The Milwaukee Brewers are 33-23 and in first place in the National League Central Division. As of this writing, they lead the St. Louis Cardinals by five games, the Chicago Cubs by six games, the Pittsburgh Pirates by seven games, and the Cincinnati Reds by eight-and-a-half games.
By this point in the year, the season is one-third of the way over. As summer begins, it is becoming more and more apparent which teams will be buyers at Major League Baseball’s trade deadline at the end of August, as well as which ones will be sellers.
Milwaukee, of course, is on pace to be one of the teams that will look to add talent at the deadline. Since their roster does not have any holes among position players, they will most likely be looking to add pitching, both a starter (or two) and some bullpen arms.
The Milwaukee Brewers’ Pitchers Have Had the Worst Injury Luck in 2024
Prior to the 2024 season, the Brewers made major changes to their starting rotation. Corbin Burnes, the 2021 NL Cy Young Award winner, was traded to the Baltimore Orioles for infielder Joey Ortiz and left-handed starting pitcher DL Hall. Brandon Woodruff, who was non-tendered, was re-signed to a two-year deal even though the Brewers knew he would not be able to pitch in 2024 due to injury.
So, the Brewers re-signed Wade Miley who went 9-4 with a 3.16 ERA for them in 2023. They also signed free agents Joe Ross and Jakob Junis. Ross had not pitched in the Majors since 2021 due to injuries.
Milwaukee entered the season with a starting five of Freddy Peralta, Colin Rea, Ross, Junis, and Hall. Miley had gotten hurt during Spring Training and started the season on IL.
Unfortunately, of all of the starting pitchers mentioned, only Peralta and Rea have not spent any time on the IL. Miley started two games before it was revealed he would need Tommy John Surgery and be out for the season. Ross, Junis, and Hall are still currently out with injuries as well.
In their place, the Brewers have relied on rookies Tobias Myers and Robert Gasser, as well as long-reliever turned starter Bryse Wilson.
Needless to say, starting pitching will definitely be at the top of general manager Matt Arnold’s list as the trade deadline nears.
MLB Analyst Names the Milwaukee Brewers as the 4th-Best Landing Spot for Miami Marlins Ace Jesus Luzard
On of the most coveted names on the trading block is going to be Miami Marlins ace Jesus Luzardo. While he is just 2-4 with a 4.19 ERA so far this season, he has absolutely filthy stuff that will make him a welcome addition to any team.
Earlier this year, Luzardo defeated the Brewers tossing eight innings of three-hit shutout ball to beat Peralta and the Brewers 1-0.
In an article in which he ranks the best destinations of the lefty, MLB analyst Joel Reuter suggests the Brewers would be the fourth-best place for Luzardo to land.
He writes:
“Acquiring Luzardo would not only give the team a second top-tier starter to slot alongside Freddy Peralta in a starting rotation that has leaned on Colin Rea, Bryse Wilson and rookie Robert Gasser after Wade Miley, Joe Ross, DL Hall and Jakob Junis all ended up on the injured list.
“Looking ahead to 2025, the Brewers would potentially have a top-of-the-rotation trio of Peralta, Luzardo and a healthy Brandon Woodruff, which potentially stacks up to any top-three starters in baseball.”
While it is enticing to think about a 2025 starting rotation that would include Peralta, Luzardo, and Woodruff, the players that Milwaukee would have to give up in Reuter’s trade proposal might give hesitation.
He argues that the Brewers would have to part with either Tyler Black or Brock Wilken, as well as exciting teenage outfielder Luis Lara.
While Milwaukee may be willing to trade Lara as they are rich in outfielders, it is hard to imagine they would be willing to trade either Black (a first baseman) or Wilken (a third baseman). Both will be positions of need soon, and the Brewers like using their own players as much as possible.
That being said, if they are a starting pitcher away from a deep playoff run this year, Luzardo could be their primary target.
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