Milwaukee Brewers: 4 Potential Starting Pitcher Trade Targets
By Kenny Jilek
The Milwaukee Brewers could look to make a move for a starting pitcher at the trade deadline and if they do it could be for one of these four guys.
The Milwaukee Brewers have struggled to find consistent starting pitchers with guys like Freddy Peralta and Eric Lauer that had shots in the rotation but couldn’t stick. Now, they’ve figured out a solid rotation of five with Brandon Woodruff, Adrian Houser, Josh Lindblom, Corbin Burnes, and Brett Anderson, but Lindblom’s spot could definitely be replaced as he’s posted a 6.65 ERA this season in five starts.
David Stearns hasn’t made a trade deadline move for a starting pitcher in his tenure as Milwaukee Brewers’ general manager, instead opting to acquire more bullpen pieces for Craig Counsell to use in September. However, this could be the season he pulls the trigger for a starter, especially if it is for a guy who will be here for more than just the next 30 games.
As a small-market team that’s on the bubble of the playoffs currently, the Brewers need to think about future payroll, while also trying to make this year’s team better. This is why I won’t be including any names like Chris Sale that have huge contracts, but instead opting for guys who are in arbitration or pre-arbitration that are paid well under what their open-market value would be, or players with controlled salaries that span the next few years.
Finally, all of these players will be coming from teams that are mostly out of the playoff race and are almost guaranteed to be sellers at the deadline. Saying that the Milwaukee Brewers could get somewhat like Shane Bieber or Yu Darvish that are having remarkable seasons for playoff teams would frankly be naive. The trade deadline is about finding value from teams that are out of the race and looking to build their farm system.