The Milwaukee Brewers sit atop the NL Central heading into the second half, but being in first place doesn’t mean they’re done improving. There’s still work to do if they want to make noise in October.
The pitching staff’s been solid and the offense has its moments, but both could use a boost. That’s where the trade deadline comes in – though Milwaukee’s not exactly known for making splash moves.
Bob Nightengale from USA Today thinks it’s time for the Brewers to change that approach. He’s pushing Milwaukee to go all-in this deadline, following the blueprint their division rivals used back in 2016.
“So, in the famous words of Theo Epstein when he acquired closer Aroldis Chapman for the Cubs in 2016 to take them to where they hadn’t gone since 1908, ‘If not now, when?’ This is the year the Brewers should go all in.”
It might sting to copy the Cubs’ playbook, but Nightengale’s got a point here.
This Brewers team can make a deep run right now. But if they want to get past powerhouses like the Dodgers, they need to spend some prospect capital.
The rotation could use another arm to go with Jacob Misiorowski and Kyle Harrison. The bullpen needs a reliable late-inning guy who can handle October pressure.
Don’t forget the lineup either. Whether it’s outfield help or infield upgrades at short and third, there’s room to get better across the roster. Milwaukee needs a blockbuster move or two to really separate themselves.
They already brought in Lance McCullers Jr., but that’s more of a depth move than a game-changer. To win the NLCS, they’ll need to land a bigger fish – especially in the rotation.
The Cubs proved this strategy works when they splurged in 2016 and won it all that same year. Sure, it’s risky for Milwaukee, but with this young, talented core, the window might not get much better.
From where I’m sitting, it really is now or never for the Brewers. This version of the team has all the pieces to make a serious World Series run – they just need to be willing to go get the final few.
