5 blockbuster moves the Brewers must make post MLB Winter Meetings 2024 ft. Trading Aaron Civale
The Winter Meetings are over, and the Milwaukee Brewers just made a blockbuster move in trading away their closer. However, with an incomplete roster and a division title to defend, there's still plenty they can do.
What the Brewers must do now
5) Sign Kenley Jansen
After trading Devin Williams to the New York Yankees, the back end of the Brewers' bullpen is missing a piece. There are more than a few good relievers out there that could fill that void, but Kenley Jansen makes a lot of sense.
He's been a closer almost everywhere he's been, and he's done well at virtually every stop. He'd be a dependable and cheap closer at age 37, and he's someone the Brewers should have their eyes on.
4) Sign Yasmani Grandal
Yasmani Grandal is one of the few catchers still unsigned, and the Milwaukee Brewers could use a backup catcher. William Contreras had a brilliant season, but the depth isn't strong, and every team needs a quality backup behind the dish to give their starter enough rest to stay healthy.
Grandal is a veteran and a good defender, which makes him the ideal backup. He also won't cost that much after just 1.4 fWAR in two seasons and the fact that he's 36.
3) Trade Aaron Civale
Aaron Civale is an impending free agent. He's also making $9.7 million. This is an easy way for the Brewers to shed some payroll and get back some assets.
Civale wasn't that good for Milwaukee (0.5 fWAR in 14 starts), but he could be a valuable depth piece for a team that needs some rotation depth. If the team doesn't trade him now, it'll probably end up trading him at the deadline for less of a return. The Brewers have a lot of starters on the roster, so trading one makes sense.
2) Sign Harrison Bader
Harrison Bader is a quality outfielder who could be a valuable depth piece for the Brewers. He would be a fantastic mentor for Jackson Chourio, and center field is the weakest of the three outfield spots in Milwaukee right now.
Bader is one of the best remaining center fielders to sign, but he's not going to come with a massive price tag even after a solid season with the New York Mets. That and his quality defense should point the Brewers to him.
1) Sign Ha-Seong Kim
The Milwaukee Brewers lost Willy Adames to the San Francisco Giants. They now need a shortstop. Their depth chart lists Joey Ortiz as the shortstop and the third baseman at the top, so they need one or the other. Fortunately, Ha-Seong Kim can play both.
Despite Kim's status as arguably the best shortstop left on the market, he's not going to cost as much as Adames did. That bodes well for the Brewers, who tend not to spend big money.