MLB 2017: One prediction for each team

Milwaukee Brewers: Ryan Braun gets traded

The rebuilding Brewers have held onto their last big trade chip, Ryan Braun, so far. At 32, he’s coming off his best season since his steroid suspension. In 2016, Braun finished with an OPS of .903 — his best since 2012. He also hit 30 home runs and stole 16 bases.

It took Braun almost five years to re-establish his value after the scandal and suspension. He’s never going to bring a better trade return than now. At the age of 33, Braun still has two or three good years left in him. The latter years of his long-term contract are actually fairly manageable –$76 million over the next four years with a buyout for $4 million in 2021.

For the Brewers to truly move into the next phase of their rebuild, they must find a way to trade Braun. He’s been a fit for the Dodgers for years, and they’re one of the teams he can be traded to. The other California teams are on the list, as are the Marlins. The San Francisco Giants also make sense for Braun, as they continue to search for a left fielder.

The Brewers may have to take on a few million a year from Braun’s contract to maximize their prospect haul, and they should be prepared to do that. It’s all about maximizing Braun’s value to contribute to the rebuild. The Brewers should work closely with Braun to find the best fit for him to play out his contract. Both sides benefit from a mutual parting, and a trade finally goes down in 2017.