Brewers' clear trade need is to resolve 'black hole' on left side of infield originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Milwaukee Brewers might be last in the NL Central through the first 21 games of the season, but they're 12-9, and in a good spot to make the postseason still.
However, the team does have a few issues it must resolve this season. One of those problems revolves around the left side of the infield, and specifically, with the offense from those two positions.
Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report highlighted how the Brewers' left side of the infield is the team's biggest trade need, and for the reason that the offense from those two spots is a "black hole" in the lineup.
"The Brewers punted third base during the offseason by settling for Luis Rengifo and David Hamilton as their top options," Reuter writes. "Slotted alongside glove-only shortstop Joey Ortiz, the left side of the infield has been an offensive black hole."
While the Brewers are currently without a few key offensive pieces in Andrew Vaughn, Christian Yelich, and Jackson Chourio. That alone makes the offense a lot worse.
But, with the struggles from the left side of the infield, the need for the Brewers to acquire a new third baseman or shortstop is very apparent.
Ortiz this season is hitting just .194 with four RBIs and a .464 OPS in 51 at-bats. Hamilton is hitting .178 with three RBIs and a .517 OPS in 45 at-bats. Rengifo is hitting .167 with four RBIs and a .494 OPS in 60 at-bats.
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The Brewers' left side of the infield is combined hitting below .200 and is also below a .500 OPS. That's not sustainable at all, and the Brewers need to figure something out if they want to compete in a tight NL Central.
While Milwaukee isn't typically known as a big spender, the franchise needs to invest a bit into the roster this year by the trade deadline if it wants to compete for a World Series.
Having two spots in the lineup comprised of hitters struggling so much is, as Reuter called it, a "black hole" for the lineup. That's two spots in the lineup the team cannot rely on for offensive production this year.
By the 2026 MLB trade deadline, the Brewers should have a plan to acquire more offensive firepower at either shortstop or third base. Hamilton, Ortiz, and Rengifo aren't good enough, as Milwaukee needs help badly at both spots.
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