As the MLB trade deadline nears Thursday, here's a rundown of Milwaukee Brewers trade rumors

As we get closer to the Major League Baseball trade deadline, at 5 p.m. CT July 31, teams are no doubt frantically working the phones to improve their roster.

Will the Milwaukee Brewers make a big splash, improve around the edges or perhaps let the current roster carry forward into the final two months of the season?

Here's a rundown of the rumors and speculation we're finding on the web:

What's the latest on third baseman Eugenio Suárez?

The biggest name on the trade market is Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Eugenio Suárez, and he seems to fit what the Brewers would need by introducing a power bat into a lineup that lacks slug. The Brewers could conceivably move either Caleb Durbin or Brice Turang to shortstop — and they've been experimenting with those players at the position -- with the other at second base while moving Joey Ortiz to a utility role.

Suarez already has 36 home runs and is a free agent after the season. The Brewers would have to win a bidding war for his services, making it seem unlikely that they get involved.

• Thomas Harrigan of MLB.com ranked the Brewers second (behind the Philadelphia Phillies) among teams that could most use Suarez. The Houston Astros, who just lost third baseman Isaac Paredes to significant injury, might also be a team to watch.
• Patrick Mooney of The Athletic wrote that the Chicago Cubs are expected to be a player for Suarez, even though rookie third baseman Matt Shaw has caught fire.
• MLB reporter Héctor Gómez wrote on Twitter that the Brewers had emerged "now as a top suitor" for Suarez, but the names he mentioned as a possible return lined up perfectly with our Journal Sentinel story proposing mock trades (with reaction and analysis from Curt Hogg), which seems fishy.

Would the Brewers try to make a move at shortstop?

ESPN's Jeff Passan wrote that the Brewers aren't actively seeking a replacement for Ortiz, who's been mired in a season-long offensive struggle. He notes that the Brewers are in good enough shape to have a quiet deadline.

The idea of standing pat at shortstop tracks for another reason: You won't find many shortstops on the list of "available" players at the trade deadline.

Milwaukee might be pushed into a move with its surplus of starters

There's an obvious problem looming on the horizon for the Brewers: They have too many pitchers for rotation spots.

With the imminent return of Nestor Cortes from injury, Milwaukee will need to find a spot for him — likely the one currently occupied by Jose Quintana — or make a move that involves trading either player.

The logjam isn't lost on national writers like Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic or Joel Sherman of the New York Post.

What are the Brewers looking for at the trade deadline?

Robert Murray of FanSided stopped by the Journal Sentinel's own Microbrew Podcast and spoke about what he was hearing about the Brewers' trade-deadline shopping list.

"They're looking at three things," Murray said. "They're looking at upgrading the backup catcher position. They are looking for an optionable reliever, which is something they love in that organization. And they are also looking for first-base depth, or just reinforcements there. What exactly that could look like, I don't know. (Baltimore's Ryan) O'Hearn could definitely fit the bill at first base."

Murray said he didn't foresee a substantive first-base upgrade as long as Rhys Hoskins was on the roster. Hoskins, on the injured list with a thumb injury, should be back by September. Andrew Vaughn has been a revelation in his short stint with Milwaukee during Hoskins' absence.

Which relievers might be available for the Brewers (or any team) at the trade deadline?

The Brewers seem to make a relief-pitching acquisition every season at the deadline.

Here's a look at the top relief candidates available on the trade market, at least as sites like CBS Sports and The Athletic see it, not counting three St. Louis Cardinals pitchers — Phil Maton, Ryan Helsley and Steven Matz — since we won't hold our breath that the Cardinals and Brewers will be making any deals.

• David Bednar, right-hander, Pittsburgh Pirates
• Jake Bird, right-hander, Colorado Rockies
• Danny Coulombe, left-hander, Minnesota Twins
• Reid Detmers, left-hander, Los Angeles Angels
• Jhoan Duran, right-hander, Minnesota Twins
• Carlos Estévez, right-hander, Kansas City Royals
• Pete Fairbanks, right-hander, Tampa Bay Rays
• Griffin Jax, right-hander, Minnesota Twins
• Dennis Santana, right-hander, Pittsburgh Pirates

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Brewers trade rumors as trade deadline nears include Eugenio Suárez