Article: Two Bats the Brewers Can Target and How Much They'll Cost

[Cole McCormack]

In all likelihood, Milwaukee will not trade for big name players like Juan Soto or Shohei Ohtani. As the August 2nd trade deadline looms, let’s take a look at a couple of players that the Brewers could realistically acquire without draining the farm system.

How fast is the trade market starting to move? Fast enough that this list was three players long when it was written yesterday, before Andrew Benintendi was traded to the Yankees by the Royals. Still, there are a couple more names that could help push the Brewers into a deep run in the postseason and then we'll play with  Baseball Trade Values trade simulator to ballpark what fair compensation might look like. 

Josh Bell - Washington Nationals
The Nationals are yet again sellers this year. Juan Soto appears to be the most prolific piece to be moved this season, after rejecting a historic $440M / 15-year contract extension. However, a much more low key piece that could significantly impact the Brewers 2022 season is first baseman Josh Bell .

This season, Bell has slashed .305/.385/.494 with an .879 OPS, 13 home runs, and 50 RBIs. Much like Benintendi, this addition would really boost Milwaukee’s lackluster offense and it would not drain the team’s farm system. Like Benintendi, Bell would be a rental, as he enters free agency after the 2022 season.

A viable trade might look like this: the Nationals send Bell while the Brewers send Keston Hiura and two pitching prospects, Abner Uribe and TJ Shook.

Hiura is a fan favorite for many in Milwaukee. However, it would be best for both Hiura and the Brewers if they traded him to a rebuilding team. He could really use a change in scenery and it would likely benefit his career. It is difficult to find a place on the lineup card where Hiura could be an everyday player. 

Shook has been a competent starter for Double-A Bilox. With 14 starts in the 2022 season, he has notched 91 strikeouts and has maintained a 3.94 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP.

Uribe is ranked #19 in the Brewers farm system, though he has fallen out of Brewer Fanatic's Top 20 prospects. He is currently playing for Double-A Biloxi. He has only played 2 games in the 2022 season but has zero earned runs in three innings pitched. At the age of 22, he shows a lot of potential and is expected to play in the majors by the 2023 season.

Trey Mancini - Baltimore Orioles
Trey Mancini has been a fan favorite trade target since the 2021 season. His numbers in the 2022 season are on par with Christian Yelich, hitting 8 home runs and slashing .268/.345/.404. Not my favorite trade target but he could do some damage and could be a solid everyday outfielder, first baseman, or designated hitter for the remainder of the year with the crew.

Because he is likely a free agent at the end of this year (he and the team have a mutual option, which rarely works out), acquiring Mancini would not cost much, really only one infield prospect named Eduardo Garcia.

So far in Single-A Carolina, Garcia (ranked the #12 prospect by BF) has done well offensively. He is slashing .275/.321/.422 with a .743 OPS. He’s hit 9 home runs and 45 RBIs. The shortstop is only 20 years old and is estimated to appear in the MLB by 2024. However, an everyday position with Milwaukee at short is unlikely due to Willy Adames being under team control through 2024. 

Not to mention, the team has several infield prospects that would likely find more rapid success in the role by then, making this trade extremely beneficial for the team.

In all likelihood, the Brewers won't need to break the (prospect) bank to pick up a helpful bat at the deadline. Let us know which bats listed above you like, or other ones that you're targeting. 

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[Jim French Stepstool]

I'd try to go a little more "lottery-ticketish" with the pitching going back to Washington than Shook & Uribe if possible.

As far as Mancini, I wouldn't mind Garcia going to the O's but wonder if they're even looking to sell. Realistically they should be, but this is the first stretch of good baseball they've had in a LONG time.

I haven't heard much about Brandon Drury. Maybe there's something going on there; I think they should at least be looking into the possibility.

[Caswell]

Neither of these trades should ever happen. There is so much I would like to say about this but just shouldn't to be honest. Thinking that the Brewers will make this Bell trade is crazy, and then thinking that Trey will be dealt by the O's is even crazier. Neither of these players will be acquired by the Brewers, and Trey will remain an Oriole. 

[Outlander]

I don't think Mancini or any Oriole is a good target anymore. They are in the Wild Card hunt and would have to overpay to get any of those guys. They might even be buyers