Milwaukee Brewers: 5 Right Field Trade Targets for the 2023 Trade Deadline

Two things have been true for the Milwaukee Brewers this season. They haven't had a very good offense and the right field position has been responsible for much of that issue.

The Brewers come into Thursday scoring an average of 4.17 runs per game, tied for 24th in MLB. Meanwhile, per FanGraphs, Milwaukee right fielders have compiled a .212 batting average that ranks second lowest in the league and an OPS of .629 that ranks third worst in MLB.

Currently, the Crew is using a trio of Tyrone Taylor, Blake Perkins, and Raimel Tapia to strike little fear in the eyes of opposing pitchers. And No. 2 prospect Sal Frelick, who it was once thought might eventually take over that position this year, hasn't looked as good offensively at Triple-A this year as he did last year and may not end up being the solution to that problem this year after all.

Luckily, the 2023 MLB trade deadline is right around the corner and in over the next couple weeks, the Brewers will see who out there might be worth bringing in to upgrade the offense. At right field, there are several options that could be worth looking in to for that offensive boost.

Here are five right field trade targets the Brewers can pursue at the 2023 MLB trade deadline.

#1 Brewers right field trade target - Adam Duvall, Boston Red Sox

The Brewers have a history of making trades with the Red Sox that worked out in their favor, acquiring Travis Shaw prior to the 2017 season and trading for Hunter Renfroe last season. Perhaps they could make another move work with outfielder Adam Duvall.

The 34-year-old is posting some of his more solid offensive numbers in recent years. In 37 games (more on that in a bit), Duvall is hitting .258 with a .848 OPS, 11 doubles, seven homers, and 25 RBI, though his strikeout rate is a little elevated at 31.0%. That's not terribly far off of his career 28.6% rate, though.

Duvall also comes with the benefit of defensive flexibility. While he has played plenty of right field over the last few seasons, he has played even more at center and could spell rookie Joey Wiemer there when needed.

The move would come with some injury risk. Duvall hit the 60-day injured list on account of a sprained left wrist with the Braves late last season while the Red Sox just activated him from the 60-day IL a month and a half ago after breaking a bone in the same wrist.

He is seemingly healthy now, though, and would be a rental anyway as he is a free agent after this season, so there would be no long-term commitment. The biggest question, though, is whether the Red Sox will be sellers as they are only 2.5 games out of an AL Wild Card spot and 7-3 in their last 10 games. Should they fade close to the deadline, though, keep an eye out for Duvall as a target.

#2 Brewers right field trade target - Randal Grichuk, Colorado Rockies

On the other end of the competitive spectrum are the Colorado Rockies who currently own the worst record in the National League at 37-59. As a result, they should once again be sellers at the trade deadline and have an outfielder the Brewers could use in Randall Grichuk.

The 31-year-old Grichuk is in the midst of one of the best offensive seasons of his career. Through 55 games, he is slashing .300/.364/.473 with 18 doubles, five homers, and 22 RBI. Though the Coors Field effect has worked in his favor, he's hitting just fine away from there as well with a .263 average and a .758 OPS.

There would be an injury to check on here too as Grichuk has only played once since the All-Star break with a groin injury, though it has yet to land him on the IL.

But as long as he is deemed healthy, Grichuk, who has played a majority of his games in right since 2018, is right up the Brewers alley as a rental from a team who will definitely be selling. For the right price, he's certainly worth a look.

#3 Brewers right field trade target - Lane Thomas, Washington Nationals

Now perhaps the Brewers decide not to go the rental route and work out a bigger trade for someone with more control. Yes, Milwaukee has a bunch of young outfield depth with players like Wiemer, Frelick, Garrett Mitchell, and top prospect Jackson Chourio (who is still at Double-A) in the system. But that hasn't always stopped them from making a move in the past.

Maybe, then, Milwaukee could swing big for a player like the Nationals' Lane Thomas. In his third season with Washington after being traded there by the Cardinals in the Jon Lester deal, the outfielder is hitting .289 with a .819 OPS and leading the team with 15 homers and 51 RBI.

Thomas has primarily played in right field this season for the Nationals with 93 of his 94 starts coming there, though he played a good amount at all three outfield positions last season and offers a good amount of flexibility.

Three of the Nationals top five prospects are outfielders but none are past the Double-A level, so even though Washington will be sellers, they will be hard pressed to part with Thomas, who is their top offensive performer not only in the outfield but on the team as a whole. The question is whether, with two years of control remaining, they want to move him while they can still get something for him.

The Brewers would have to give up a lot to get this deal done at a position where they already have depth, making it one of the more unlikely moves. Crazier things have happened at MLB trade deadlines, though.

#5 Brewers right field trade target - Mark Canha, New York Mets

Who would have thought that with the ridiculous amount of money that the New York Mets threw at their roster that we'd find them as possible sellers at the 2023 MLB trade deadline. Yet, at a 45-50 record and seven games back of the final NL Wild Card spot, here we are.

The Mets have been moving toward featuring some of their younger talent here in 2023 and could continue that movement with their trade deadline moves. Thus, it could make sense to move on from the 34-year-old Mark Canha.

Canha is less of a power threat than some of the other options and more of an on base threat as his still solid .346 OBP in 2023 is actually the lowest mark he has posted since the 2018 season. It would be the third best OBP among qualified Brewers batters behind just Christian Yelich and William Contreras.

While Canha has mostly played left field for his career, he does still have 122 games played in right, which is enough to be serviceable at the position. He also has played 131 career games at first base, a position in which the Brewers are currently thin with Rowdy Tellez on the IL, so he stands as another player with defensive flexibility that the team could really use.

Though Canha is under contract for 2024, it's a $11.5MM club option with a $2MM buyout, essentially making him a rental for anyone who potentially acquires him at the deadline. If increasing the number of baserunners is the direction Milwaukee wants to go, then Canha deserves a look.

This is the first trade deadline with new Matt Arnold fully at the controls for the Brewers. Whatever direction he goes, right field has to be among the top desires on his wish list and these guys would all be great names to consider.