The Brewers are working to trade one of the team's relievers before Saturday's post-season roster deadline, reports Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (via Twitter). Nothing is expected to be announced tonight, however.
As MLBTR's Tim Dierkes explained earlier this month, the Brewers have several bullpen assets that are August trade candidates. Two righties, John Axford and Burke Badenhop, could be candidates. Axford, a 30-year-old former closer, is making $5MM this season and carries a 4.45 ERA to go with a 8.9 K/9 rate that is a step down from his career numbers. Axford does come with three more years of team control, but he would have to be considered a strong non-tender candidate. Badenhop, who is on a $1.55MM deal and will enter his final season of arbitration eligibility in 2014, is not a power pitcher but has an above-average 3.17 K/BB ratio to go with his 3.75 ERA this year.
Lefty Mike Gonzalez, who signed a $2.25MM one-year deal in the off-season, is another possibility. He has scuffled to a 4.34 ERA, but does sport an excellent 11.0 K/9 and filled a big role for the Nationals down the stretch last year. He has been more effective against lefties than righties this year, though the .258/.327/.413 line he has surrendered to left-handers hardly qualifies him as a shut-down southpaw.
