Executing a trade in Major League Baseball is no walk in the park. As Matt Arnold noted after the Caleb Durbin trade with the Boston Red Sox, it’s not just about matching value on paper. Each organization has its own priorities and player evaluations, and some teams are simply more trade-friendly than others.
Inter-divisional trades often get the spotlight, with teams like the Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs typically avoiding deals while battling for the NL Central. Yet, the Brewers have found a frequent trade partner in the Pittsburgh Pirates, acquiring players like Carlos Santana, Jordan Lyles, and Bryse Wilson from them since 2019.
What’s less talked about is how certain teams have become regular trade partners. Whether it’s due to strong front office relationships, differing competitive timelines, or just a mutual willingness to make deals, these "trade cliques" have formed in MLB.
Zack Meisel and Yuriko Schumacher explored this in their article for The Athletic, highlighting which teams are trading pals and which ones steer clear of each other. Their data spans trades from the last five years, revealing some expected trends.
For instance, the Brewers haven’t traded with the Cubs or the St. Louis Cardinals but have made numerous deals with the Tampa Bay Rays, where Arnold previously worked.
This offseason, the Brewers’ trades with the Kansas City Royals, New York Mets, and Boston Red Sox weren’t just random occurrences. These teams have been frequent trade partners for Milwaukee in recent years.
The Brewers and Royals have a long-standing trade relationship. Since 2020, they’ve executed trades like sending Mark Canha to the Royals and acquiring Taylor Clarke. Their trade history goes back further, including a major 2018 deal for Mike Moustakas and earlier blockbuster trades involving players like Zack Greinke.
Similarly, the Brewers and Mets have reunited for trades multiple times in recent years. This offseason, they made a significant deal sending Freddy Peralta and Tobias Myers to the Mets for top prospects. The connection is strengthened by David Stearns, Arnold’s former boss, now leading the Mets’ front office.
The Red Sox have also been a frequent call for the Brewers. Before the Durbin trade, they executed deals like acquiring Quinn Priester and trading for Hunter Renfroe. Boston ranks among the most active traders, just behind the Rays, Brewers, and Marlins.
While it’s not always the case that teams are completely blacklisted, understanding these trade trends helps fans anticipate potential deals. The Brewers have shown a willingness to engage with nearly every team, except for the Cardinals and Cubs, keeping their trade options wide open.