Milwaukee Brewers: Recent deadline trades for pitching
By Kenny Jilek
In the past two years, the Milwaukee Brewers have made trades for pitching to attempt to make a playoff run. These acquisitions have had mixed results.
The Milwaukee Brewers are only half of a game back of the Chicago Cubs for first place in the National League Central Division and will certainly look to bolster their pitching staff at the trade deadline.
After building up their farm system while missing the playoffs from 2012-2016, David Stearns and the Brewers used much of that strong farm system to make moves at the deadline in 2017 and 2018. Some of these moves worked out great, and others were not as successful.
Trading for a big name will not be easy with the Milwaukee Brewers’ depleted farm system, and it may cost them some guys that they would hate to see go, but if Stearns is all in on making this a playoff team, then he could pull the trigger on a big move.
Today, we’ll just look at the recent pitching acquisitions they’ve made at the trade deadline because that is most likely what Milwaukee is looking to get. The Brewers have the fourth-highest runs allowed in the National League and have been staying in contention by hitting the ball out of the ballpark and winning close games while surrendering games that are out of reach by putting in their last relievers and losing big. This has caused them to have a minus-17 run differential at the All-Star Break.
The Milwaukee Brewers are looking for pitching before the fast-approaching July 31st deadline, so let’s see how this has worked out for them in the past. Before I go into the last two years, I’d just like to mention that these moves can be huge booms like C.C. Sabathia was in 2008. 11 years ago is hardly recent anymore, but that move got them into the postseason with his superhuman performances down the stretch.