from the Mariners for this year, and that hasn't worked. Going back to Seattle to get someone else at DH may not be the best idea either. Hernandez is a free agent at the end of the year, but his performance this year isn't very convincing that the Brewers should try to get him, but Rosenthal listed him as available.

6. Tim Anderson, SS, White Sox

While Rosenthal listed Paul DeJong as a player possibly on the move, I don't see DeJong being the hitter the Brewers acquire. The Cardinals are unlikely to give DeJong to Milwaukee and the Brewers are probably searching elsewhere. We know they're interested in middle infielders and Tim Anderson is another player on the market there.

Anderson has been having a down year in 2023, which may be diminishing his trade value, meaning the Brewers could buy low. There's potential for another year of team control with Anderson and he's likely to be moved to second base for whatever contender he gets moved to, if he moves at all. The Brewers need more offense at second base and even in a down year, Anderson is putting up similar or somewhat better numbers than Brice Turang at the plate.

7. Adam Duvall, OF, Red Sox

Adam Duvall has proven to be a valuable asset in a postseason run and his experience helping the Braves make their World Series run in 2021 would be just what the Brewers need, especially considering Duvall helped eliminate the Brewers that year.

This season, Duvall has been excellent, hitting .261 with an .872 OPS and a 128 OPS+. He can play all over the outfield and can fill in at DH. The Red Sox are down to just a 29% chance to make the playoffs in a loaded AL East and could look to sell.

8. Alex Verdugo, OF, Red Sox

There have been some late reports that the Red Sox could be open to trading Alex Verdugo at the Trade Deadline. Just 27 years old, he's young and controllable for another year after this. He's put up solid numbers in right field for Boston, hitting .272 with a 105 OPS+. Verdugo doesn't have a ton of power, but he's never had a full season with a batting average below .280 in his career. He gets hits and gets on base.

Verdugo may be more unlikely for Milwaukee even though he's a good hitter and would upgrade right field, the Brewers are loaded with young outfielders they don't want to block and paying a fairly high price to get Verdugo for this year and next doesn't seem like a move Milwaukee will make.

These names are what's left of the position player market during the final hours of the MLB Trade Deadline. The Brewers are going to have to narrow down this list, and they probably could shave off a couple names fairly easily. As the minutes wind down on the Trade Deadline, Milwaukee will have to focus on the players they want most and will have to get a deal done.

The Brewers need to get one more bat. They can't let this Deadline go by having only picked up Carlos Santana. If they're getting another bat, it's likely to be one of the eight names on this list.

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