Now that we are a month away from the MLB trade deadline, it’s a time we take a look at the Brewers and what kind of role they will take during this year’s trade season.  With Milwaukee 10 1/2 games out of the division and wild card, it would seem that the second half of this season would be used to gear up everyone for the next.  According to Jeff Fletcher in this article (click it!) the trio of Weeks, Fielder, and Hart are on the trading block.  But I ask you, why?  Here are three reasons why the Brewers should NOT make a trade before the deadline this season. 

Reason 1:  There are no quick fixes out there that will help this team this year.

The Brewers have many holes on their team this year.  Pitching, defense, and timely hitting are the ones that make the short list. This is a team that Doug Melvin put together to outhit all other opponents and get by with veteran pitching.  This equation did not work in Texas, and is not going to work here in Milwaukee.  One of the strongest things about the Brewers organization has been the ability to draft and develop players.  All three guys that Fletcher writes about are the result of this.  But you can’t tell me that there is any team out there in a playoff hunt willing to give the Brewers what they deserve.  And the truth is, it won’t really matter what they give us!  A good starting pitcher here, a solid outfieder there, won’t make this the team that it needs to be this year or the years to come.  If we sit back for a moment, swallow our pride, and agree that we need to trade for players who can help us for next season and the years after that, it would be hard to find that player or players that teams are willing to trade.  Which brings me to m next point that…

Reason 2:  They are all under contract for another year!

The thought of trading for a player who still has years left on their contract is intriguing, but it doesn’t mean that the Brewers MUST sell by July 31 or they will never get anything in return.  Winter meetings are always a source of trades being made, and all of next season if the Brewers are not doing what they need to to be contenders, they can find plenty of suitors for their players.  While Hart’s stock might be the highest it’s ever been right now, Weeks and Fielder are not making themselves very tradeable.  Weeks started off very hot and has done nothing but disappoint both  at the plate and in the field.  Fielder is a microcosm of himself in the last few years.  I think what the Brewers need to do is try to fix their problems and try one more time at this thing next year.  Keeping those three players might be vital, as some of our younger prospects are still a few years away.  Trading those players this year ensures that we don’t even need to think about the playoffs for the next 4 years.

Reason 3:  I don’t really trust Doug Melvin to make a move this big.

Yes, Doug Melvin has made some good moves in the past and has put us in place to make a run at it.  Getting Cordero, trading away Overbay, and letting us have C.C. for half a year for a kid who hasn’t panned out have all been really good plays.  But Doug has other people around him, including Mike Maddux as pitching coach, Bill Castro as bullpen coach, and Jack Zduriencik as lead scout.  The Brewers miss him more than anyone would want to admit, and we have not been able to replace him.  I feel that Attanasio is going to clean house this offseason, which includes Melvin, Macha, and the staff. 

Random thought of the day:

Thank goodness that Cliff Lee didn’t go to the Yankees.  Do we need any more reason to hate them?  The Yankees are very good this year, at least now they won’t sweep themselves to the World Series.

-Ben