Milwaukee Brewers News

Home

Quizzes

Watch

Newsletter

Milwaukee Brewers Advised To Add Diamondbacks Closer with 0.99 WHIP for Bullpen Help 1 Apr 17, 2024; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Abner Uribe (45) reacts after getting out of a jam in the eighth inning against the San Diego Padres at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Milwaukee Brewers Advised To Add Diamondbacks Closer with 0.99 WHIP for Bullpen Help

Originally posted on WI Sports Heroics | By John Sbisa | Last updated Jul 3, 2025 11:47 AM ET

In his first season taking sole closer duties, Trevor Megill has done the job for the Milwaukee Brewers. Setup man Abner Uribe has been electric. Nonetheless, the Brewers rank 21st in MLB with a bullpen ERA of 4.19. As they surge in the standings, they could they could use some reliever depth to sustain a playoff run. ESPN’s David Schoenfield has them addressing this need pre-trade deadline via Arizona closer Shelby Miller.

Milwaukee Brewers Have Strong 1-2 Punch But Shallow Depth Around Them

Now in his 13th season, Miller is a starter turned reliever who has kept his career alive through a slew of injuries. Injury issues have persisted since he converted fulltime to the pen in 2021. In two of three relatively healthy seasons, though, he has been dynamite. Covering 35.1 innings in 2025, Miller has limited hitters to a .564 OPS, allowing just 24 hits, three homeruns, and 11 walks. He has 39 strikeouts and 10 saves as Arizona’s primary closer.

He wouldn’t pitch many ninths in Milwaukee. Instead, the Brewers would acquire Miller to bolster a bullpen whose only legitimate late-inning arms are Megill and Uribe.

Despite good work from Nick Mears, Grant Anderson, Aaron Ashby and DH Hall, it’s hard to feel secure about this group as a whole. Jared Koenig is also a main guy but he hasn’t done well this year, allowing more hits than innings pitched. Ashby and Hall are better utilized in long relief. Mears and Anderson have been excellent, but including them Milwaukee has only four backend guys. Both also have suspect track records (even accounting for this season, Mears owns a 4.42 career ERA; Anderson sits at 4.97).

Miller himself is coming off a so-so year in Detroit, where he recorded a 0.97 WHIP but surrendered nine homeruns. His posted a swollen 4.53 ERA.

This season he’s kept the ball in the ballpark, like he did in his outstanding 2023 campaign for the Dodgers. He isn’t to be trusted with saves (he’s blown five this year, and seven in nine chances as a Tiger). Fortunately, the Brewers wouldn’t use him in that role very often. Megill has had the vast majority of opportunities; Miller or Uribe could fill in when needed.

Milwaukee Brewers Advised To Add Diamondbacks Closer with 0.99 WHIP for Bullpen Help 2 Jun 15, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Trevor Megill (29) throws a pitch during the ninth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

Now that the Brewers have established themselves as contenders, they must think ahead to the postseason, tending to roster weak spots and patching holes. On a one-year, $1 million deal, Miller or someone like him would help do that at a low cost.

This article first appeared on WI Sports Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: