The Brewers took two of three from the Reds this week, pushing their lead over Cincinnati in the NL Central to a game and a half. As they try to hang onto their spot atop the division, Milwaukee looks to add in the next five days.
Jon Morosi of MLB.com tweeted earlier this week the Brew Crew were among the clubs involved in the middle infield market. That’s presumably a reflection of the middling production they’ve gotten out of the keystone. At shortstop, Willy Adames is having a down offensive year, but he’s an excellent defender and clubhouse leader. It’s hard to imagine the Brewers are considering curtailing his playing time.
That might not be the case on the other side of the bag. Milwaukee second basemen have hit .222/.300/.311 on the season. They’re 21st in on-base percentage and above only the Mariners and White Sox in slugging output.
The bulk of those reps have fallen to rookie Brice Turang. The former top prospect hasn’t hit much in his first look at big league arms. Through 259 plate appearances, he owns a meager .204/.271/.315 line with four home runs. Public defensive metrics have pegged him as a plus with the glove; he’s eight runs above average by measure of Defensive Runs Saved and two runs above par, per Statcast.
Adding at the keystone would be a means to perhaps inject some life into a mediocre lineup. The Brewers rank 25th in MLB in runs despite playing home games in the rather hitter-friendly American Family Field. Luis Urías, who opened the season at third base and has also seen some second base action, hit just .145/.299/.236 and has spent the past month in Triple-A.
Nevertheless, general manager Matt Arnold struck a balanced tone in a chat with Adam McCalvy of MLB.com before yesterday’s game. Arnold noted the front office didn’t want to deal too much of a hit to the team’s run prevention-first mentality. “I think we want to try to help this team, but we know we’re built around pitching and defense. Anytime you want to add a quote-unquote bat, sometimes those guys aren’t very good defenders,” he told McCalvy. Arnold added the club was considering ways to upgrade but noted they were to be responsible in not parting with too much young talent.
That’s a consideration every team looking for short-term help will have to weigh, of course. It’d register as a surprise if the Brewers didn’t add to the lineup in some capacity, even if it’s more of a complementary pickup than an impact bat. The Brewers had gotten very little out of the main first base/designated hitter tandem of Rowdy Tellez and Jesse Winker. Tellez has been out since July 5 with a forearm issue. The latter just joined him on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to July 25, because of back spasms.
Milwaukee has relied upon Owen Miller as its top first baseman of late. He’s probably better suited for a multi-positional infield role off the bench. The Brewers have Tyrone Taylor (hitting .159/.176/.261 in 34 games) and Abraham Toro as other options, while longtime minor leaguer Andruw Monasterio has stepped into the primary third base role with Brian Anderson out of action. Monasterio has performed well over 117 trips to the dish as a 26-year-old rookie.
There are a few different areas in which Milwaukee could look for offensive help. A right side infielder would be the most straightforward, though McCalvy notes the Brew Crew are open to upgrading the outfield as well. Rookies Sal Frelick and Joey Wiemer are taking everyday roles alongside Christian Yelich. The latter could see more DH reps if the Brewers added on the grass.
While most of the focus for Milwaukee will be on which players they acquire, there’s a possibility of dealing off the MLB roster at a position of surplus. Robert Murray of FanSided wrote last night that backup catcher Víctor Caratini is a potential trade candidate. That’d ostensibly be about cashing him in for immediate MLB depth in another area.
Caratini, 30 next month, is having a nice season in a limited role. He owns a .248/.338/.372 line with five homers through 148 plate appearances. Statcast has given him slightly above-average marks for his pitch framing and blocking. It’s not the kind of offense that’d be ideal in an extended first base or DH capacity but is strong for a #2 catcher. With William Contreras behind the dish, there’s no path for Caratini to get more consistent reps there barring injury.
The switch-hitting backstop is playing this season on a modest $2.8MM arbitration salary. He’ll be a free agent for the first time at year’s end. Contreras is entrenched as the long-term catcher, so Caratini could look for a larger role elsewhere once he hits the open market.
Perhaps another team is willing to give him more consistent reps down the stretch. There aren’t many apparent catching trade candidates this summer. Most productive backstops are already on contenders and the upcoming free agent class at the position is thin. Caratini would only appeal to other clubs with 2023 postseason aspirations — there’s little reason to trade for a rental otherwise — but teams like the Yankees, Marlins or Diamondbacks could look for short-term help behind the plate.
A quote unquote bat doesn’t need to play much defense at DH or 1B. Should be the 2 easiest positions to add an impact bat. Anything short of both will be a disappointment for this long time Brewer fan after last year’s trade deadline.
Agreed – they have the opportunity to add a real bat at 1B/DH. That would help their chances tremendously, if they can find a deal that doesn’t break the farm.
CJ Cron seems like the guy for the job.
was just going to post this, he’d be a perfect fit to tandem with Tellez
Hopefully we can convince them to send up Grichuk as well.
that’s also a great fit
COL will send you Cron and Grichuk in exchange for a bag of month old trash. The only catch is you also have to take Kris Bryant AND his contract. Do we have a deal?
We will send you fifteen Jesse Winkers as well.
A league average 1b in Carlos does not meet expectations. Ugh
Doesn’t matter if Adames is a clubhouse leader, they can’t continue to bat him at the top of the order with him hitting under .200
Right…..that quote about being a clubhouse leader was Anthony Franko’s not necessarily the Brewers management…..Adames will need to pick it up if he intends to remain in the starting. lineup
Who else are they gonna use. They have like 3 competent MLB hitters
Caratini is Burnes’ personal catcher and very unlikely to be traded on his own. Corbin has cited him as part of the reason for his second-half resurgence.
He was Darvish’s personal catcher too.
Of course 1 of the few guys who has a defined role, and is performing well..particularly offensively this season..is one they supposedly are looking to move, because..he’s a free agent after the season.
And unless some team believes he’ll have a ridiculously good stretch run, I still don’t see getting much in return..other than yet another bout of depression for Burnes.
My hunch is they pretty much go with what they have, fall short and blame injuries for not being more successful.
Caratini was Darvish’s personal Catcher too in Chicago and was even traded to San Diego with Darvish and the Padres still traded him away a year later. Teams don’t seem to care or want Pitchers to have “personal Catchers”. It really came to focus when the Mets best Pitchers were complaining about throwing to Wilson Ramos and the organization told them they couldn’t use a personal Catcher
Teams don’t want their pitchers to have a personal catcher, but look for ways to not have a full time guy back there either. If you HAVE a catcher 1 of your top starters prefer, ride it out. Especially when that catcher gives the regular starter a consistent day off, and you’re not penciling in 0-4 with 2 K’s, a double play grounder and a pop up 5 feet in front of the plate.
Yeah he was Yu’s personal catcher before that and look what happened. I don’t discount the connection between a pitcher and catcher / superstitious nature of a player but they are all professionals and know the deal:
We all know what will happen here…. They won’t pull the trigger on any trades, and then make the argument that Woodruff coming off the IL is like adding an Ace to the pitching staff…they need to make their push now while they have those 3 SPs lined up like a playoff rotation..
Well, to tell the truth if the projected deals above are all there is I’d do nothing. They need to go big. With a big bat or two this team could be a threat in the post-season.. If they make it there. Of course, a trade for Hader would be gloriousl
The fanbase really needs to move on from Hader. This post traumatic jordy disorder is not healthy
If the Brew Crew need a second baseman who could fill in at SS once in awhile for Adames……..call the Yankees….Gleyber, who has picked it up offensively might just be available for the right return……
I think you might have missed the part where they’ve said they’re looking to avoid selling off to much young talent. “For the right price” is out of their range. Someone like Candelario on the Nationals who would be a rental and not likely cost top talent is more likely.
Yankees could be a match as the article suggest if they wanted to send something for Caratini. Obviously wouldn’t be Gleyber. But it’s probably likely that they don’t matchup on a trade. Brewers have a catcher the Yankees could use, Yankees have middle infield help. But the pieces teamsnwant to move for the prices they would likely want to move them for probably won’t match up.
What the heck happens to Winker?
They likely keep Winker unless they can make more justification than just him not hitting. Most of the team isn’t hitting. So there’s easier spots to call up from without just accepting the loss on Winkers salary. I’d say unless they get 2-3 good offensive upgrades, Winker remains on the team while they try to figure things out. They have so many spots they need to get more production out of, that I just don’t see it likely they cut him anytime soon, and they’re not likely to find a trade partner.
@astick Who cares!
Not enough fights to keep him interested.
I don’t think he’s that motivated to play baseball. He would rather chirp with the fans and be a clown.
The brewers will do nothing at the deadline. Cheap cheap cheap. Not willing to take on salary or give up prospects that will save $$$ down the road. If they luck into a playoff spot will be gone first round.
I thought Tim Anderson was said to be on the radar with the Brewer#. I guess not.
The Orioles are a one stop shop. Mountcastle/O’Hearn and Ortiz/Norby. Pick one of each. They could be your two best offensive players.
But let’s be real. Elias wants your best prospects. You’re filling needs with controllable guys. You’ve got to pay up. And you can.
The brewers will do nothing. Cheap cheap cheap.
You just posted that above….felt you needed to get this point across again a minute later apparently.
The fanbase thinks they can buy a world series with the big boys. They still partying like its 1992
Offense is broken on the team, and counsel has no idea how to fix it. Sal Frelick or Owen Miller should not be hitting clean up for any team in Majors, or any level of the minors!! Brewers hold on to their .200 hitters like they’re gold. Cut them loose, try someone else from minors. Only then, hit the trade market. Now…their backs are against the wall.
The problem seems to be they have guys in the system who can hit/get on base without having to hit a hr to do so..but it’s not what they want, so they push them to start hitting hr at all cost, and what they get is the mess they have right now.
Not all of them (.200 hitters). They cut loose Tapia. I’d rather have Tapia taking a roster spot instead of Winker! At least Tapia could run and play D. Unfortunately, Winker has an $8M contract in his pocket, and getting rid of him would be the overrated front office admitting they were wrong to acquire him. Yes, I’d rather also have Wong than Winker. But, I’m in the minority of Brewers fans.
That’s definitely a “pick your poison” situation. Do you prefer the train wreck or the dumpster fire?
Brewers FO thinking about looking for better hitting options who can field. Might head out to the flea market over the weekend and see what’s available. Falvey is taking his Smart 4Two which tells you what kinda haul he’s expecting.
McCutcheon would be a good addition. But, they tried that last year and he’s staying in Pitt. Brewers need a veteran OF who can hit and a 1B who’s better defensively and/or hits more consistently than Tellez/Miller.
M’s had Winker last season and he was terrible. Can’t field and has forgotten how to hit. On top of that he’s a strange dude it appears.
Caratini is underrated. Very solid all around catcher.
Time to move on from Winker and Tellez. Both have ample opportunities to show their stuff and have failed
This fanbase can never stop whining. Easily the worst fanbase in baseball.
Very little knowledge of baseball and stuck in the 80s when Milwaukee was a city people heard of.
Partially agree! The team and most of the fan base are stuck in the 80’s. I wish they’d get rid of the ball/glove logo for a start. Obviously, I’m in the minority.
That said, far from the worst fan base in baseball. A mediocre to slightly above average team for years (decades). Yet, one of the MLB smallest markets with regards to population and TV revenue routinely puts over 2 million in the seats each season.
Their entire infield sucks with little production. Adames the clubhouse leader can’t even hit his weight he shoulda been gone yesterday. Counsell is managing this team with blinders on.