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Milwaukee Brewers Trade Deadline Preview

By Benno Martens

May 31, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy (20) hits a solo home run in the second inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
May 31, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy (20) hits a solo home run in the second inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports /
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Matt Garza

Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports /

Garza is not exactly a front of the rotation starter, but for a contender looking to shore up the back end of its starting corps, could make a lot of sense. The 32-year old right-hander is currently on a rehab assignment after starting the season on the disabled list with a shoulder injury, but is slated to be big league ready in the next 7-10 days.

He is no longer the kind of pitcher who will flirt with a 200-strikeout season, but Garza has proven to be slightly better than replacement level throughout his career, and in the previous two seasons in Milwaukee was a reliable arm every fifth day. His 2015 numbers of 6-14 with a 5.63 earned run average and full season career worsts in strikeout-to-walk ratio, WHIP, FIP, and hits per nine innings may scare teams off, though.

Garza would not be a half-season rental, as he is signed through 2017 at $12.5 million a season and has a vesting option of $13 million in 2018. If he doesn’t meet that vesting option, though, it becomes a $5 million team option. Were he to return to his 2014 form, when he went 8-8 with a 3.64 ERA and was worth 1.4 bWAR, those salary figures could turn out to be quite the bargain.

Next: Bullpen depth

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