3 Brewers players the NY Mets should trade for in potential Milwaukee liquidation

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For the New York Mets to fight their way back into contender status, they're going to have to get creative. The Mets should still be quite active in free agency, but finding opportunity in the trade market could be a way to go too.

One team David Stearns should absolutely be calling is his former team, the Milwaukee Brewers. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (subscription required) reported that the Brewers could be looking to tear things down which would make sense after losing their manager to the division rival Cubs. "Those sources, briefed on the Brewers’ discussions but not authorized to discuss them publicly, say the team is open to moving virtually any player on its roster."

Considering the fact that the Brewers won 92 games last season and have been consistently solid over the last half-decade, they have plenty of players on their roster that the Mets might want to add in a trade. These three should be at the top of Stearns' list.

1) Corbin Burnes

You knew he'd be here. Corbin Burnes is entering the final year of team control before he hits free agency, and it's becoming more and more likely that he's going to be wearing another uniform in 2025. Milwaukee might just decide they're better off cutting their losses now and trading him would ensure they get at least something back for their ace.

Because of how good Burnes is, he wouldn't come cheap even with him having an expiring contract. That could cause the Mets to pause a tad on a Burnes trade, but if they execute it it'd be with an extension in mind. A trade for Burnes wouldn't be just playing for 2024.

By adding Burnes the Mets would add a bonafide ace to pair with Kodai Senga at the top of the rotation. The Mets need to add at least two, preferably three arms. They won't all be expensive free agents. Burnes would come at a cheap financial cost for 2024, and is a guy the Mets could keep long-term at a higher salary once the books become lighter.

2) Devin Williams

The rotation is obviously an area of the roster the Mets must improve, but the bullpen is arguably in even worse shape. Edwin Diaz coming back is obviously huge, and Brooks Raley's club option being exercised means he'll be back, but who else is there? After Adam Ottavino rejected his player option it looks like he could be gone. That means guys like Drew Smith and Trevor Gott are probably the Mets third and fourth-best relievers right now. That's obviously a major issue.

The Mets will need to look to add multiple relievers to the roster, but not all of that work has to be done in free agency. New York could look to the trade market and if they were to make a deal with Milwaukee, Devin Williams is a player they'd at least have to inquire about.

Williams was a preimier set-up man for Josh Hader in Milwaukee and just put together a terrific year for the Brewers as the team's primary closer after they dealt Hader away at the 2022 trade deadline. He had 36 saves in 40 tries this past season while posting a 1.53 ERA in 61 appearances.

Williams would revert back to a set-up role with the Mets, and is a player they'd be guaranteed to roster for more than one year. He won't be a free agent until after the 2025 season. This would ensure the Mets have the best late-game duo in baseball with Williams and Diaz, at least for the short-term.

He wouldn't come cheap, but adding an arm like Williams could make sense if the Mets strike out in free agency.

3) Freddy Peralta

If Milwaukee is truly making everyone available like Rosenthal says, that means even a guy like Freddy Peralta who is under contract through the 2026 season could be had. He'd be harder to get just for that simple fact, but his contract makes him too interesting to not pursue. The right-hander is set to make $5.7 million in 2024, and has club options for 2025 and 2026 at just $8 million. An absolute bargain.

Health has been a concern for Peralta throughout his career, but he was able to stay healthy for Milwaukee this past season and had a fine year, posting a 3.86 ERA in 30 starts and 165.2 innings pitched. He's a premier strikeout pitcher as evidenced by his 210 punchouts this past season, and his 7.9% walk rate suggests he does a fine job limiting free passes.

He isn't the ace Burnes is, but the Mets do have Kodai Senga. When right, Peralta is a quality mid-rotation arm with frontline upside. Adding the 27-year-old via trade would ensure the Mets don't overpay an older starter in a long deal in free agency to pitch at or below the same level Peralta would.

Obviously it'd cost more in prospect capital, but the Mets added a ton of guys at the deadline. The deal has to make sense, but with the Brewers potentially looking to rebuild he's an obvious target.

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