The Milwaukee Brewers’ Biggest Moves Could Come Without A Trade

As the calendar creeps even closer to the Aug. 2 MLB Trade Deadline, Milwaukee Brewers president of baseball operations David Stearns and his team are no doubt working the phones, checking in on the availability of various players and probably fielding a few calls about players on his own roster as he and the GMs of other contenders look to shore up their squads for the stretch run.

Based on history alone, it seems like a foregone conclusion that Stearns will do something before the deadline but he also finds himself in the rather enviable position of not having to do too much thanks to a rash of unfortunate early-season injuries to a number of key players, many of whom are in the final stages of their recovery and on the verge of returning.

Heading that group is right-handed starter Freddy Peralta, who has been out since late May with a right shoulder injury but has looked sharp in two outings since starting a minor-league rehab assignment last week at Triple-A Nasvhille where his fastball hit 96 MPH.

He’s looked so good, in fact, that the Brewers could consider bringing him back a little earlier than expected.

“I think we’re at the point where we’re a little more interested in what’s going on as we kind of keep going here,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell told MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy Saturday at Fenway Park. “The off-days that we have right now certainly help us [with] being patient [in adding him back to the big league rotation]. But let’s still look at the big picture here and understand what we’ve got left and making sure that he’s healthy is more important than one [extra MLB] start.”

Though he was only 3-2 with a 4.42 ERA in eight starts before landing on the IL, Peralta is the type of pitcher teams often give up the farm to acquire at the deadline so adding a pitcher of that caliber without having to give up anything in return makes things a lot easier for Stearns, who has several other players who could play just as big a role as any player available on the trade market:

RHP Jake Cousins (Right elbow effusion)

Status: Will start minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Nashville Tuesday

Cousins made a strong first impression by posting a 2.70 ERA in 30 appearances as a rookie in 2021 but saw mixed results (2-1, 4.50 ERA, 1.625 WHIP) through his first eight appearances this season. Still, he’s exactly the kind of pitcher that most teams and especially the Brewers seek out at the deadline to help bolster their bullpens and a healthy and effective Cousins would give Counsell a solid middle-relief option with the potential to fill in should Brad Boxberger or Devin Williams need a day off down the stretch.

RHP Adrian Houser (right flexor strain)

Status: Throwing bullpens and simulated games

Houser became the fourth Brewers starter to end up on the IL when he felt tightness in his right elbow during a late-June start at Pittsburgh. He’s expected to begin a minor league rehab assignment soon.

“He’s making progress,” Counsell said.

Houser was having an up-and-down season (4-8, 4.72 ERA, 15 starts) but the ground-ball specialist has shown flashes of dominance at times could be used in tandem with Peralta to manage both workloads or full a multi-inning relief role when he returns.

Jace Peterson (left elbow sprain)

Status: 10-day IL

His offensive numbers (.252/.325/.439, 8 HR, 30 RBIs, .764 OPS) are solid, for sure, but Peterson’s true value comes on the defensive side where he’s appeared at five different positions this year.

That combination of left-handed pop, ability to get on base and play all over the field has given Counsell a lot of matchup flexibility this season, not to mention offering a way to get others a much-needed day off during a grueling first-half schedule.

“It’s absolutely a big loss,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell when Peterson was placed on the IL earlier this month. “We’re gonna have to fill in around him, but he does so many things for this team, and he does so many things very well. It does create some holes.”

Peterson’s expected to miss a “significant” amount of time. He was optimistic that he could return near the end of August but a minimum of six weeks seems much more likely meaning the Brewers will almost certainly be on the hunt for somebody to fill Peterson’s shoes ahead of the deadline.

RHP Justin Topa (right elbow)

Status: On rehab assignment with Triple-A Nashville

A breakout star in 2020 when he posted a 2.35 ERA in 6 appearances down the stretch, Topa missed most of last season with a flexor strain then posted a whopping 29.70 ERA in four appearances before he was shut down with yet another elbow injury.

He hasn’t pitched yet this season but has finally started a rehab assignment and has shown reason for optimism with three scoreless outings — the last two coming with Triple-A Nashville.

Again, Topa is not the kind of acquisition that will put a team over-the-top in its quest for a championship, but as the Brewers have demonstrated the last few years, every inning matters down the stretch so even a handful of productive innings from Topa could provide a big benefit.