As the trade deadline approaches, the Milwaukee Brewers are looking to add more offense—even as they’ve overtaken the Cubs to lead the NL Central. One option has been to acquire utilityman Willi Castro from the Twins. But there’s another potential route that could help Milwaukee both strengthen their offense and create room for more long-relief arms. This second move could even work in tandem with a Castro trade.
A Look at the Rangers
The Texas Rangers are just 1.5 games behind the Red Sox for the final AL Wild Card spot, tied with Tampa Bay and barely ahead of Cleveland in a tight playoff race.
Their biggest weakness? The bullpen. They recently designated their saves leader, Luke Jackson, for assignment, highlighting their late-inning struggles. While Hoby Milner and Robert Garcia have been reliable, the bullpen lacks true depth and top-end talent. Texas desperately needs help closing out games.
Offense isn’t their issue—they have multiple hitters with strong home run totals. But the Brewers aren’t eyeing a power bat—they’re targeting Josh Smith, a versatile utility player under team control through 2028. Smith has experience all over the field and brings a strong left-handed bat (123 OPS+), which would immediately boost Milwaukee’s struggling left-side infield offense.
Milwaukee’s Deep Bullpen
The Brewers can help Texas solve its bullpen issues. Milwaukee has enough depth to trade away solid arms like Grant Anderson and Nick Mears, both of whom have combined for 1.5 WAR this season. These two could easily replace underperformers like Jackson and Jacob Webb in Texas, helping the Rangers lock down more wins during their playoff push.
Sending Anderson and Mears could also clear space for Logan Henderson and Chad Patrick, who’ve pitched well in Milwaukee and are currently in Triple-A Nashville—ready to step into long-relief roles, which the Crew may need as they manage innings limits on key pitchers.
What Would It Take?
Texas likely wouldn’t give up Josh Smith for two relievers alone. The Brewers would need to include one or two more pieces—possibly a pitching prospect like Henderson, Patrick, or Coleman Crow, or a higher-end position prospect like Braylon Payne, Cooper Pratt, Josh Adamczewski, or Blake Burke. In this scenario, let’s say Adamczewski and Dominican Summer League outfielder Kenny Fenelon are added to the deal.
In return, Milwaukee could ask for a couple of prospects alongside Smith, such as Devin Fitz-Gerald and Seong-Jung Kim.
Why It Works
This trade would upgrade Milwaukee’s infield offense, especially at third base against right-handed pitchers. It also gives them flexibility to shift Caleb Durbin to second base and Brice Turang to shortstop if Joey Ortiz continues to struggle. Adding Smith and Castro (if that deal also happens) would significantly improve the Crew’s left side of the infield and provide valuable depth once Sal Frelick returns from injury.
While it might not make headlines, this kind of under-the-radar move could pay big dividends for Milwaukee—both now and in the future.
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