The Milwaukee Brewers face a tall task this offseason. As is the case every year, Major League Baseball‘s smallest market has to find a way to replace one of its key contributors who is now too expensive for them to keep. Last year, the Brewers faced the tall task of replacing the winningest manager in franchise history, Craig Counsell, who departed for the Chicago Cubs.
Additionally, Milwaukee had to replace 2021 NL Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes, who was traded to the Baltimore Orioles for Joey Ortiz and DL Hall.
Of course, the Brewers replaced Counsell with his bench coach, Pat Murphy, who led Milwaukee to a 93-69 record and won the NL Manager of the Year Award. Burnes was replaced at the top of the rotation by Freddy Peralta, though numerous starting pitchers helped fill the void that he left.
The Milwaukee Brewers Now Need to Replace Shortstop Willy Adames
It has long been a forgone conclusion that the Brewers would not be able to afford shortstop Willy Adames once he hit free agency. For this reason, many thought that Milwaukee would have traded him last offseason in order to get some prospects in return.
However, they chose to keep him and make their run at another postseason berth with the heart and soul of their clubhouse. He rewarded the Brewers with a career year, hitting .251/.331/.462 with 32 home runs, 112 RBI, and 21 stolen bases. He also played in 161 games.
As great as his season was, though, it only increased his price on the free agent market, making him one of the most sought after players of the offseason.
MLB Insider Suggests the Milwaukee Brewers Trade Devin Williams to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Gavin Lux
In a recent article posted by The Athletic, MLB insider Jim Bowden suggested that the Brewers trade two-time All-Star closer Devin Williams to the Los Angeles Dodgers for shortstop Gavin Lux.
“After landing another ace for their rotation in Blake Snell, it’s time for the Dodgers to address the back end of their bullpen,” Bowden wrote. “After missing the first four months of last season with stress fractures in his back, Williams returned in late July and dominated. He posted a 1.25 ERA and 0.969 WHIP in 22 appearances with 14 saves and 38 strikeouts over 21 2/3 innings. His arsenal includes arguably the best changeup in the sport. In return for an impact closer like Williams, the Brewers could get shortstop Gavin Lux, who would replace Willy Adames at shortstop and allow Joey Ortiz to play third base.”
There are a couple of problems with this trade idea, however.
First, Murphy has already told the Milwaukee media that Ortiz is going to move to shortstop. Second, the Brewers have also made it fairly well-known that they plan to hold onto Williams heading into the 2025 season. While they may trade him before the deadline this summer, he will start the season with Milwaukee.
Lux, for what it is worth, hit .251/320/.383 with 10 home runs and 50 RBI in 2024. He has won two World Series titles with the Dodgers, but did not appear in the 2020 series.
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