Milwaukee Brewers: What’s next after Anthony Swarzak trade?
By Tim Haberin
Their acquisition of reliever Anthony Swarzak could set the tone for the Milwaukee Brewers as they near the July 31 trade deadline.
Many of the trade rumors involving the Milwaukee Brewers over the past couple weeks have centered on starting pitchers. The club has been linked to top-tier hurlers including Sonny Gray and Justin Verlander as it aims to bolster its rotation. The Brewers made a move last night to benefit their pitching staff, though it addressed the bullpen rather than the starting five.
Milwaukee sent minor league outfielder Ryan Cordell – previously ranked 17th in its system by MLB Pipeline – to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for reliever Anthony Swarzak. The right-hander had been putting together a breakout season in the ChiSox bullpen. He boasts a 2.23 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 4.00 K/BB ratio in 48.1 innings. Prior to this year, Swarzak owned a far less compelling 4.52 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 2.25 K/BB over seven campaigns spent with the Twins, Indians and Yankees.
The Brewers bullpen hasn’t been much to write home about this year, with a 4.22 ERA that ranks 19th in Major League Baseball. All-Star closer Corey Knebel has been the main standout, though even he has encountered a few speed bumps lately (5.40 ERA in July). Swarzak should strengthen the group as it looks to close out important games down the stretch.
The trade might also hold a clue as to Milwaukee’s strategy over the next five days. The team would love to add another starter to the fold; Jimmy Nelson and Chase Anderson have been great, but neither has much of an extended track record of success and the latter is currently on the DL with a strained oblique. However, prices remain high on the starting pitcher market.
Second-year general manager David Stearns would like to win now without sacrificing the future. Swarzak is only under contract through the end of the season; ergo, a move to win in 2017. But the front office is not inclined to blow all its minor league capital for some instant gratification. Outfielder Lewis Brinson, the organization’s top prospect, is by all accounts off-limits and reportedly headed back up to Milwaukee.
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If the Brewers don’t like the asking prices for impact starters – which seems plausible given the recent buzz that they have “faded” in the Gray sweepstakes – they could continue to strengthen their bullpen as an alternative. They have been connected to the Tigers’ Justin Wilson (with or without Ian Kinsler), Padres’ Brad Hand and Mets’ Addison Reed. Costs will vary, but any would further help the Milwaukee pen.
Recent playoff success stories, most notably the 2015 championship Royals, have shown that you can get by with a passable rotation and a shutdown bullpen. While it’s unlikely this year’s Brewers can make their bullpen elite by the deadline, they can make enough of a positive difference to keep themselves in the race. Most importantly, they can avoid giving up the farm in the process.
However, that doesn’t mean Milwaukee will or should stop seeking a starting pitcher. A couple mid-tier options are already off the board, but the Brewers could still target a cost-effective addition that fits their preferred price range as well as short- and long-term goals.
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Despite losing seven of their last 10, the Brewers are hanging on to a half-game lead in the NL Central. No one expected them to be there in late July. The Swarzak trade suggests they’ll play it smart as the deadline nears, looking for ways to improve the team this year while not mortgaging future seasons.