Brewers: Top 10 Brewers Trade Targets To Track During The 2023 Season

The Milwaukee Brewers are positioned as contenders in the 2023 season. While the same was the case last year and the team effectively sold at the Trade Deadline, the Brewers have learned their lesson and shouldn't be doing the same thing again.

Milwaukee's likely to at least be in position to contend for a playoff spot when the August 1st Trade Deadline rolls around. While the Trade Deadline is months away, it's not too early to begin looking at potential trade targets to track.

There's already a clear class of teams that will be sellers when the Deadline gets here, which means we can begin to look at those rosters for potential midseason additions.

The way the Brewers have been playing to start the year, it's hard to find an obvious weak spot at the moment. The infield is loaded with quality option, catcher is solidified, the outfield is going young and there's plenty of internal options to go to. Garrett Mitchell's injury is a hit to that depth, but the presence of Blake Perkins and Sal Frelick should prevent the outfield from becoming a need to be addressed at the deadline.

Here are 10 potential Brewers trade targets to track throughout the 2023 season.

Potential Brewers trade target #1: LHP Tanner Scott - Marlins

There is a seemingly obvious hole on this roster though, and it's in the bullpen. There's only one left hander out there in Hoby Milner. The Brewers have grown used to having multiple lefties in the bullpen in recent years and they simply don't have that this year. When the Deadline comes up, fortifying the bullpen with a left handed option will be important.

Sure, they could bank on Justin Wilson returning from injury and playing well, but it wouldn't hurt to grab another lefty. Tanner Scott of the Marlins is one that could intrigue Milwaukee. He averages 95-96 MPH on his fastball, which he pairs with a slider.

The 28 year old Scott has struggled with walks at times but gets ground balls at a nearly 50% clip over his career and has a 12.0 K/9.

Also, Scott has another year of team control before free agency. He's earning $2.825MM this year in arbitration.

Tanner Scott is a potential trade target for Brewers fans to track this season.

Potential Brewers trade target #2: LHP AJ Puk - Marlins

Continuing with the Marlins and LHP themes, AJ Puk is another potential trade target for Brewers fans to track. The former 6th overall pick in the 2016 MLB Draft wasn't able to gain traction as a starting pitcher in the big leagues, but a trade to Miami and a move to the bullpen may have been just what he needed.

So far in 2023, Puk is 3 for 3 in save opportunities as the Marlins closer with a 1.13 ERA. He throws hard, averaging 96 MPH on his sinker and has a pair of secondary pitches in a changeup and a slider.

Granted, the closer's role in Milwaukee is occupied by Devin Williams. The Brewers wouldn't be acquiring Puk to close if they make a deal, but the 8th inning job does seem up for grabs. If Puk proves capable over the season to be able to handle high leverage relief, Milwaukee could eye him to be a lefty 8th inning guy to be the bridge to Devin Williams and shore up a currently shaky position.

Puk will have 3.5 years of team control left. He's in his last year before arbitration and will reach free agency after the 2026 season. The price to acquire Puk may be higher because of this, but he could be an impact lefty reliever on this club.

Potential Brewers trade target #3: LHP Aaron Loup - Angels

The Brewers lost a lot of experience in the bullpen when they let Brad Boxberger walk during the offseason. Aaron Loup has 10 years of service time in the big leagues and is still going strong.

He put up solid numbers last year with the Angels and was dominant with the Mets in 2021, earning him a pretty solid contract. He's now at the end of that contract. Loup is earning $7.5MM this year, but by the time the Trade Deadline rolls around, he'll be due just a fraction of that. He also has a club option for next year at the same salary.

While the Brewers aren't typically fans of paying relievers that much money, Loup could be worth it as a veteran setup man for Devin Williams.

The big question is whether or not the Angels will sell. They very well could compete, but based on their history they'll likely fall short of the playoffs.

Potential Brewers trade target #4: LHP Alex Wood - Giants

Starting pitching depth is important and the Brewers have been struggling with it. They were able to deepen that group over the offseason, but injuries continue to take their toll. Aaron Ashby, Jason Alexander, Adrian Houser, and Brandon Woodruff are all on the injured list. Houser is on track to return the fastest, but additional depth may be a good idea.

Whether or not the Brewers acquire a starting pitcher at the deadline will depend on the rotation's health picture at the time. Ashby is likely lost for the season but the current trajectories have Houser, Alexander, and Woodruff all returning to full health by the Deadline. However that doesn't mean another injury couldn't pop up for those guys or any of the currently healthy options.

One starting pitcher to keep an eye on as a trade target is lefty Alex Wood of the Giants. He got off to a strong start this season and has been a solid starter over his career. He's in the final year of his contract and would be a pure rental, which is likely what the Brewers would be looking for in a rotation addition.

The Giants are sitting in 4th place in the NL West and are unlikely to challenge the Dodgers, Padres, and the upstart Diamondbacks for a playoff spot out of that division. Wood could be a solid rotation addition if the Brewers need one come July.

Potential Brewers trade target #5: LHP Sam Moll - Athletics

The Oakland Athletics are bad. They are a pathetically bad baseball team. They are the team from "Major League" in real life, except they aren't lucky enough to have Bob Uecker as their radio broadcaster. So they're even worse off than the "Major League" team. Their owner wants to move the team to Vegas and is sabotaging the roster to make it happen.

That said, there are still some good players on this team that can provide value to other clubs. Lefty reliever Sam Moll is one of them. He's a solid lefty out of the bullpen. He likely won't be in many high leverage spots if the Brewers were to acquire him, but he'd provide Craig Counsell with another southpaw.

The 31 year old still has several years of team control and he has a minor league option remaining. The Brewers love that kind of flexibility and long term control and Oakland will have just about everyone available for trade come July.

Keep an eye on Sam Moll as the Athletics sink toward the bottom and look to sell at the Deadline.

Potential Brewers trade target #6: RHP Brad Keller - Royals

Another potential starting rotation addition is Brad Keller. The Royals are not going to be competing for a playoff spot this year and Brad Keller is in his final year before free agency. He's been solid for them in the past but has struggled the past couple years. So far in 2023, Keller is off to a good start with a 3.00 ERA through four starts.

The Royals have been bad for most of Keller's big league career, which may have hurt some of his stats. Keller has added a curveball to his mix this season and the results have been good. It's now his second-most thrown pitch behind his fastball.

Perhaps the change to his pitch mix will intrigue the Brewers enough to look to acquire him. Again, like Alex Wood, this will depend on the Brewers rotation needs come July. If everyone is healthy, they likely won't look to acquire a starter, but if not, picking up another would be a good idea. We'll see if the new pitch mix continues to lead to good results for Keller as the season goes on, so definitely keep track of him.

Potential Brewers trade target #7: LHP Amir Garrett - Royals

The Brewers are quite familiar with what Amir Garrett can do on the mound after his years with the Cincinnati Reds. He had a stretch of dominance for them out of the bullpen, but struggled in 2021, leading to his departure from Cincinnati. He found a new home in Kansas City and has been steadily improving.

His ERA was still high last year but down from where it was the year before. Now in 2023, Garrett has a 2.35 ERA to begin the year. The 31 year old Garrett still throws hard and can still strike guys out. He's in his last year before free agency, just like Keller, and the Brewers could be intrigued by the idea of bringing Garrett back to the NL Central.

He's another lefty, and can fill middle relief innings and perhaps some high leverage innings if he earns them through the course of the season with Kansas City and then eventually his new home. Because he's a rental and he's on a bad team, Garrett is highly likely to be moved this summer if he's pitching well.

Potential Brewers trade target #8: LHP Trevor Rogers - Marlins

Trevor Rogers is a talented arm that the Brewers would likely love to get their hands on. He dominated in 2021 in a breakout season. Then he struggled in 2022 as his fastball suddenly stopped being effective despite the velocity not changing. Sounds like a problem the Brewers pitching lab can solve.

He was looking much better to begin the 2023 season before a biceps strain put him on the shelf. But he should be back healthy before we get to July.

Miami was saying all offseason that their young starting pitchers are all available in trades in order to add some hitting. They traded Pablo Lopez to the Twins for Luis Arraez in that time, but perhaps the offer will still stand as they look to improve their offense. Rogers will hit arbitration for the first time this next winter, giving any potential acquiring team 3.5 years of control.

He's controllable for two seasons beyond Corbin Burnes and Brandon Woodruff, who are slated to reach free agency after the 2024 season. With extensions looking unlikely for them, the Brewers will need to fill their rotation with some more high ceiling arms and Rogers is that type of arm. Keep an eye on Rogers as a potential Brewers target.