As I write this, the Milwaukee Brewers have a record of 49 wins against 49 losses, good enough for fourth place in the National League’s Central Division. However, despite their record, the Brewers are only 3 games out of first place, so they’re still well within striking range of the surging Chicago Cubs. Last season, the Brewers made a dramatic trade right before the MLB trade deadling, acquiring ace starting pitcher CC Sabathia for a gaggle of good young prospects, and there’s been speculation the Brewers might be in the market for another top-flight starting pitcher as the 2009 trade deadline approaches.
The two biggest names on the trade market – at least as far as pitchers go – are Roy Halladay of the Toronto Blue Jays and Cliff Lee of the Cleveland Indians. Both would undoubtedly be a much-needed boost to the Brewers rotation, but it remains to be seen if the Brewers have the pieces to make a trade for either pitcher. Halladay is most frequently rumored to be heading to the Philadelphia Phillies, and any deal to acquire Halladay’s services would likely require the Brewers trading top prospects Mat Gamel and Alcides Escobar to Toronto, likely along with other prospects. The asking price for Lee, on the other hand, will likely be less, but the Brewers would still probably have to part with either Gamel or Escobar, which seems unlikely, at least according to statements made by Brewers GM Doug Melvin. However unlikely a Brewers trade for a starting pitcher might be, manager Ken Macha is optimistic a deal will get done, saying, “Doug’s trying to help the club. I don’t want to create expectations but he’s trying to make the club better.”
I’m doubtful the Brewers will make a trade for Roy Halladay or Cliff Lee, but I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see the team make a trade for a lesser starter, such as Jarrod Washburn of the Seattle Mariners. While Washburn’s not an ace like Halladay or Lee, he’s pitched well this season and could be a valuable innings eater for the Brewers.
So what do you think? Will the Brewers make a move? If so, who do you think they’ll pick up?
The Brewers really showed what they’re made of last night. Suppan gives up 10 runs in 5+ innings, another “quality start” by our $12 million pitcher. Being at the game Sunday and again watching the stream on MLBTV, they are playing like they just don’t seem to care. Sunday for example Corey Hart let three balls drop right by him, when in any other season he would have easily tracked them down for an out.
There are too many holes on this team that obtaining a pitcher as a rental for the last two months isn’t a great idea. We gave up a top-flight minor leaguer for CC. Yes we made the playoffs, but it still cost us a quality player. Roy Halladay won’t come to the Brewers because they really aren’t in contention. Plus he has an opt-out clause at the end of the season. Cleveland hasn’t mentioned anything about trading Cliff Lee. I don’t think they will either. I haven’t read anything about it in the Cleveland Plain Dealer (I’m in Ohio for the next few months on business, so I get to read about the trade rumors from another angle).
I don’t see the ‘Crew making any moves that will bring talent to the team until after the season is over. Just leave the status quo alone, limp through the last 62 games and begin fresh next year.
They may only be three out of first, but lets face it, the Central Division is like it was back in 2007, weak. The winner will be about 6 or 7 games above .500 and be swept out of the NLDS. Personally, I believe their season is done, time to focus on pre-season football.
Mike, you’re probably right. I don’t see the Brewers making the kind of move that would be necessary to put them over the hump. Then again, they do play in the NL Central, so perhaps they can stay in contention even without acquiring another starting pitcher.
Well I mentioned prior that Cleveland hadn’t mentioned anything about trading Cliff Lee – I just learned on the news here in Ohio that Cliff Lee was traded to Philadelphia. Well give the Phillies another ring because they’re pretty much unstoppable.
This trade moved quick. Too bad the Brewers are playing so bad … if they would have been playing better and had been about 8 or 9 games above .500 I could have seen them pulling this deal off with how quickly Melvin works.
Oh well, can’t get ‘em all. Maybe next year.
Yeah, there’s always next year.