Way too early trade deadline predictions for the Brewers in 2025

The Milwaukee Brewers have clawed their way to a respectable start in the 2025 MLB season, sitting right at the .500 mark — and given the circumstances, it’s an admirable feat. With injuries ripping through their starting rotation and early-season inconsistencies threatening to derail momentum, the Brewers have leaned on grit, depth, and timely contributions to stay afloat. This isn’t a team dominating the headlines, but one quietly grinding its way through a long and grueling season.

“Good enough” isn’t part of the vision in Milwaukee. Not anymore. After back-to-back NL Central titles, the Brewers aren’t just hoping to contend — they’re aiming to crash the party again in October with legitimate World Series aspirations. Ambition like this doesn’t allow for complacency. If Milwaukee wants to transform from a resilient team to a true contender, a midseason shakeup feels all but inevitable.

With that in mind, let’s dive into a way-too-early look at the moves the Brewers could explore at the 2025 trade deadline.

Milwaukee should leverage prospect depth to reinforce a shaky bullpen

If there’s one area demanding immediate attention, it’s Milwaukee’s bullpen — and the numbers are hard to ignore. The Brewers enter late April with a 5.23 bullpen ERA, ranking 28th in all of Major League Baseball. Not only are they ineffective, they’re overworked — logging the fourth-most innings of any relief corps in the league. That’s a dangerous combination for any team with postseason aspirations.

The Brewers fortunately have the prospect capital to fix it. With a deep and balanced farm system, they’re positioned to shop selectively and bolster the bullpen without gutting the future. It may not even require a blockbuster — a modest package of two to three prospects, headlined by someone like right-hander Manuel Rodriguez (ranked just outside the Brewers’ top 20), could be enough to reel in a short-term rental like José Leclerc. If they prefer a lower-cost veteran option, a smaller offering could fetch someone like Kendall Graveman, who brings postseason experience and late-inning reliability.

The Brewers don’t need to overhaul the entire pen — they just need to patch the leaks. But the longer they wait, the deeper the hole gets.

The Brewers should consider taking a big swing at shortstop

Call it ambitious. Call it aggressive. But if the Milwaukee Brewers want to take a real swing at October, they may need to think bigger — and shortstop could be the boldest lever to pull.

With Brandon Woodruff, Aaron Ashby, Nestor Cortes, and more all slated to return to action, Milwaukee will soon find itself with a surplus of starting pitching — a luxury most contenders only dream of. That depth gives the Brewers leverage. Some arms could shift to the bullpen, sure, but another route could be far more impactful if they use that surplus to chase a middle-of-the-order bat.

Joey Ortiz was supposed to bring both defensive stability and offensive promise to the shortstop role, but through the early stretch of 2025, his bat hasn’t arrived. He's slashing just .176/.263/.188, and despite flashes of potential, there’s little to suggest a breakout is imminent. That opens the door for a bold pivot — a pursuit of Toronto’s Bo Bichette.

With the Blue Jays handing out over $600 million in offseason commitments along with the extension of Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bichette potentially finds himself as the odd man out. The Brewers, meanwhile, could dangle an MLB-ready starter from their pitching depth alongside prospects to put a real offer on the table.

Even if Ortiz eventually finds his rhythm, adding Bichette would give the Brewers one of the most dynamic middle-infield tandems in the National League — and inject much more life into the lineup that still doesn’t have a clear identity.

Reinforcements at third base could be the smarter play for the Brew Crew

If shortstop proves too steep of a hill to climb, the Brewers may have a more attainable upgrade path at third base — and it’s one they should seriously consider.

Caleb Durbin has flashed promise in his early looks, but with such limited big-league experience, some turbulence is not only expected — it’s inevitable. For a team with postseason ambitions, relying solely on a rookie to hold down the hot corner could be risky. While ESPN predicts the Brewers will trade one of their exciting young shortstops, we think Milwaukee’s rotation depth once again becomes an asset. With extra arms and a stocked farm, the Brewers could use the same trade capital to go after a proven third baseman — and there are a couple of intriguing names to watch.

Nolan Arenado would be the ultimate steady hand. His power may have dipped, but he still offers elite defense and dependable at-bats. His glove alone would shore up the infield and take pressure off the pitching staff. Yes, trading with a division rival like the St. Louis Cardinals is a tough needle to thread, and Arenado comes with a hefty price tag — but with St. Louis in flux, there could be room for creativity.

Eugenio Suárez, on the other hand, brings a different profile — offering more power at the plate, but also a higher strikeout rate, which is something the Brewers can’t exactly afford more of right now. He’s a known quantity, and while the Arizona Diamondbacks, who have playoff aspirations of their own, have enjoyed his contributions, he’s currently blocking a logjam of infield prospects. With no extension in sight, the Diamondbacks could be open to a move — especially if Milwaukee can offer controllable pitching in return.

Neither move would prevent the Brewers from turning to one of their exciting young third base prospects in future seasons, but both would add stability to a position that may not hold steady over a full season. If the Brewers want to avoid playing musical chairs at third, this could be a good opportunity to plant their flag.

No matter how the first half of the season shakes out, one thing is clear — the Brewers aren’t in a position to simply ride things out. With a competitive division, a surplus of starting pitching, and a well-stocked farm system, Milwaukee has both the need and the means to be aggressive. If the front office is willing to push the right buttons, 2025 could be the year the Brewers turn into more than just division winners.