The San Diego Padres demand a high-impact haul for closer Mason Miller, eyeing a prospect-heavy package that could strip the Milwaukee Brewers of outfield depth.
The San Diego Padres have made a request that teams not have anyone off limits if they're interested in closer Mason Miller.
In a recent blockbuster from ESPN, Paul Hembekides put together a deal that would keep all of the Milwaukee Brewers' top five prospects safe.
It's a hefty haul, no doubt, but Miller commands a major deal if the Padres are indeed going to make a trade happen in the coming week.
Hembekides proposed "a return of Josh Adamczewski, Braylon Payne, Bishop Letson and Sal Frelick would be a healthy one for San Diego."
In his mind, this is a win-win. While the Brewers protect the likes of Jesus Made, Luis Pena, Cooper Pratt, Luis Lara, and Jett Williams, this package doesn't tell the entire story.
Brewers can't afford to lose three outfielders
It seems a bit overzealous for this trade to include outfielders such as Frelick, Adamczewski, and Payne.
Sure, their top five prospects are protected, but Adamczewski is No. 6 and Payne clocks in at No. 8. Knowing Letson, a right-handed pitcher, is No. 10, that package sees not only three of their top 10 prospects on the move, but also a trio of highly regarded outfielders.
The Luis Lara experiment has gone tremendously thus far, but who knows if Lara is going to have long-term success in the big leagues. He's currently still the team's No. 4 prospect, and it's not like he or Pratt (No. 3) were ever on the table in the first place.
Hembekides' idea of protecting the top five makes sense, but in a way, it makes far more sense for the Brewers to move someone like No. 2 prospect shortstop Luis Pena. Pena has a bit more infield versatility than baseball's No. 1 prospect, Jesus Made, and that could benefit the Padres.
The idea of losing Frelick, Adamczewski, and Payne completely depletes the Brewers infield. Sure, Brandon Lockridge is on his way back, but the team has far surpassed the need for him.
Christian Yelich can always return to the outfield, but that wouldn't be a good idea for his constant back pain. Yelich is stuck in that everyday designated hitter spot, and while there's nothing wrong with that, the Brewers have to acknowledge that putting him in the outfield for a trade like this to make sense could once again derail all of the goodwill he's built up this season.
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