Two injured Brewers position players head to Triple-A to begin rehab assignments

Major League Baseball's midseason trade deadline is just two weeks away, leading to plenty of rumors about how the many contending teams will improve their rosters for the stretch run. The Milwaukee Brewers, now owners of the best record in all of baseball, will have several decisions to make before 5:00 p.m. CT on August 3 -- the date and time of this year's trade deadline.

The Brewers don't have many clear holes on their roster, which is firing on all cylinders during their four-game winning streak coming out of the All-Star Break, but many are advocating for the front office to add a clear No. 3 starter to pair with Kyle Harrison and Jacob Misiorowski for the final stretch. Others are wanting the team to add more power to their lineup, likely in the form of a third baseman, though Joey Ortiz's recent hot streak is complicating that matter.

Further complicating the Brewers' search for an offensive upgrade is the fact that two injured position players will return to the active roster before or right around the trade deadline. Infielder David Hamilton is set to begin a rehab assignment with the Triple-A Nashville Sounds tonight, after landing on the IL with a hamstring strain on July 7. When asked, ahead of tonight's game, when fans can expect Hamilton back on the active roster, manager Pat Murphy responded, "Maybe as early as this weekend...He says he feels great, so all things suggest he should be back sometime during the weekend."

Brandon Lockridge, meanwhile, who was placed on the IL back on May 9 after suffering a deep laceration in his right knee when sliding into the wall in foul territory down the left field line, is set to begin his rehab assignment with the Nashville Sounds tomorrow, with the hope of returning to the active roster either at the end of July or during the first few days of August. Lockridge was on an encouraging timeline before a setback during his rehab forced him to miss essentially an extra month.

The approaching returns of both Hamilton and Lockridge, while encouraging for the Brewers, certainly create questions regarding the makeup of their roster after the trade deadline.

David Hamilton, Brandon Lockridge expected to return to Brewers' roster before or shortly after the August 3 trade deadline

Hamilton's reintroduction to the Brewers' roster should be relatively seamless. Milwaukee traded for utility infielder Braden Shewmake from the Houston Astros to fill Hamilton's role on the roster shortly before the All-Star Break, but it was never expected to be a lengthy tenure in Milwaukee for the option-less Shewmake. Presumably, the Brewers will designate Shewmake for assignment and add Hamilton back to their roster, which will inadvertently open the 40-man roster spot Milwaukee will need for Lockridge's return.

Hamilton will slide back into his role as Joey Ortiz's platoon partner at third base, though the latter's recent hot streak at the plate could complicate the situation. Over the last month, Ortiz is slashing .271/.307/.486, with four homers and a 114 wRC+, suggesting the platoon may not be as strict as it was before Hamilton's injury.

Meanwhile, the Brewers' current outfield picture is far less conducive to Lockridge's return. Since Lockridge landed on the IL back in early May, Luis Lara has been promoted to the big-league roster, Jake Bauers has begun making far more starts in a corner outfield position, and Garrett Mitchell has established himself as an everyday player. Sal Frelick is currently on the IL with a shoulder injury, but when he returns the Brewers will have five legitimate outfield starting options: Lara, Mitchell, Frelick, Bauers, and Jackson Chourio. Therefore, finding a spot for the returning Lockridge may be difficult.

The upshot of these two moves is that Milwaukee's position player group will already be crowded when the trade deadline rolls around. That doesn't necessarily mean the Brewers won't make an upgrade to their offense, but it certainly complicates the process. Parting ways with any of the 13 position players expected to be on the Brewers' roster in two weeks' time would come as a surprise, especially if it isn't for a move that makes the offense substantially better.

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