Why Matt Arnold stocking up on outfielders is a brilliant strategy this offseason

The Milwaukee Brewers have something of a logjam to work through in the outfield, as their signing of Akil Baddoo brought yet another experienced outfielder into the mix.

To be sure, the signing of Baddoo himself isn't likely to change the calculus in Milwaukee too much, seeing as he has an option year remaining and is more than likely destined for Triple-A Nashville barring multiple injuries or a spring training breakout for the ages.

Still, his presence brings the total outfield crew on the 40-man roster up to nine, which means the Brewers are utilizing close to 25% of their available space to harbor a surplus of outfielders. That will probably necessitate a trade of some sort as the team seeks upgrades elsewhere on the depth chart, with the team still needing to add a third catcher to the mix.

However, maybe this surplus of outfielders has actually been the plan all along. There are simply more teams with needs for outfielders than there are those with outfielders to spare, and the Brewers have conveniently placed themselves on the advantageous side of that ledger. With leverage on their side, can Matt Arnold and the front office goad a team into surrendering a haul for one of their many superfluous players?

Brewers' outfield depth gives them plenty of trade ammunition for offseason

Insofar as the Crew have been involved in any notable trade rumors this offseason, it's been about their will-they, won't-they saga regarding ace Freddy Peralta.

That's a deal that would diminish the overall talent on the team, though, especially at a position of need. Dealing an outfielder, on the other hand, wouldn't sacrifice a key member of the squad (unless it were Jackson Chourio or Sal Frelick, heaven forbid), and could instead bring back some much-needed rotation or bullpen depth.

Regardless of which outfielder you think the team should trade — Garrett Mitchell, Blake Perkins, and Isaac Collins stand out as the most reasonable options on paper — it's clear that something has to give here. The Brewers' 40-man roster is full; if they bring in another major-league player, someone will have to be jettisoned to make room.

Just look at the Boston Red Sox. They're the talk of the trade block this offseason thanks to their outfield logjam. Now, Jarren Duran and Wilyer Abreu (their two most superfluous pieces) are far more talented than anyone in Milwaukee not named Frelick or Chourio, but it stands to reason that with so many teams needing outfield help in 2026 — the Royals, Mariners, Guardians, Reds, and yes, even the Dodgers — the Brewers could hold a bidding war for one of their more promising pieces.

Or, they could just enter spring training with a monopoly on fourth outfielder types. Redundancy is not necessarily a bad thing to have in the spring, but when it's the result of a team not capitalizing on an excellent seller’s market, it becomes more difficult to justify.