3 Biggest Questions Brewers Face As Trade Season Approaches

The trade deadline is a pivotal inflection point in many Major League Baseball teams’ seasons, and the Milwaukee Brewers are one of the teams with the biggest range of potential outcomes.

With a loaded farm system and pressure to deliver a long-awaited championship after consistently stalling out in the playoffs this decade, the Brewers might finally have incentive to make some blockbuster acquisitions this year. Then again, they’re the Brewers, which means they typically take the long-term approach and hang onto their prospects. Heck, sometimes they’ve even traded stars away when they were in playoff position.

As the trade rumor mill begins to heat up with the weather, the Brewers have a lot to ponder. Let’s run through some of the biggest questions they’re facing, and why there aren’t obvious answers just yet.

Who plays third base and shortstop for rest of season?

It’s been the question looming over the Brewers’ heads all year. Joey Ortiz and David Hamilton are no one’s idea of a formidable shortstop platoon, and Luis Rengifo has been one of the worst value free-agent signings of the year. Either third base, shortstop, or both could be turned over to new players soon.

But will the Brewers go after a veteran on the trade market to replace one or two of those guys? Or will they simply entrust the role(s) to top prospects Cooper Pratt and/or Jett Williams, who are both knocking on the door at Triple-A Nashville.

Does Brewers bullpen get a new closer?

Between Abner Uribe and Trevor Megill, the Brewers certainly have capable closers. But one could argue that to make this team as fearsome as possible by playoff time, a more prolific ninth-inning man could be a difference-maker.

We’ve seen lots of contending teams go after the biggest fish in the relief market and wind up successful in recent years, even when it seemed like guys like Mason Miller and Jhoan Duran might not be moved. This season, Aroldis Chapman is most obvious prospective closer target, but maybe there will even be other names for the Brewers to ponder.

Assuming no Tarik Skubal, which stars are possible targets?

Most Brewers fans would likely love to see their favorite team take a swing at landing the consensus best pitcher in the sport, even if it’s almost assuredly for two months before he signs a massive deal in a bigger market.

It would be hilarious to see the Brewers go after Freddy Peralta only six months after trading him for two Top 100 prospects, but there are other starting pitchers to be had. Or maybe the Brewers find a way to pry Zach Neto loose from the rudderless Los Angeles Angels. Whoever it might be, the biggest fish the Brewers chase will tell us a lot about how serious this team is about going all the way.

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