The NL Central was placed on the back-burner this offseason until the Cardinals made the surprising trade to acquire All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenado. With the aging Matt Carpenter and versatility of Tommy Edman, the Cardinals had a hole to fill at third. They did so in the best possible way and didn’t give up much for Arenado.
What does this mean for the Brewers? General Manager, Matt Arnold, and the Brewers should feel pressured to make a move to compete in the division. With Spring Training fast approaching, the Brewers are without corner infielders. More importantly, a third baseman. Justin Turner is the largest name on the free agent market right now in terms of third baseman. But, his age and price tag aren’t friendly for a small market team like the Brewers. But who knows? Surprise us, Arnold and Company. Realistically, trading to acquire a third baseman would be the way to go. José Ramírez from the Cleveland Indians is a viable option, and here’s why.
All-Star Switch-Hitter
The perk of being a switch-hitter is the ability to face any pitcher without the manager thinking about match-ups. As Brewers fans know, manager Craig Counsell loves to play match-ups. The 28-year-old’s switch-hitting stats are almost identical in a few categories.
| Games | Hits | RBIs | HR | BB | SLG | OPS | |
| Vs RHP as LHB | 744 | 565 | 310 | 90 | 249 | .494 | .850 |
| Vs LHP as RHB | 481 | 275 | 127 | 37 | 83 | .495 | .845 |
There’s a drastic difference between each stat, yet the slugging percentage and on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) is basically the same. Ramírez can hit, and his patience at the plate is exactly what the Brewers need since offensive bursts were few and far between in 2020.
What could the Indians get from the Brewers?
The Indians need outfield help…and bad. With the plethora of outfielders the Brewers have within the organization, there should be no reason to not include an outfielder such as Tristen Lutz or Corey Ray. Also, the loss of All-Star closer, Brad Hand, leaves the Indians with a hole at closer. James Karinchak would be the next option for the Indians, but who wouldn’t want an All-Star closer. The Indians are top-10 for best farm system, and the Brewers need a replenishment of top-tier prospects. If this deal sends Josh Hader packing, all trust is in the Brewers front office to pull off a steal.
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