Burnes gets his answer about Trade Deadline

This story was excerpted from Adam McCalvy’s Brewers Beat publication. To learn the total publication, click here. And subscribe to get it frequently in your inbox.

MILWAUKEE — One of many issues Corbin Burnes likes about Brewers GM Matt Arnold is that in case you ask a direct query, you get a direct reply.

So, over lunch in New York with fellow Brewers pitcher Wade Miley and the boss, Burnes says one of many pitchers requested Arnold instantly: Is there an opportunity Burnes can be dealt on the Aug. 1 Commerce Deadline?

“He mentioned he’s not buying and selling me,” mentioned Burnes. “They’re trying so as to add some items. Clearly the market we’re in, they’re going to do it responsibly and never commerce off the farm system for one man for 2 months.

“They clearly don’t inform us names of what they’re in search of or positions they’re in search of, however simply understanding that hey, we’re not going to commerce me, we’re not going to commerce anybody that will put an enormous dent within the crew.”

That matches what Arnold has already mentioned publicly, that he doesn’t intend to commerce Burnes or shortstop Willy Adames, each of whom are free brokers following the 2024 season. At the least not at this 12 months’s Deadline. Arnold told MLB.com“I am positive that we’ll get telephone calls on these guys, as a result of they’re excellent. However that is not one thing we’re contemplating.”

Burnes was a late addition to this 12 months’s All-Star Recreation however didn’t pitch, leaving him lined as much as begin Friday’s collection opener in opposition to the Reds at Nice American Ball Park.

So, taking into consideration that the Brewers consider they’ve the items to win the division, right here’s a midseason take a look at the place they stand:

What we discovered within the first half

Protection wins in a weak division. The Brewers haven’t been significantly spectacular on offense (twenty fifth with an 89 wRC+) or pitching (fifteenth with a 4.10 ERA), however they play nice protection (first with 30 defensive runs saved) and so they’ve been ok to reside at or close to the highest of the Nationwide League Central all season. The Brewers completed the primary half one recreation behind the Reds and, contemplating the Cardinals’ stunning collapse, appear like probably the most proficient crew within the division, particularly in the event that they get starter Brandon Woodruff again from damage.

Possible Commerce Deadline technique

By way of Main League acquisitions, the Brewers’ final two Commerce Deadlines netted Eduardo Escobar, Daniel Norris and John Curtiss in 2021 and Taylor Rogers, Matt Bush and Trevor Rosenthal in ‘22. Solely Escobar made an affect, although we shouldn’t overlook about flipping ‘22 pickup Esteury Ruiz for catcher William Contreras and Joel Payamps, who’ve been terrific. Arnold shouldn’t be deterred. The Brewers want arms to solidify the reduction corps in entrance of Payamps and Devin Williams, and so they additionally may use an affect bat at first or third base.

Woodruff. The workhorse has missed virtually your entire season with a subscapular pressure, an damage that Miley, who suffered the identical factor final season, in comparison with a hamstring pressure in the best way it may well linger. Woodruff resumed throwing bullpen periods on the ultimate Sunday of the primary half and hoped to speed up his comeback with the beginning of the second half. If he can get again on the mound in August, it could be an enormous enhance; Woodruff has a 2.97 ERA since turning into a daily member of the rotation in 2019.

Sal Frelick (MLB Pipeline No. 2 Brewers prospect) rocketed from Excessive-A to Triple-A in 2022 with an .883 OPS in his first full skilled season, placing him squarely in place for a callup this 12 months if wanted. However he suffered a thumb damage in mid-April that required surgical procedure and a close to two-month absence, and he’s struggled since returning to motion (.230/.313/.297 in 18 Triple-A video games post-surgery). If he will get the bat going once more, Frelick could be in place for a callup; Brewers outfielders completed the primary half twenty fifth of 30 groups with a wRC+ of 89.