5 Potential Late Spring Moves for the Brewers

As we creep towards opening day, questions always abound as to how the roster is going to shake up. Teams have to make cuts, and teams still have time to fill holes with waiver claims, released players signed, and non-blockbuster trades. As such, I thought I would propose a few possibilities that might impact the Brewers as we approach opening day and firming up the 25-man roster.

1. Trade Rickie Weeks. Let me start by saying as much as most Brewer fans may want this to happen I don't see it happening. Here are the reasons why: Weeks is currently outperforming his "replacement" Scooter Gennett. Many people point to scouts' unimpressive appraisals of Gennett as an everyday player. Although I will say Gennett has outperformed expectations at every level of baseball thus far including the majors, and his lefty bat and solid defense are two good things for him. His primary weakness is he relies on making contact (contact % and BABIP both above league average last year), and that requires constant production. That hasn't shown much in spring thus far while Weeks has been making better contact than he's shown the last few years. If the Crew trade Weeks there is not much depth/potential behind Gennett should he struggle. And a Weeks/Gennett platoon is not the worst idea in the world too. While the bench/platoon is not ideal for an 11mm player, to trade Weeks the Brewers would have to eat probably 8-9mm of that salary anyways and get an unimpressive return, because teams are not going to simply let Weeks' strong start to spring make him high in trade value (not with that contract). But if Gennett improved or a good return or more significant portion of the contract was absorbed it could happen. In that case New York and Baltimore would seem the most likely destinations.
2. Acquire Alejandro De Aza from Chicago White Sox. De Aza would likely cost a pretty solid prospect, because he has solid numbers and versatility which also makes him appeal to multiple teams. So to get him one will likely have to make a better offer than other teams. This would probably only happen if an injury occurs or as we near the end of Spring Training it is determined that Khris Davis may not hold down the starting role. De Aza would be a great pick-up for several reasons: he can play all over the outfield, he offers speed (46 SB last two years) and power potential (career high 17 homers last year), and he gets on base (.343 OBP since joining the White Sox), which means he could be a leadoff option (which this team lacks a clear candidate for) or a bottom half of the order bat. The cost to acquire him may be too great to use him as a 4th OF, but to sub an injured player or platoon/compete for LF with Davis he might be a very good target for the Brewers.
3. Acquire Carlos Peguero from Kansas City Royals. This also would likely be an insurance move for Milwaukee in case the Khris Davis experiment fails (though I hope it doesn't). Peguero offers the team a similar player to Davis (though he bats left): limited defense, high power upside. He has a career .504 slugging percentage in the minors and has hit 20 or more homers in a season at three minor league levels (including 31 in high A ball in 2009 and 53 in 251 games in AAA). He hasn't shown much in limited time in the majors (.622 OPS in 65 games), but with his power a homer friendly park like Miller Park may improve those numbers. Unless one of Shafer/Davis/Gomez/Braun is injured or Weeks is dealt I don't see a place for him on the 25 man out of spring training, but he is the type of player I would recommend claiming on waivers (he's out of options and according to mlbtraderumors seems the most likely outfielder to be cut) and try to sneak him through waivers right away to stash him in AAA. 
4. Acquire right to option rule 5 pick Wei-Chung Wang from Pirates. This might be the most likely of all the scenarios. Wang was a bold and surprising rule 5 pick by the Brewers this offseason. For reasons because of an injury/contract restructuring (can't remember the exact details) Wang was forced rather early to be put on the 40 man roster or be subjected to the rule 5 draft (he's only 21 years old). As such he has plenty of potential to be seen, so if Milwaukee cannot carry him through the year and have to offer him back to Pittsburgh for half of what they paid to acquire him my guess is Pittsburgh will take him back. Now lefty pitchers are the easiest for teams to keep through the rule 5 draft because you can save them for blowouts or lefty specialist duties. But with a 7 man bullpen and Henderson, K-Rod, Gorzelanny, Smith, and Thornburg likely locks to make the staff that leaves two spots and with Gorzelanny and Smith the team already is carrying 2 lefties, will it want 3? Wang had a strong spring debut striking out 2 in a quick inning of work, but if that does not carry on they may not be able to keep him. The Crew would be wise however to instead of just offering him back (where he is likely to be claimed) to work out a trade with the Pirates so they have the right to option him down to the minors. 
5. Trade Juan Francisco. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports suggested this. The Brewers have a lot of players competing at 1st this spring in Francisco, Overbay, Reynolds, Halton, and Morris with the first three having the inside track (Reynolds seemed most likely to make the team). Rosenthal ponders if Overbay's defense will give him preference over Francisco since Milwaukee was far and away the worst in majors in 1B defense last year (shouldn't be surprising considering every player who started there had never started a game there before). Francisco is out of options and there is no way this team carries 3 1B's, so if in fact they do favor Overbay Francisco will have to be traded or subjected to waivers. I don't think this is a wise or likely deal to happen. I may be wrong, but I don't think Milwaukee values defense enough to favor Overbay as Rosenthal suggests they do/should. For years this team has carried sub-par defenders. Additionally Francisco has been working on fielding at 1B this offseason and should be better defensively than last year. He is also 26, has massive power potential (think righty version of Mark Reynolds), and while not great there defensively is at least able to play 3B. Nick Delmonico (acquired from Baltimore for K-Rod last year) is several years away and Taylor Green is returning from injury and never proven he is anything more than a AAAA/replacement level player. Should Aramiz Ramirez get injured or traded this year (both are real possibilities) the team has no immediate option at 3B (especially if Reynolds entrenches himself at 1B), this is where Francisco would be a valuable asset. Even as a bench power bat (something this team has needed the last two years)/DH/corner infield depth he is worth this team keeping. If he were traded New York, Detroit (Rosenthal's suggestion), and Pittsburgh may all be possibilities. I'm unsure what a realistic return would be. It is also worth noting Overbay is in camp on a minor league deal and therefore could be sent to AAA.

So there are some names that might get dealt, acquired, kept. Keep an eye on how things work themselves out (as these things generally do in spring training).