The Milwaukee Brewers are rolling, but with the MLB Trade Deadline creeping closer, the front office still has room to sharpen the roster for a tougher October push. In a National League packed with heavy hitters like the Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, and Atlanta Braves, standing pat may not be enough.
One name now linked to Milwaukee is Boston Red Sox reliever Aroldis Chapman. Sports Illustrated’s Tim Capurso included the Brewers among the best fits for the 8x All-Star in a piece on possible trade candidates before the Aug. 3 deadline.
Capurso wrote:
“The Red Sox’ flamethrower lefthander is 38 years old, but he sure isn’t pitching like it. Chapman ranks in the 91st percentile in average fastball velocity, owns a 2.10 ERA, 30% strikeout rate and the seventh-most saves in baseball.
The Cuba native is an All-Star for the second straight year in Boston, though this year’s Red Sox team, with just a 17.7% chance to make the postseason, doesn’t seem ticketed for October baseball. This year’s relief pitching market doesn’t look especially strong, so Chapman could fetch the Red Sox a nice return should they choose to move him.”
Chapman’s season has backed up that kind of interest. He is 0-3 with a 2.36 ERA and a 2.44 FIP across 26.2 innings in 28 games.
He has also piled up 18 saves and owns a 12:35 walk-to-strikeout ratio. Recently, Chapman set the MLB record for the most strikeouts by a reliever, and that total now sits at 1,366.
For Milwaukee, the fit is obvious on paper. The club has several bullpen arms on the Injured List, and adding a power lefty of Chapman’s caliber would deepen the group in a hurry. The Brewers already have three southpaw relievers, so this is not a pure need-based move, but the idea of pairing Chapman with Aaron Ashby, Abner Uribe, and Trevor Megill is a nasty one for a postseason game.
Even before any deal, Milwaukee’s relief corps has been strong. The Brewers rank fourth in reliever ERA right now, and they also have minor league pieces that could help them swing a trade for Chapman, who figures to draw plenty of interest before the deadline.
There is also a financial wrinkle to watch. Chapman is on pace for the mutual option for the 2027 season if he reaches 40 innings this year, which would unlock a $13 million contract if he passes a physical, along with a $300,000 buyout.
If the Brewers land him, it would be a major addition. Chapman’s fastball still plays, his arsenal still misses bats, and he would give Milwaukee another weapon in a bullpen already built to matter. And he is not the only name the Brewers could have in mind before the deadline.
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 🡒]