The Milwaukee Brewers are 29-21 and lead the National League Central Division by two-and-a-half games over the Chicago Cubs. The St. Louis Cardinals are five-and-a-half games back, the Pittsburgh Pirates are six back, and the Cincinnati Reds are eight-and-half back. Their latest win, a 7-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, was highlighted by a William Contreras home run over the Green Monster that went viral on social media.
The win against the Red Sox also marked the first time outfielder Sal Frelick, a Boston native, appeared in a Major League game at Fenway Park. He discussed what it was like returning home as a Major League player before the game, joking that he was losing money by playing in the series because he has so many family and friends asking for tickets.
Frelick, of course, is one of a special group of young outfielders that promise to make the Brewers competitive for years to come. Others currently with the Major League ballclub include Jackson Chourio and Blake Perkins. Garrett Mitchell, another young star outfielder, will [hopefully] be returning in a couple of weeks as well.
The point here is that Milwaukee has an embarrassment of riches in the outfield, which will make it difficult for the ones they have developing in the minors to get regular playing time in the Majors. This is why one MLB analysts believes an exciting Spring Training star could be on the move at the trade deadline.
MLB Analyst Believes the Milwaukee Brewers Could Trade Luis Lara at the Deadline
In a recent article in which he identified a player on each Major League team (or in their farm system) that would most likely be traded at the deadline, analyst Joel Reuter named 19-year old outfielder Luis Lara as the Brewers’ player most likely to be moved.
He wrote:
“Don’t rule out the Milwaukee Brewers trading shortstop Willy Adames if they slip down the standings at all, but for now they look like the team to beat in the NL Central and obvious buyers, even if they generally shy away from blockbuster moves.
“With Jackson Chourio, Sal Frelick, Joey Wiemer and Blake Perkins all vying for playing time alongside veteran Christian Yelich, the club is loaded with outfield talent, and that could make high-ceiling teenager Luis Lara a potential trade centerpiece.
“The 19-year-old has a 55-hit, 60-speed offensive profile and the defensive tools to stick in center field, giving him a solid long-term outlook even if there is little in the way of power packed into his 5’8″, 155-pound frame.”
As Reuter notes, if the Brewers were to fall in the standings, shortstop Willy Adames would be the player they would most likely unload as he will be a free agent at the end of the season. As of right now, though, Milwaukee leads the National League Central.
Lara, unfortunately, just has so many players at his position ahead of him that have years of club control left. This makes him expendable when it comes to trade talks.
Luis Lara Received High Praise from Milwaukee Brewers Manager Pat Murphy in Spring Training
As mentioned, Lara is just 19 years old. Milwaukee originally signed him as an international free agent for $1.1 million back in 2022 when he was 17.
During Spring Training this year, Lara showed his defensive prowess with some stellar catches in the outfield. Murphy was impressed with the young teenager and wanted him with the Major League camp for the duration of Spring Training, but was overruled:
“Love him. I’d bet on that kid for sure. This is what I do for a living, right? I watch young kids and try to predict their future and try to help them. I’m betting on that kid. I’d like to keep him in camp all camp, but they won’t let me.”
Lara is currently hitting .261/.343/.310 with no home runs and 18 RBI for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. He also has 17 stolen bases in 24 attempts.
For More Great Wisconsin Sports Content
Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19 and follow us @WiSportsHeroics for more great content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in Wisconsin sports, click here!
