The Milwaukee Brewers just wrapped up a regular season that couldn’t have gone much better on paper. They finished the year with the best record in all of Major League Baseball, showing balance, consistency, and depth across their roster.
But even a dominant six-month performance was not enough to carry them through October. Their playoff run came to a sudden and disappointing halt when the Los Angeles Dodgers swept them out of the National League Championship Series, sending Milwaukee home earlier than their regular-season success suggested.
With that abrupt ending, the Brewers now head into the offseason facing a familiar dilemma: how to assemble a roster that not only thrives in the regular season but is also built to withstand the intense, high-stakes environment of postseason baseball.
Over the past few years, Milwaukee has repeatedly been good—sometimes even great—during the long grind of 162 games, only to falter in October. This winter offers the franchise yet another opportunity to reshape the team in hopes of finally breaking through.
MLB.com writer Anthony Castrovince recently tackled this exact topic. In a Friday article, he presented a series of hypothetical three-team trades that could shake up various organizations and address lingering roster needs. One of his more intriguing concepts directly involves the Brewers, along with the Atlanta Braves and the Tampa Bay Rays.
In Castrovince’s proposal, Milwaukee would make a bold and sweeping move designed to add more thump to its lineup—something that was sorely lacking during the playoffs. The transaction he envisions would bring two established big-league hitters from Tampa Bay to the Brewers: second baseman Brandon Lowe and first baseman Yandy Díaz.
Both players have proven track records as reliable offensive contributors. Lowe offers left-handed power from the middle infield, while Díaz provides a disciplined batting approach, excellent on-base skills, and solid contact abilities at first base.
But that isn’t all Milwaukee would acquire. From Atlanta, the Brewers would receive one of the Braves’ most highly regarded young arms: pitching prospect Cam Caminiti. The left-hander is viewed around baseball as a future rotation piece with the type of upside that could pay off for years. In addition to Caminiti, Milwaukee would also pick up outfield prospect Diego Tornes, giving the organization another developmental player with athletic tools.
To make such a significant return possible, the Brewers would need to part with one of their most valuable assets: right-handed pitcher Freddy Peralta. Peralta has long been one of Milwaukee’s most trusted starters, capable of delivering innings with strikeout stuff and front-line flashes. In this proposal, he would head to the Atlanta Braves, who would be eager to add a pitcher of Peralta’s caliber to bolster their rotation, particularly as they aim to keep pace in a highly competitive National League.
Milwaukee would not be the only team sending players elsewhere. As part of this hypothetical trade, the Brewers would also ship young shortstop Joey Ortiz to Tampa Bay.
The Rays would additionally receive two prospects from Atlanta: shortstop prospect Tate Southisene and right-handed pitcher Blake Burkhalter. These additions would help Tampa Bay retool with younger, controllable talent while moving on from veterans they have reportedly been open to dealing.
On the Brewers’ side, Castrovince argues that dealing Peralta is painful but manageable—especially after Brandon Woodruff accepted his qualifying offer and committed to returning for another season. Woodruff’s presence stabilizes the rotation and softens the blow of losing Peralta, making the idea of trading a high-end starter slightly more palatable if it means significantly improving the offense.
In explaining his reasoning, Castrovince writes that while Milwaukee’s lineup performed exceptionally well during the regular season, the postseason once again highlighted the club’s need for more impactful hitters. The Brewers have long been known for pitching and run prevention, but their offense tends to come up short when it matters most.
According to Castrovince, flipping Peralta for players who can elevate the lineup’s power potential makes sense, especially since Lowe and Díaz are both approaching free agency and remain on affordable contracts.
Under this concept, Brandon Lowe would likely slot in as Milwaukee’s everyday second baseman. His arrival would prompt a defensive shift: Brice Turang, fresh off winning a Gold Glove, could slide over from second base to shortstop to replace Ortiz, whose offensive production did not meet expectations in 2025. This alignment would preserve defensive strength up the middle while adding a more dangerous presence at the plate.
Yandy Díaz would be the leading candidate to take over first base, a position where the Brewers could use stability. Rhys Hoskins is set to enter free agency, leaving the position open.
The team experimented with Andrew Vaughn, who had a promising stretch but cooled off dramatically at the end of the season, going 35 consecutive regular-season games without a home run. Díaz’s disciplined approach and ability to control the strike zone would give Milwaukee a more dependable presence in that spot.
From the Braves’ perspective, adding Peralta would provide a significant upgrade to their pitching staff. Atlanta’s rotation has undergone changes in recent years, and acquiring a pitcher with near-ace potential would help solidify the group. Peralta’s contract is team-friendly, and his combination of strikeouts, durability, and postseason experience makes him an appealing target for a contending team seeking high-level talent.
As for the Rays, the trade would accomplish something that has long seemed to be part of their strategic plan: moving on from Lowe and Díaz, two veteran hitters nearing the end of their contractual windows.
Tampa Bay operates with one of the most budget-conscious front offices in the league, and the opportunity to exchange those players for a package of younger, cost-controlled talent fits their organizational philosophy.
Adding Joey Ortiz, Tate Southisene, and Blake Burkhalter would provide fresh building blocks and deepen the Rays’ prospect pool as they continue their ongoing cycle of replenishing and reshaping the roster.
In total, Castrovince’s hypothetical trade presents a dramatic shake-up for all three teams involved. For Milwaukee, it is a calculated gamble that sacrifices pitching strength for the power and lineup depth the club desperately needs to finally push through the postseason barrier.
For Atlanta, the move brings in a proven, high-impact starter who can help anchor a championship-aspiring rotation. And for Tampa Bay, the deal offers a clean financial reset and a wave of young talent.
Whether a trade of this magnitude would ever come to life is difficult to predict. Three-team trades are notoriously complex, and each side must feel they are gaining more than they are giving up. Still, the concept highlights the Brewers’ ongoing challenge: identifying the missing pieces that can transform regular-season success into a championship breakthrough.
MORE MLB NEWS:
-
Braves to pair Chris Sale with significant Phillies 2-time All-Star
-
Done Deal: Mariners officially confirmed another deal
-
Done Deal: Angels officially confirmed another deal
-
Done Deal: Giants essential trade shore up bullpen with massive addition
-
Braves essential trade land 3.44 ERA Padres ace
-
BREAKING: Giants obvious target after trend of adding strong defensive outfielders
-
Breaking News: Cardinals put five more players on the move during sell-off
Be the first to comment