As the Milwaukee Brewers prepare for a rare aggressive trade deadline, top-ranked prospect Jesus Made headlines a list of four core young talents the front office refuses to move.
The 2026 trade deadline is looming, and the Milwaukee Brewers have made it crystal clear they are going to be buyers.
The price has to be right, but Milwaukee is in a prime position to do some damage this season, even without the likes of Quinn Priester or Brandon Woodruff.
Losing those two for the remainder of the season certainly pushed the Brewers in this direction, but historically, this team hasn't been aggressive buyers at this point in the season, no matter their record.
Now, ESPN's Kiley McDaniel compiled a list of the team's four likely untouchables while naming a few other expendable prospects who could be on the move.
Brewers' logical untouchables
McDaniel's list starting with shortstop Jesus Made comes as no surprise. In no world should the Brewers trade their top prospect, one who just so happens to be the highest-rated prospect in all of baseball.
From there, he named fellow shortstop Luis Pena as someone else who's "likely also off the table."
Made and Pena could be cornerstones of this Brewers team in the next few years, even though neither is big league ready at this point in time.
That said, the Brewers do have a pair of players who proved they're ready to compete at the big leagues. After locking up Cooper Pratt and Luis Lara to long-term extensions before they ever set foot in the majors, it's been great to see those two thrive in Milwaukee.
Sure, three of these four may be listed as shortstops, but that's a problem for the Brewers to tackle when the opportunity presents itself. For now, Milwaukee is keen on keeping all three, as they should be.
Expendable prospects to trade instead
No team wants to trade talented players, but that's the name of the game. McDaniel started with utility man Jett Williams, though he failed to mention him recently being placed on the Injured List. Obviously, that's going to tank his value and could force the Brewers to change some potential trade options.
Catcher Jefferson Quero has been named as a potential prospect who could be dealt. Quero made his big league debut this season, but moving on from him would be quite odd, especially if they don't lock up William Contreras to a long-term deal.
Two other players McDaniel mentioned were first baseman Luke Adams and right-handed pitcher Tyson Hardin. If a team is looking for a "quicker rebuild," those could be names they're focused on, as they're already in Triple-A and are top 15 prospects in the Brewers organization.
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