Milwaukee Brewers should trade Keston Hiura or Rowdy Tellez

The Milwaukee Brewers have to take a long, hard look in the mirror this offseason and figure out where to improve. That could result in making some tough decisions like trading Keston Hiura or Rowdy Tellez.

MLB Trade Rumors recently suggested Milwaukee could trade Hiura or Tellez this offseason and I tend to agree with them. Hopefully, it’s the former.

Tellez is up for arbitration and is projected to earn a raise of up to $5.3 million. That’s a very reasonable price for one of the Brewers’ best hitters a season ago. Besides, it’s not like they have another player in their system or on their current roster who is ready to step up in Tellez’s absence.

Tellez hit a career-high 35 home runs and 89 RBIs last year with an OPS+ of 115. However, he’s a perfect example of what is wrong with the Brewer’s offense. Although he had good raw stats, his on-base percentage (.306) was subpar. It was either boom or bust with him, and far too often the result was bust.

In order to free up some infield blockage, the Milwaukee Brewers should trade Keston Hiura or Rowdy Tellez this offseason.

If the Brewers traded Tellez, Hiura might be the player they slide over to first base. That’s not a great offensive or defensive option either. Hiura has bounced back since he hit rock bottom in 2020-21, but still isn’t anywhere close to his 2019 production. He had a .316 on-base percentage last year while smacking 14 home runs, 32 RBIs and posting a 115 OPS+.

The rest of the infield is accounted for with Luis Urias, Willy Adames and Kolten Wong. Even if Wong’s player option is declined, the Brewers have Brice Turang waiting in the minors. That makes it difficult for Hiura to find a regular starting spot on the infield and could also make him a trade candidate

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Whatever route the Brewers decide to go, they need to find players who can get on base at a consistent rate. Their offense was boom or bust- evidenced by Tellez’s numbers- and went dry for far too long.