3 more moves Milwaukee Brewers should make this offseason

Trade for Yandy Diaz to man third base

The Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers have been good trade partners. The Rays are always willing to move payroll around.

Diaz is projected to make $5.4 million next season and will be 31. The Rays’ second-best prospect, Curtis Mead, is waiting in the wings.

Tampa has had a history of moving veteran players making millions if they have a prospect pushing to get to the Majors.

Diaz is not the greatest defensive third baseman, but he did have a 5.0 oWAR number. Luis Urias has failed to prove he can be an everyday third baseman.

Diaz’s career 123 wRC+ would solve the Crew’s offensive production issues at the hot corner. While Diaz did not hit a lot of home runs last season, he can hit the ball hard and to all parts of the field. Diaz can also hit leadoff.

The Brewers have some young outfield prospects to move, and the Rays have shown they like the pitchers the Crew has.

Diaz is not set to be a free agent until after the 2024 season, so Matt Arnold would be acquiring a player that can help the club for at least two seasons.

Acquire Daulton Varsho in a deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Diamondbacks have a lot of depth in their outfield. The Brewers have Christian Yelich, Jesse Winker, and then at least three of their top-5 prospects competing for an outfield spot. The Brewers seem set at outfield, but that has never stopped Milwaukee from acquiring more talent.

Plus, the Brewers could slot Varsho in for some at-bats as a designated hitter. He can also play catcher. He could slot right into centerfield.

Varsho is a left-handed bat who could come in and replace the power lost when Renfroe was traded. Varsho hit 27 home runs with a .235/.302/.443 slash line.

He would immediately upgrade a Brewers lineup that needs more productive bats. He is a 4.6 WAR player with a 106 wRC+ last season.

His advanced hitting stats could get better, and he hits mostly to rightfield. With the shift being banned, all his numbers should improve slightly.

Varsho is also in his first year of being eligible for arbitration and is set to make around $2 million. The defending World Series champions, the Houston Astros, are reportedly interested in trading for his services.

The Milwaukee Brewers could see if they could put together an offer to beat out the champs for Varsho. At some point, Milwaukee must make some moves to get back into the playoffs and have a chance to be champions.