MLB Rumors: A trade deadline shocker, Brewers megadeal looming, Phillies Nola question

MLB Rumors: The Brewers could package 2 starts

In a roundup by MLB insider Jeff Passan of ESPN, the Milwaukee Brewers could pull off another unpopular trade deadline move and package two of its stars — say Willy Adames and Corbin Burnes — to pick up as much prospect capital as possible near the trade deadline. Such a move still seems unlikely right now, of course, given the Brewers are in first place in the dreadful NL Central.

Milwaukee hasn’t blinked before, dealing Josh Hader despite some relative success leading up to last year’s deadline. They had a successor lined up for Hader in Devin Williams, and that trade has worked out well for the Brewers. Any trade for Adames and Burnes — both of whom are set to be free agents in 2025 — would net them a large prospect return:

"“Officials believe a Burnes deal, if it does happen, is likelier to come in the winter, but if the deadline market shrivels and starting pitching is at a premium, the Brewers have shown they are willing to make value plays even when they’re uncomfortable and unpopular. And if there’s no [Dylan] Cease-and-[Tim] Anderson or [Shane] Bieber-and-[Amed] Rosario deals to be had, a Burnes-and-Willy Adames package would be plenty tempting,” Passan wrote."

This year’s trade deadline sounds far more likely to be a dud than to include huge trades such as those listed above. It’s important to note that Passan did not list any sources with that inclination, suggesting it was more informed speculation that anything else.