No matter what happens in the next three games, the Milwaukee Brewers will lead the NL Central at the All-Star Break.
Who saw that coming?
The Brewers have taken full advantage of the Cubs struggles in 2017 and have a 4.5 game lead after beating Chicago at Wrigley Field on Thursday. Milwaukee put their stamp on the first half of the season by stomping the Cubs 11-2 in a one-game makeup from a prior rainout.
A team that was considered to be rebuilding before the year began is turning into a buyer at the deadline and they are interested in a local starting pitcher.
According to Jon Morosi, the Brewers are prepared to buy at the MLB deadline and are interested in Chicago White Sox starter Jose Quintana:
Sources: #Brewers are prepared to buy at Trade Deadline and have begun background work on Jose Quintana, Sonny Gray and other starters. @MLB
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 7, 2017
The teams in the trade talks surrounding Quintana have primarily been the Boston Red Sox and Houston Astros, but now the Brewers are in the mix and it could hurt the Cubs chances.
As you see in the tweet above, the Brewers are also interested in Sonny Gray just like the Cubs.
The Cubs have been scouting Gray according to sources and remain interested in the starter. Chicago’s rotation has struggled this season with inconsistency and injuries as they’ve given up a first inning run 70 times this season.
Milwaukee has the luxury of trading prospects to win now, something the Cubs really don’t want to do. Chicago won’t trade Ian Happ or Eloy Jimenez, two of the best young players in their organization.
The Brewers, on the other hand, had the fifth-best farm system going into the season and have a few outfield prospects the White Sox could be interested in.
Baseball America ranked four Brewers players in their midseason Top 100 list released on Friday.
Things could get even more interesting in the NL Central if the White Sox and Brewers are a match.
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