MLB trade deadline: Who should the Brewers add?
MILWAUKEE (BVM) — The Aug. 2 MLB trade deadline is quickly approaching, and the gap between future buyers and sellers has become more apparent.
It shouldn’t be a surprise to many that the Milwaukee Brewers are once again buyers around the trade deadline as they lead National League Central by two games. However, anticipating who president of baseball operations David Stearns and general manager Matt Arnold will add is another question in itself.
The Brewer’s offense ranks 10th in runs scored, and that’s something that needs to be addressed. And with shortages at third base, center field and designated hitter, the Brewers are in the market for some new talent.
Paired with the Brewers’ sub-par offense is the starting rotation, which, when at full health, is one of the best in the league. The Brewers are still waiting on Freddy Peralta to make his return, but they could add another arm to reinforce the rotation. They also have Devin Williams and Josh Hader at the back end of their bullpen, so the Brewers may be in the market for a reliever who can dominate the middle innings.
Here are the top 10 players that the Brewers could add to help the team reach their first World Series since 1982. Stats are as of July 13.
Chad Kuhl, P, Colorado Rockies
Even with the 11th best ERA (3.78) in baseball, the Brewers are always looking to better themselves. Enter 29-year-old Kuhl. He holds a 6-5 overall record, 4.02 ERA and has 63 strikeouts in 87⅓ innings pitched. His numbers don’t pop, but a pitcher who can go five or six innings is always welcomed on a team. Not only could he start, but Kuhl could be an option to come out of the bullpen if need be. He is an unrestricted free agent after the 2022 season, but for a chance at the World Series, Kuhl is a player that should be of interest to Milwaukee.
Andrew Benintendi, OF, Kansas City Royals
Benintendi is in the midst of one of his best offensive seasons in recent years. And he is coming off a Gold Glove year in 2021. He holds a slash line of .314/.384/.399. It’s another big question mark for the Brewers as Benintendi is another unrestricted free agent following the 2022 campaign. But if the Brewers add him, he could spark Milwaukee’s lackluster offense.
Could we see Andrew Benintendi on the move at the trade deadline?@jonmorosi says the Brewers, Blue Jays and Yankees are teams to look out for to pursue the Royals' Outfielder #MLBCentral 👀 pic.twitter.com/0tNDO4qsNT
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) June 20, 2022
CJ Cron, 1B/DH, Colorado Rockies
Cron was able to get his first All-Star nod this year. And along with that, Cron’s name will circulate among teams hoping to contend for a championship. Since 2018 Cron has hit 107 home runs which is a plus for the Brewers’ offense. Another added bonus is that he has another year on his contract following the 2022 season. Through the years, Stearns and the Brewers love to acquire players with years of control left on their contracts.
Bryan Reynolds, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates
Upgrading the outfield, especially in center field, would seem an obvious move. Reynolds fits that mold. Reynolds has a career wRC+ of 217, followed by a career slash line of .284/.363/.485.
What the Pirates will do with him remains a question. They are 11 games back of the NL Central lead and nine games back of a Wild Card spot. So they could view him as a critical piece for competing in the future along with Ke’Bryan Hayes and Onell Cruz or ship him off while his value is at its highest.
According to The Athletic, the Brewers made a “big-time” offer for the center fielder last year. Reynolds will still be under team control until 2025, which may play into whether or not the Brewers re-engage trade talks with their divisional foe.
Ramon Laureano, OF, Oakland Athletics
Around the end of the 2021 season, Laureano received an 80-game suspension after a failed PED test. That may be too big of a red flag to some, but the Brewers are eager to add depth.
Laureano has a career slash line of .259/.334/.454, which is not too bad, but what stands out is his at-bats against left-handed pitching this year. Against lefties, he has an OPS of .938 and is just shy of batting .300.
He has spent the last two seasons in the outfield and with a fielding percentage of .987, Laureano would not only provide a spark to the Brewers’ offense, but he can also help keep runs off the board. He is also under team control until 2024, which remains a mainstay for how the Brewers’ front office operates.
David Peralta, OF, Arizona Diamondbacks
Peralta is a former Silver Slugger and Gold Glove winner in the final year of his three-year, $22 million contract. The Brewers are also familiar with the Diamondbacks too as trade partners, as seen by last year’s acquisition of now New York Met Eduardo Escobar previous year on July 28.
Peralta has spent all nine of his MLB seasons with the Diamondbacks. He currently has a career slash line of .282/.340/.462. Now what could turn off the Brewers is the strikeout rate. According to Fangraphs, his strikeout rate sits at 23.9%, which is slightly above MLB average. The Brewers would likely need to take the pro-rated approach to his salary to get him on the team.
Trey Mancini, 1B/3B/OF, Baltimore Orioles
One of the best stories in baseball in the past year was Mancini beating cancer and retaking the field. He is not only a fan favorite in Baltimore but also one of the league’s most likable players. Mancini will potentially be a free agent at the end of this year as he has a $10 million mutual option that could be declined. The question remains: will the Orioles trade him? If that decision is made, the ballclub could be getting a substantial return for him. He is currently batting .281 and has an on-base percentage of .258 and a .417 slugging percentage.
Mancini has been able to play first base for most of the 2022 season, but the Brewers probably don’t need much help with Rowdy Tellez covering the position daily. They need to be able to produce runs and solidify their defense. By moving Mancini around the infield and outfield, Mancini can provide the depth the Brewers need.
Anthony Bass, P, Miami Marlins
Since Stearns has been with the Brewers, they have added at least one reliever before the trade deadline. Bass could be the next reliever to join the Crew in the postseason.
Bass has pitched 36⅔ innings this season, and his ERA is currently at 1.47, a career-best. Along with an excellent ERA, some of the other metrics are great too. According to Fangraphs, he leaves 80.4% of runners on base. That’s the best since his rookie season. Along with the talent on the mound, bass also has a $3 million club option. And whichever team he’s on come Aug. 2, that team is sure to pick it up.
Josh Bell, 1B/DH, Washington Nationals
The 2022 MLB season has proved to be Bell’s best year since 2019 when he was in the running for NL MVP. Bell’s slash line currently sits at .304/.386/.491.
With one year remaining on his contract and the Nationals being 24 games back in the division, Bell is going to be one of the top rental bats in the league. He’d definitely be an upgrade to the lineup but are players like Mike Brosseau or Hunter Renfroe taking a back seat to him?
It’d be a steep price for the Brewers, but Stearns and the Brewers have always been creative, and if Bell helps them win a title, it’ll be a move talked about for a long time in Milwaukee.
Joey Gallo, OF/DH, New York Yankees
If the Brewers want to make a big splash before the trade deadline, adding Joey Gallo could be just that. His slash line (.168/.288/.341) speaks a different story, and one may be quick to turn away from him. But a fresh start for a struggling baseball player could be all he needs. And, in a hitter-friendly ballpark like American Family Field, Gallo could fit right and provide the depth Milwaukee is looking for.
