The Milwaukee Brewers are pretty hot right now, coming off a sweep of the Cincinnati Reds and retaking first place in the National League Central Division. After taking five of six games from the Reds in the span of nine days, Milwaukee has a clear direction for the upcoming trade deadline: they will be buyers.
Related: 3 Milwaukee Brewers Veterans that Are Off the Table in Trade Talks
While Milwaukee is in first place, there are still holes on the team that need fixing. The starting pitching has been solid as of late, but the bullpen could always use another quality arm. However, perhaps the most dire needs are on offense.
Jesse Winker has been a massive disappointment as the team’s designated hitter, Rowdy Tellez was having a horrid year before going down with multiple injuries, and Brian Anderson is now on the IL. In other words, the Brewers need a corner infielder (or two) and a better designated hitter.
A trade for Washington Nationals third baseman Jeimer Candelario may solve at least two of those problems.
The Milwaukee Brewers Should Trade for Jeimer Candelario of the Washington Nationals
Whereas the Brewers are in first place in their division, the Washington Nationals are 37-56, 24.5 games back in the National League East. Undoubtedly, they will be selling at the trade deadline.
One of their most attractive trade pieces is their third baseman Jeimer Candelario, who is hitting .260/.336/.477 with 13 home runs and 43 RBI. He also has 27 doubles this season, making him one of just 22 players with 40 extra base hits already this season.
A switch-hitter, Candelario is primarily a third baseman, but has also played first base in his Major League career. That being said, he has not played that position since 2020 when he appeared in 43 games at first for the Detroit Tigers.
It likely would not take too much to trade for Candelario either. The Nationals took a flier on him after he was non-tendered by the Detroit Tigers, with whom he led the American League in doubles in 2021 (42). He signed a one-year $5 million contract with Washington and will be a free agent at the end of the season.
In short, Craig Counsell could, literally, put Candelario in three different spots in the lineup and it would solve at least one of his problems. When Anderson gets healthy, Candelario can be used at first base and designated hitter.
To those wondering, Candelario hits .272/.345/.522 from the left side of the plate and .232/.315/.374 from the right. Unfortunately, he would not help solve the team’s apparent inability to hit left-handed pitching.
Still, he is an established veteran who can play both corner infield positions. The Brewers really need a guy like that right now.
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