Brewers pull off late deadline deals with NL West teams

The Milwaukee Brewers made a pair of late moves as the trade deadline closed, acquiring outfielder Brandon Lockridge in a deal with the San Diego Padres and pitchers Shelby Miller and Jordan Montgomery in another with the Arizona Diamondbacks, according to MLB Network insider Jon Heyman.

In the first trade, Milwaukee sent left-handed starter Nestor Cortes Jr. to the Padres in exchange for Lockridge. Cortes, who had been on the 60-day injured list with a left elbow flexor strain, was rehabbing for a potential August return. During his stint with Triple-A Nashville, he posted a 1.29 ERA and 0.71 WHIP over 14 innings across three starts.

Lockridge brings elite speed and defensive to Milwaukee's outfield. He ranks tied for sixth in MLB in sprint speed at 29.9 feet per second, making him the fastest player on a Brewers roster that already boasts the second-fastest team sprint speed in the league (27.8 feet/second).

Shortly after, Milwaukee completed a second trade, acquiring reliever Miller and starter Montgomery from the Diamondbacks for a player to be named later or cash.

Miller, 34, is putting together one of the best seasons of his 13-year career. Before landing on the 15-day IL with a forearm strain, he recorded a 1.98 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 10 saves over 36 1/3 innings, striking out 40 and walking just 11. His current arsenal features a mid-90s four-seam fastball (used 64.9% of the time) and a splitter that’s generated a 41% whiff rate. Though injured for now, Miller is expected to be a key bullpen contributor upon his return.

Montgomery, meanwhile, was a contract piece the Diamondbacks were looking to move. The left-hander underwent Tommy John surgery earlier this year and is out for the remainder of the 2025 season. Milwaukee agreed to absorb a portion of his salary, allowing it to preserve its prospect capital — a move that highlights the Brewers’ dedication to protecting its farm system.

Though neither deal brought in the expected power bat the team needed, both moves still carry the potential to pay dividends come October.