The Milwaukee Brewers are positioned as clear buyers at the 2025 Trade Deadline and they have a shopping list. The Brewers have had a heavily taxed bullpen this year with their starting pitchers throwing the 5th-fewest innings by a rotation in MLB. The Tampa Bay Rays are trending towards becoming a seller once again in 2025.
3 Enticing Reliever Trade Deadline Targets For The Milwaukee Brewers originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Milwaukee Brewers are positioned as clear buyers at the 2025 Trade Deadline and they have a shopping list. While a lot of the attention has been on the need for more power in the lineup, there's also a need for additional bullpen help.
The Brewers have had a heavily taxed bullpen this year with their starting pitchers throwing the 5th-fewest innings by a rotation in MLB. Abner Uribe is T-4th in the league in appearances with 49. Jared Koenig is right behind him with 48.
While the Crew is deep in the starting rotation, they may not be as deep with the bullpen and could look to add another bullpen arm to the mix. If they do, here are three enticing targets for them.
- Rays LHP Garrett Cleavinger
The Tampa Bay Rays are trending towards becoming a seller once again in 2025. After having a fire sale last year, the Rays have more talent that they could move. The Brewers have a strong history of making trades with the Rays as GM Matt Arnold previously spent time in that front office.
One name that should be of interest to the Brewers is lefty Garrett Cleavinger. A solid, reliable setup man, Cleavinger has a 2.48 ERA this season with 49 strikeouts in 36.1 IP. He's in the 95th percentile in the league in Whiff% and 94th percentile in K%. He's also significantly cut down his walk rate this year compared to the last two years.
Cleavinger is making just $1.2MM this year and has another two seasons of team control after this. That could be very tempting for the Brewers to want him as they eye the future as well as the present. However, that also means the price tag is going to be a bit higher for Cleavinger.
2. Twins LHP Danny Coulombe
You'd be hard-pressed to find a veteran reliever having a better season this year than Danny Coulombe. Through 30 appearances, Coulombe has a 0.90 ERA with 30 strikeouts and a 0.93 WHIP. He's already accrued 1.7 bWAR and has yet to allow a home run this season.
Coulombe is 35 years old and playing on a one year, $3MM contract. He's a pure rental reliever that should be available as the Twins are likely sellers at this Deadline. He can slot into the Brewers bullpen as a lefty specialist and fill in high or low leverage situations.
3. Angels LHP Brock Burke
The Angels once again find themselves in no man's land, not being good enough to really buy but also never convincing themselves they fully need to sell. Brock Burke has been a bright spot in the bullpen for LAA with a 3.43 ERA this season in 42 IP.
Burke is making just $1.15MM this season and is under team control for next season. So that would be 1.5 years of team control of a reliable lefty reliever.
One potential issue is Burke's usage. He leads the American League in appearances with 49. If the Brewers want to truly fortify their over-taxed bullpen, bringing in another reliever who has been taxed a lot already may not be the move they want to make.
Related: 5 Brewers Prospects That Should Be Absolutely Untouchable at the 2025 Trade Deadline
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Baseball
