The Brewers infielders are sabotaging the teams’ trade deadline plans

Just over a week ago, it looked like the Milwaukee Brewers’ path to the trade deadline was crystal clear. Despite solid positioning in the NL Central, the infield — particularly the shortstop position — was lacking in production. Joey Ortiz, the presumed heir to Willy Adames, hadn’t lived up to even modest expectations. After slashing a respectable .239/.329/.398 with 11 homers and 60 RBIs last season, the hope was Ortiz would build on that in 2025. Instead, he was stuck below the Mendoza Line and in danger of playing himself out of a starting job.

At the time, it seemed the Brewers had little choice but to consider external upgrades. It wasn’t about chasing star power — it was about finding stability at the position on a team with October aspirations.

However, since then? The story has completely flipped on its head.

Joey Ortiz has caught absolute fire. Over the last seven games, he’s gone 13-for-30, launched his first multi-homer game of his career, eight RBIs, and a slash line of .433/.433/.633. His season batting average, once buried at .187, now sits at a much more palatable .217. The surge isn’t just noticeable — it’s potentially pivotal.

Ortiz and Durbin’s emergence could complicate the Brewers' trade deadline

And Ortiz isn’t alone. Caleb Durbin, another piece of Milwaukee’s infield puzzle, has quietly heated up as well. The 25-year-old has been a steady presence over the last month, and like Ortiz, he's hitting his stride at just the right (or wrong?) time. Durbin has hit .321 with a .536 slugging percentage over his last seven games, and both players are now hitting north of .280 over their last 30 contests.

This resurgence poses a real dilemma for Milwaukee’s front office. For weeks, the organization’s trade deadline path seemed obvious: go get a proven infielder with experience. Names like Bo Bichette, Eugenio Suárez, and others potentially on the market would have given the Brewers a much-needed injection of offensive production.

But now? That sense of urgency has faded. And that’s where the real complication lies.

This sudden infield breakout could tempt Milwaukee into standing pat — betting on a hot streak to carry them the rest of the way. But make no mistake, it’s a risky gamble. What happens if this production fades in August? What happens if Ortiz and Durbin hit another cold stretch and the Brewers find themselves in a tight divisional race with no proven veteran to fall back on?

The truth is, the Brewers might be witnessing fool’s gold. A small sample size is a dangerous thing to trust at this juncture. And while the current surge is encouraging and fun — it shouldn’t erase the bigger picture. Milwaukee still lacks infield depth, experience, and postseason-tested bats on the left side. Betting everything on this current stretch could be a miscalculation they regret come October.

Yes, the Brewers may have a “good problem” on their hands. But good problems still require smart decisions. If Milwaukee believes this team has a real shot at making noise in the postseason, they should still consider bolstering the infield regardless of who’s hot in late June.