Trades are a good thing!
Every fan wants their team to be buyers at the trade deadline. Being a buyer, usually means a team is in playoff contention or feels as if they are close enough to justify making an acquisition.
The MLB trade deadline is always an exciting time. Each season we see trades, both small and large, that change the landscape of the postseason. Just while writing these opening paragraphs, a few came to my mind.
In 2008, the Brewers traded for CC Sabathia in a trade that propelled them into the playoffs. They had to give up some talent, including Michael Brantley, who is still playing at a high level with the Astros.
The reward was well worth the risk. Sabathia went 11-2, with a 1.65 ERA and 128 strikeouts. Would Brantley look good in a Brewers uniform today? Absolutely! He is a great contact hitter who plays defense. But the potential of making a playoff run was well worth the risk!
In 2013, the Red Sox traded for starting pitcher, Jake Peavy. He went 4-1 with a 4.04 ERA. At the time, this trade did not move the needle for me. Peavy was past his years of being a dominant pitcher. But, he was a great addition to a team that was focused on winning it all.
Peavy did not pitch well in the postseason, but that year they reached the World Series and won another championship. The next season, the Giants traded for Peavy at the deadline. Once again, he was another small pickup, but he made an impact for a World Series-winning team going 6-4 with a 2.17 ERA.
In 2015, the Royals traded for super-utility player, Ben Zobrist from Oakland. The Royals gave up a prized prospect in Sean Manaea to Oakland. Since going to Oakland, the lefty has been at the top of Oakland’s rotation. He has pitched a no-hitter and has started playoff games.
At the time, fans thought their team paid a high price for the rental, but in the end, Zobrist was well worth the trade. That second half, he batted .284 with 7 home runs and 23 RBI including 20 hits and 6 RBI in the playoffs. The Royals went on to win the world series.
Those are just a few recent examples. I purposely left the Astros trade of Verlander off this list for reasons, I think my readers can understand.
Prospects are just prospects
This is a statement that sounds ridiculously simple. But that is the truth. In each of the examples listed, teams had to give up talent. As fans, myself included, we get attached to our farm system.
We see players rise through the ranks and dream of the day we can see them take the field for our favorite team. However, prospects are just prospects until they can prove themselves in the big leagues.
A great example is the Christian Yelich trade. The Brewers traded some of their top talent to acquire him from Miami. How have they panned out? None of them have done what Yelich has done.
Lewis Brinson has batted .197 with 16 home runs and 77 RBI in 4 seasons with the Fish. Jordan Yamomoto had a 6.05 ERA with Miami in 90 innings and has since been traded to the Mets. Monte Harrison made his major league debut in 2020, so we will have to wait and see what he does.
Another great example is when the Brewers sent slugger Khris Davis to Oakland for a couple of high prospects including Jacob Nottingham. Oakland got a steal from Milwaukee. in his 5 years with Oakland, he crushed 158 home runs and had 418 RBI. Where is Nottingham now? Sadly, that is a rhetorical question.
The Brewers are going to make moves!
On his podcast, Plouffe mentioned that the Brewers were going to make a big move. If you listen to my podcast, I have been saying that for a while now. I appreciate the small moves that the front office makes. That is not enough. The National League is wide open this year. Why can’t the Brewers win the pennant and represent the National League in the World Series?
This team reminds me so much of the 2014 Royals. That team was not an offensive juggernaut. They did not lead the league in any offensive category. Alex Gordon led that team with only 19 home runs. There was not one player on that team that had over 75 RBI. Yet, somehow, that Royals team won the Wild Card game, swept the Division and Conference series. Then, they took the Giants to Game 7 in the World Series.
How did they do that? They pitched. That team had incredible pitching. They were led by James Shields, Jeremy Guthrie, and Yordano Ventura. They also had a lights-out bullpen with Greg Holland,Wade Davis, and Kelvin Herrera.
This is why Brewer fans should be excited about this team. The Brewers have the pitching. They have the defense. They just need some more offense.
That is why I am excited about the potential of a “big move”. On our latest episode of Walkin’ Off, we had Dan Zielinski of Baseball Prospect Journal. If you have not listened to that interview, pause and check it out. It is about 25 minutes long and he goes over the recent draft and the state of the farm system overall.
When asked if the Brewers had any “untouchable” prospects, he said mentioned Garrett Mitchell and Brice Turang were the closest to untouchable, but he would not be surprised if the Brewers traded any of their prospects for the right package.
There are some good players out there that the Brewers could swing a trade for. I think the Brewers will be looking to upgrade at first base and possibly third. How cool would it be to see Jesus Aguilar back in Milwaukee? His bat would be a welcome addition to this club. I wouldn’t mind seeing Kris Bryant at one of the corners or the outfield.
The Brewers are one big move away from really becoming favorites in the NL. The Brewers will have to trade away some top talent, but that is ok. Trust the process and the front office.
Prospects are always fun to dream about, but dreaming about a World Series run is even more fun and is close to becoming a reality! Go Brewers!