Milwaukee Brewers roundtable: Who are their trade targets?

2. Name three “dream” targets you’d want the Brewers to go after in the trade market.

Brian Sampson: Manny Machado, Cole Hamels, and Chris Archer. All three of these players are highly unlikely to end up in a Brewers’ uniform, but it was dream targets so what the heck!

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Machado would fix all the Brewers problems at shortstop and would instantly provide them with a star player they lack on the roster. Unfortunately, Milwaukee would have to give up a ton to get him back and would likely see him walk after this season, as he’s an unrestricted free agent in 2019.

Hamels and Archer would also provide the Brewers with the star they need, only they would come in the form of a starting pitcher. Hamels has a pretty big price tag but is having a pretty decent season. He also brings the postseason experience and success others lack. Archer is a much cheaper option and is under team control for a lot longer. However, it would cost Milwaukee an arm and a leg to get him.

Mitch Reichert: Chris Archer, J.T. Realmuto, and Manny Machado.

All winter, the Brewers were tied to Chris Archer and the expectation was that they would swing a trade for him. Stearns held off and now is looking like a perfect time to swing a trade. The Tamba Bay Rays are not serious contenders in a tough AL East and Archer is having a so-so year for a middling team. He’s under control for another four years at a very very low cost, so it will cost some decent prospects for the Rays to be willing to part with him.

Moving to the other team in Florida, the Marlins are still terrible. J.T. Realmuto has previously asked for a trade out of Miami, and doing so would return a huge amount of prospects to Miami to round out their rebuild. Realmuto isn’t really adding anything to the Marlins right now and probably won’t be a part of their next contending team so why keep him? The two clubs should be very familiar with each sides farms as well, so it could come together quickly.

Lastly, Manny Machado is having an MVP season for the lowly Orioles. He is unlikely to cost a ridiculous amount, but some decent pieces will need to be let go. But Machado could have a CC Sabathia-type impact on this team.

Mike Wendlandt: Keeping with the typical Brewer talk about getting a controllable pitcher, I would love to get Dylan Bundy from Baltimore. He’s not eligible for free agency until 2022 and has the stuff to be a legitimate ace in the National League. When he’s on, he’s absolutely filthy. And with the Orioles selling everything with a right arm and legs, he might be able to be had for the right price.

Another pitcher who is stuck on a middling-to-bad team is Marcus Stroman. He was rumored to Milwaukee during the past offseason and with his struggles and injuries in 2018, he could be another name on the move as the Blue Jays fall out of contention. He is another guy who would fit in well with the clubhouse and would battle with Jimmy Nelson for the most competitive pitcher out there.

Lastly, to boost the middle infield, I would love to go and get DJ LeMahieu. He will be a free agent in 2019, but I can see him being a priority to bring back if they can swing a deal. A former batting champion, he would slide right into any spot in the order and provide great contact skills and elite defense to an already great defensive team.