The Milwaukee Brewers hold first place in the NL Central, but they’re not running away with it. Just 4.5 games separate them from last place, which means this division race is far from over.
That’s where the trade deadline comes in. The Brewers could use some reinforcements, but here’s the thing – they’re not exactly known for big spending. So they’ve got to be smart about where they put their resources.
According to Tim Kelly of Bleacher Report, Milwaukee’s biggest decision revolves around three veteran infielders who just aren’t getting the job done.
“The biggest area of need for the Brew Crew would seem to be on the left side of their infield, where they are getting minimal offensive production from Joey Ortiz and Luis Rengifo.”
Joey Ortiz, Luis Rengifo, and David Hamilton are the three guys Milwaukee needs to consider upgrading from. The question is whether it’s worth spending prospect capital to fix third base and shortstop.
Let’s look at the numbers:
- Hamilton: .235 average, .598 OPS in 115 at-bats
- Rengifo: .208 average, .536 OPS in 144 at-bats
- Ortiz: .195 average, .529 OPS in 113 at-bats
None of these guys are giving Milwaukee the production they need. When you’re fighting for a division title, those kind of numbers will hurt you.
The rest of the infield is fine. Second base and first base aren’t problems, and the outfield and catcher spots seem set. So if the Brewers are going to make a move, it’s going to be at third or short.
CJ Abrams would be a perfect fit, but he’d cost a fortune to pry away from Washington. If Milwaukee wants to keep spending reasonable, Royce Lewis from Minnesota could work. Isaac Paredes from Houston might be the sweet spot – a solid upgrade that won’t break the bank.
What makes this decision tougher is Milwaukee’s position. They’re leading the division but not by much, and they’ve got organizational depth to consider. Trading away prospects for a rental might not make sense if they’re not convinced they can make a deep playoff run.
The Brewers front office has some serious thinking to do. They need better production from the left side of the infield, that much is clear. Whether they’re willing to pay the price to get it – that’s the million-dollar question heading into the deadline.
