3 team needs for the Brewers leading up to the trade deadline
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The Milwaukee Brewers have the best record in the National League, but they don't always play like it.
Milwaukee stumbled into the second half having dropped 11 of 13 games, emerged from the break losing two of three, and are now back on track with four straight wins.
It's a streaky team with a strong offense and inconsistent pitching. The pieces are there but so are the holes.
Here are three areas the club should address ahead of next week's trade deadline:
1. Front-of-the-rotation arm
Milwaukee's staff is solid, if unspectacular, with all five Opening Day starters over the 100-inning mark this season.
While Kyle Lohse, Matt Garza, Wily Peralta, and Yovani Gallardo offer adequate production, none of them represent the type of top-heavy talent division rivals St. Louis and Cincinnati possess.
If the Brewers are serious about making a run this year, they need to pursue an impact arm in the same way they did when they acquired CC Sabathia in 2008. Unfortunately, the Brewers lack the high-end prospects likely required to get Tampa Bay Rays lefty David Price or Philadelphia Phillies lefty Cliff Lee.
Save for a blockbuster trade involving major-league talent off their roster, the Brewers have no choice but to ride this group all the way.
2. First baseman
If general manager Doug Melvin can't acquire top starting pitching, he might as well beef up his offense.
The Brewers' lineup boasts plenty of pop (fifth overall in slugging and sixth in runs) but it's a streaky bunch that doesn't get on base with enough consistency. Manager Ron Roenicke has juggled platoons at second base and at first for most of the season, but the latter isn't getting the job done.
While Mark Reynolds leaves much to be desired, his 16 homers are keeping him in the lineup. Lyle Overbay, on the other hand, isn't pulling - and barely hitting - his weight from the left side. The 37-year-old veteran owns a .294 weighted on-base percentage with just 12 extra-base hits in 207 plate appearances.
Free-agent-to-be Adam Dunn is a better fit in the American League but he's exactly what the Brewers are looking for offensively.
3. Shortstop
Brewers shortstop Jean Segura has endured a tragic year and so it would be impossible to fault him if he isn't able to right a season gone awry.
The 24-year-old has taken a giant step back in his development, hitting for less power, stealing fewer bases, and batting below his career slash line. Segura isn't hitting righties well, but his splits against left-handers are especially concerning.
Melvin would be wise to kick the tires on Cleveland's switch-hitting shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera. Although the Indians remain on the periphery of a Wild Card spot, Cabrera is a free agent at season's end and top prospect Francisco Lindor was recently promoted to Triple-A. It's worth a phone call at the very least.