The Milwaukee Brewers have spent most of the season looking like one of baseball’s steadiest teams, and their 55-33 record has them sitting six games up in the National League Central. With the trade deadline approaching, the picture of what they need is getting sharper by the day.
A left-handed power bat on the infield would help. But the bigger issue is on the mound, where Brandon Woodruff’s latest injury only adds to a long list of pitchers currently on the injured list. At this point, reinforcing the starting rotation looks less like a luxury and more like a necessity.
That has led plenty of attention toward Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal. He’s the big name, and for good reason.
But he also comes with a steep price, and Milwaukee has not been eager to move its best prospects. That makes a deal for Skubal look unlikely.
A more realistic target could be another Tigers starter: right-hander Casey Mize.
Mize is 4-5 with a 2.64 ERA, and while he’s not the headline-grabbing name Skubal is, he may fit Milwaukee’s range better. He’s also in the final season of club control and will hit free agency after the year, which means any team acquiring him would be getting a rental. Just a cheaper one.
The former No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 amateur draft has also dealt with his own injury issues, landing on the injured list twice this season because of a groin problem. Still, if he can stay on the mound, there’s plenty to like.
ESPN pointed to his latest outing as a sign of why he’d draw interest if Detroit chooses to move him: “his most recent start illustrates why he’ll be in high demand if Detroit decides to punt. He threw seven scoreless innings and allowed one hit while striking out 10 Yankees.
Mize isn’t popping any models with his stuff, but he’s striking out more than a batter an inning, he’s allowing less than a baserunner an inning, and his contract will be barely $2 million for the remainder of the season.”
For a Brewers rotation hit hard by injuries, that kind of profile has obvious appeal. Mize would come with risk, sure, but he’d also bring the kind of upside Milwaukee could use if it wants another arm capable of helping near the top of the rotation.
In Other News...
Caleb Durbin Is Suddenly Forcing Brewers Fans To Rethink Everything
Caleb Durbin looked like a rough fit early in the season, the kind of player who could get lost in the shuffle after a trade and leave a front office hoping the rest of the deal carries the load. Through May 23, his bat was buried deep enough in the numbers that it was fair to wonder whether the Brewers had seen the best of him already, especially with third base still a spot where production matters and patience can run thin.
Since June 10, though, Durbin has started to look like a completely different player. He has piled up seven home runs in that stretch and paired the surge at the plate with strong work at third base, turning what once looked like a frustrating early return into one of the more interesting developments on the roster. The bigger question now is whether this is a hot streak or the moment he finally settles in as the player Milwaukee thought it was getting. [Read more 🡒]
Brewers Suddenly Face A Bigger Infield Decision Than Anyone Expected
David Hamiltons exit against the Cardinals turned what looked like a routine infield shuffle into a more complicated roster question for Milwaukee. Pat Murphy said the left hamstring tightness could take some time to heal, leaving the Brewers to sort out how they want to cover the spot while Hamilton is out and the rest of the infield keeps moving around.
One name already in the mix is Jett Williams, the clubs No. 5 prospect, who has yet to make his major league debut but has been productive at Triple-A this season. The Brewers have also been using Joey Ortiz at third base with Cooper Pratt at shortstop, so any move would have to fit into a lineup card that is already changing shape as they wait on Hamiltons recovery. [Read more 🡒]
Brewers Suddenly Look Linked To A Proven Late-Inning Difference Maker
With the trade deadline approaching, Milwaukees bullpen situation has started to draw more attention, and the search for late-inning help has naturally pushed the Brewers toward the relief market. Boston left-hander Aroldis Chapman has emerged as a name to watch because he has been effective this season, pairing a 2.36 ERA with a high strikeout rate while working in a late-game role for the Red Sox.
For a Brewers club dealing with multiple bullpen injuries, that kind of track record makes obvious sense on paper. Chapman has also piled up 18 saves in 26.2 innings, which only adds to the appeal if Milwaukee decides it needs another arm it can trust in the final innings, though how aggressive the front office wants to be still leaves plenty of room for the deadline to shape the answer. [Read more 🡒]