As the Brewers continue to manage significant injuries in both the rotation and bullpen, the team is continuing to look for “all pitching,” as a source on a rival club tells FanSided’s Robert Murray. The recent acquisitions of Aaron Civale of the Rays and Dallas Keuchel from the Mariners might be just the first steps for the Brew Crew in bolstering the pitching staff for a possible postseason run, as Milwaukee holds a six-game lead in the NL Central despite dealing with a patchwork rotation.
The Civale/Keuchel moves could provide some insight into the types of deals the Brewers may pursue, as acquiring starters for upside or depth purposes seem likelier than a blockbuster trade for a clear-cut ace. The latter type of a move would probably come at either (or both) a significant financial or prospect cost, which the Brewers might not want to pursue given both their payroll limitations or the added importance of their minor league pipeline within this more limited financial landscape. This doesn’t mean president of baseball operations Matt Arnold won’t explore all options in improving the team, of course, as any number of unexpected deals could emerge on Milwaukee’s radar.
The extent of the Brewers’ deadline plans will also naturally hinge on how many of their own pitchers are healthy by July 30. Some help is coming on this front soon, as DL Hall tossed three innings in a minor league rehab start yesterday, and Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (X link) writes that Hall’s next appearance is expected to be in the majors.
Hall’s last appearance in the Show came on April 20, as he was placed on the 15-day and then the 60-day injured list due to a left knee sprain that involved some MCL damage. The left-hander is trying to pitch through the discomfort to some extent, and the Brewers have seemingly given Hall plenty of runway in the form of eight minor league rehab outings. With a 1.84 ERA over those eight games and 14 2/3 total innings, Hall looks to be in good form, though he has only twice hit the 61-pitch plateau, and hasn’t thrown more than 62 pitches.
As Hogg notes, Hall wouldn’t necessarily be returned to the Brewers’ rotation once he is activated, as he could instead work out of the bullpen. Hall posted a 7.71 ERA in four starts prior to his IL placement, but he had a 3.26 ERA over 19 1/3 frames working out of the Orioles’ bullpen in 2023. While small sample sizes abound for a pitcher who has only 49 1/3 career innings as a big leaguer, Hall’s relief work last season was highlighted by a 6.2% walk rate — a significant improvement from the control problems Hall has shown throughout much of the rest of his career in both the majors and minors.
Moving Hall to the pen for now wouldn’t close the door on his starting future, of course, as Hall is still just 25 and has long been a staple of top-100 prospect lists. The Crew could re-examine his potential as a starter next spring or even later this year as circumstances develop, but using Hall as a reliever (and perhaps a multi-inning reliever) might be a canny way of helping the team achieve more immediate success this season.
While it is a reach to say that the Brewers may soon have a surplus of rotation options, Civale’s addition has already led the club to move Bryse Wilson back to the bullpen. Wilson’s 78 innings rank third among all Milwaukee pitchers this season, as he has started nine of his 20 appearances and worked as a bulk pitcher behind an opener in three more of those outings.
Moved into this pseudo-starter role in the wake of other injuries, Wilson’s initial results have been solid on the whole, if inconsistent. The righty has a 4.27 ERA over his 78 frames, but a laundry list of below-average Statcast numbers reveal that Wilson has received some good fortune, such as a .261 BABIP and a .321 wOBA that is well below his .355 xwOBA. Keeping Wilson as a swingman provides Milwaukee with added depth, and his career numbers as a reliever are better than his work as a starter, even if the bulk pitcher/reliever designations don’t provide an entirely clear picture of those stats.
In other Brewers news, the team outrighted outfielder Chris Roller to Triple-A yesterday after he cleared waivers. Roller was designated for assignment last week, and since this was the first time Roller has been outrighted in his career, he couldn’t reject the assignment in favor of free agency. He’ll now return to Triple-A Nashville, where he has posted a .201/.238/.321 slash line over 168 plate appearances this season.
The 27-year-old Roller is a veteran of seven pro seasons, all with the Dodgers and Guardians before the Brewers acquired him in a trade last August. His time in Milwaukee has been highlighted by his Major League debut, as Roller played three innings as a defensive sub on May 15 and received one plate appearance in the Brewers’ 10-2 win over the Pirates. This marked Roller’s only appearance in the Show, as the Brewers only temporarily needed some extra outfield depth and soon optioned him back to Nashville.
Might want to look at Johnny Cueto as well. Throwing a lot at the wall. See what sticks. Go with a six man rotation
You want the Brewers who lead the NL Central in the hands of Kuechel and Cueto? I guess because they don’t cost anything but losses?
Julio Tehran, your bratwurst is ready
Right, because he was amazing last year with the Brewers.
And Dallas is such a stud? Baby, they need pitching and bad! ain’t got the room to be picky
You’ll have to point me in the direction of where I said anything positive about Keichel. Hell, where I said anything at all about Keichel.
How about the move where the Brewers actually get better after a transaction?
I didn’t say you thought he was good but the brewers brought him in, Tehran simply aligns with their (bad) strategy
Getting good pitchers is obviously not what they wanna do lol
Well DL Hall throws a lot of pitches, he wastes too many pitches because he is wild
If he ever figures it out, he could be pretty giood
He’s twenty-five years young…this is what most MLB pitchers do: they learn in their first few years.
Tobias Myers had a surprisingly good June but it seems an open question whether he can sustain that level ♂️
Talented young pitcher. Let’s see what he’s got.
The issue with Meyers is two fold; an innings limit and continued success of course. Going slow with Joe Ross is the right thing. He would’ve probably been limited with innings as well. They could have well needed length in the bullpen with both Hall and Wilson. Hall needs to figure out the control issues.
Myers threw 140.2 innings in AAA last year. He’s good to go for a full season in terms of innings he can throw.
Dallas has not been a decent starting pitcher in years.
Pratt, Cooper
Whoo lets relax….. I love Pratt but he has a long way to go….. lets get him up to high a then double where he sees some spin and movement on the ball….. I’m excited to see him in the futures game but the majors noooo that’s 2 big of a step…… we don’t need that pressure on him…. Lets get him to Appleton before we even discuss the majors
Just saying Tigers have Jack Flaherty for sale (unless he’s actually injured). An article today quoted one expert as saying the Tigers should get one top 5 and two top 30 from a team with an average farm system IF Flaherty is not injured. Milwaukee’s system is obviously not average so they would likely get less from them. Cooper Pratt as Superfife is likely alluding to above OR Tyler Black and a lottery ticket sounds fair. Tigers need a SS and bats. The Tigers have some solid BP pieces as well who could be part of a larger package. I actually like the looks of Barrios who got traded for Civale a lot. Lots of solid young players in the Brewers system. Brew crew needs to go get pitching so they can go deep into the playoffs while my Tigers are golfing. I’ll be cheering for them.
Almost 0 shot Arnold & co move Black or Pratt for a rental. Historically with Stearns & now Arnold it’s lottery tickets, or guys they aren’t going to protect in the rule 5 for lower ticket rentals.
Unless a guy has multiple years of control, no top prospects are leaving
Flaherty is pitching like a #1 or 2 starter,not a “lower ticket rental.” If they wnt any type of top starter and a chance to go beyond the first round they need to bring someone in. Proven pitching costs.
You’re not getting Pratt or Black for Flaherty.
Hey, you never know who teams will trade. There have been plenty of surprises before. Flaherty may have been a lower ticket rental last year, but this year he should net a great return for the Tigers. Certainly is pitching like a 1 or 2, and like Beach Bum said, there is a cost with that.
The Brewers aren’t trading top 100 talent for a rental. That isn’t how they operate.
I think you will find that is exactly the type of prospect the Tigers will net from someone for him. Some articles list Mikwaukee as a fit for a Flaherty trade but I question it somewhat as well. I hope they pony up for someone at the deadline even if it isn’t Flaherty. That rotation isn’t going to work out for them come playoff time.
That’s debatable with a guy with his injury history, and currently going through injury issues right now. Even if it ends up being the case, you’re not getting it from the Brewers. That just isn’t how they operate, and there’s plenty of cheaper rental SP.
If he’s injured the Tigers won’t be getting anything from anybody. If he’s not someone will pay. Cheaper is just cheaper, not better and a better pycher increases your chances of winning. Who knows in the playoffs though. Good luck to the Brew Crew in the playoffs. Cheers
“… the team is continuing to look for ‘all pitching.'”
So… Trevor Bauer?
Should be “all viable pitching.”
How many I ask is Bauer not viable?
How may I ask is Bauer not viable?
The headaches and controversy he brings aren’t worth the trouble, as the lack of any MLB team signing him has demonstrated. He is not a viable option.
He brings no headaches or controversy and even if he did that has no bearing on the definition of “viable.”
He brings plenty of headaches and controversy. Even ignoring the longest suspension under the domestic violence rules, he’s got long history of headaches and controversy that required Friedman to put out a statement when he signed. Japan didn’t want him back because of his behavior, and he’s stuck playing in a sub AA talent league.
I really wonder what the Bauer apologists consider acceptable behavior.
@ReddVencher Clearly played with him before. Wonder who he is?
@gbs42 “Next victim, star pitcher for the Dodgers.”
“Need daddy to choke me out.”
“Being an absolute (streetwalker) to try to get in on his 51 million.”
Just going to leave Corbin Burnes 2024 stats here while they look
9-3
2.32
105k’s
1.02 WHIP
Joey Ortiz has 7 homers and a .269 average and been clutch. He’s also played gold glove D at third. The Brewers haven’t had a 3rd baseman in years. I’ll take that trade all day long. Plus, if they don’t resign Adames. You can move him to SS next year.
Don’t slept on Junis being back amd an effective guy as an opener, starter, middle or even grabbed a save this week…
Trevor Bauer come on lets go!!!!
Why would any team want such a terrible distraction? Obviously, none do.
How is he a distraction????
Had Matt Arnold known that McGill, Rea, Ortiz and Turang would’ve been this good before the start of the year, I’m sure he would’ve considered Bauer. Not sure how you could get him out of the Mexican contract now unless they paid cash. Is Bauer’s MLB suspension complete?
Suspension has been complete for over a year. I’m sure his contract in Mexico has a stipulation that he can opt out at any time if he gets offered a contract by a MLB team. Happens all the time.
Gbs42, Milwaukee doesn’t have distractions. It’s not a big city. Don’t confuse it with NY. Nobody would give a bleep if he was pitching well.
The Brewers have become wary of overworking multi-inning reliever Bryan Hudson, so fellow lefty DL Hall could pick up some of his innings along with righty Jakob Junis.
But I have two questions:
1. Is Chad Patrick in the running for a rotation spot given his glowing stats in Nashville?
2 Is Aaron Ashby no longer a major league-quality pitcher?
2. Given his current stats at Nashville, I would say right now, he’s not. Could that change? Absolutely, he’s only 26. But with a 2+ WHIP and as many walks as Ks, I’d say he’s got some work to do.
The Ashby question is a good one. He’s struggling to get back on track after the shoulder injury and it doesn’t feel like he’s going to contribute this year. Really hoping he can get himself straight next year though. He was good before he was hurt and he never relied on gas. Woodruff ought to be more of a concern in terms of shoulder recovery given his profile, but again obviously irrelevant for this year.
Chad Patrick, 25, has been the Brewers’ most reliable starting pitcher at Nashville. He was acquired from Oakland in the trade for Abraham Toro. He’s not on the 40-man roster, so that could be his biggest hurdle in being promoted.
I could see Hall and Wilson both being used as multi-inning relievers for them while they slot Junis back into the rotation. Also that Hudson kid has been great for them
No mention of Devin Williams’ return in the next few weeks but that’s the most important ingredient of all.
That’s going to be an interesting time. Who get’s DFA’d? Not saying there aren’t candidates, but I’m just wondering who it will be. They’ll have to clear a 40-man spot and I don’t see any of the IL-10 injuries serious enough to move someone to the 60. Maybe Blaylock?