Could Brewers catcher Eric Haase be traded to San Diego to solve roster crunch?

The MLB Trade Deadline is less than a week away, and while the market has yet to fully kick off, rumors are ever present, and the latest rumors could point to a trade between the San Diego Padres and Milwaukee Brewers.

MLB Network Insider and New York Post columnist Jon Heyman posted his latest round up of rumors on Friday night. The article included a tidbit that the San Diego Padres "could be in the market for a catcher". Heyman links Rockies catcher Elias Diaz, but perhaps the Brewers have a solution to San Diego's needs with Eric Haase.

Originally signed to be the backup catcher to William Contreras in December, Haase was demoted after the signing of Gary Sanchez. Haase stuck around in the system and has seen regular playing time at Triple-A Nashville following the season-ending injury to Jefferson Quero. In 170 minor league plate appearances, Haase has a triple slash of .279/.367/.503 with nine home runs. And in a very small sample size in Milwaukee, he has had a hot start with three home runs and a triple slash of .435/.458/.826 in 24 plate appearances.

Despite his hot stretch in the Majors and solid season in Triple-A, Haase doesn't have a consistent path to playing time in Milwaukee, as he is blocked by Sanchez and Contreras.

The Brewers currently carry a rare three catchers on their 26-man roster in Haase, Sanchez, and Contreras. Additionally, they will be coming up on a roster crunch with pitchers Devin Williams, DL Hall, J.B. Bukauskas, and Joe Ross all due to come off of the 60-Day IL soon.

The Padres currently are relying on Kyle Higashioka and Luis Campusano to be their catchers, both of whom have significantly cooled off over the past month to the point where A.J. Preller appears to be kicking the tires on a trade, not that he needs much convincing.

Trading from the active roster would be consistent with the way the Brewers operate, always looking for a chance to improve their long-term outlook through trading for or trading away players. Haase would not fetch a major haul - likely a young minor leaguer who does not have to be on the 40-man where the front office would operate under the mindset it would be better to have get a player rather than lose Haase through the DFA process.

The Brewers have been built around offense in 2024 so it's entirely possible they keep Haase and their whole catching crew moving forward. But considering how the team normally operates it makes too much sense not to deal from a position of depth and Haase makes the most sense for a team willing to make a deal in the Padres.