Fansided

Buy or sell: Evaluating the NL contenders at the trade deadline

By Joshua Sadlock

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 16: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies in action against the Los Angeles Dodgers during a baseball game at Citizens Bank Park on July 16, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 16: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies in action against the Los Angeles Dodgers during a baseball game at Citizens Bank Park on July 16, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
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MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – JULY 17: Christian Yelich #22 of the Milwaukee Brewers rounds the bases after hitting a home run in the sixth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Miller Park on July 17, 2019 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – JULY 17: Christian Yelich #22 of the Milwaukee Brewers rounds the bases after hitting a home run in the sixth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Miller Park on July 17, 2019 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

2. Milwaukee Brewers: Buy

The Brewers came up a game short of going to the World Series last year and got off to a hot start this season. However, they have cooled considerably since their 38-28 start and are now in a dogfight with the rest of the National League for a Wild Card. The NL Central title isn’t out of the question, but the Brewers will need to make upgrades if they want to keep up with the Chicago Cubs.

Milwaukee’s entire pitching staff is holding them back right now. Aside from the continued brilliance of All-Star closer Josh Hader and steady starts from Brandon Woodruff and Zach Davies, the Brewers are getting nothing from their pitchers. Gio Gonzalez had been pitching well before going on the injured list with dead arm. It’s anyone’s guess how well he will hold up in the second half. The Brewers starting rotation has pitched to a 4.74 ERA, while the bullpen checks in with a 4.59 mark. Their overall staff ERA of 4.62 is 10th in the National League.

It may prove easier for the Brewers to go all in on upgrading their bullpen instead of trying to stabilize the rotation with a headline-grabbing starter like Marcus Stroman or Madison Bumgarner. With only two of five spots in the rotation truly settled, and the starters averaging only five innings a night, the bullpen should be the real focus.

All-Star closer Will Smith of the Giants spent parts of three seasons with the Brewers, and should still be available for trade. He is the best rental closer on the market at this year’s trade deadline, and the Brewers do still have enough to make a run at him. Milwaukee has to be in win-now mode, and that means they’ll be ready to buy as July 31 approaches.

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