Reds and Brewers could make strange bedfellows on the trade market

You've seen it, right? Not often, but you've seen it. Sometimes, division rivals set aside their differenced and come together for the greater good. The Cincinnati Reds may need to do that in order to bolster the team's outfield.

While the Arizona Diamondbacks have been mentioned as a potential trade partner for the Reds in recent weeks due to the organization's outfield depth, the Milwaukee Brewers may be another club that could become strange bedfellows this offseason.

While the Reds are in the middle of a full-on rebuild, the Brewers are toeing that same dangerous line that Cincinnati did a few years ago; trying to maintain a relatively competitive team without breaking the bank.

Reds and Brewers could make strange bedfellows on the trade market.

What are the Milwaukee Brewers doing this offseason? That's a good question. After dealing All-Star closer Josh Hader at last year's trade deadline and parting company with Kolten Wong and Hunter Renfroe this winter while adding former Cincinnati Reds outfielder Jesse Winker and Abraham Toro. The Brewers also added former Atlanta Braves William Contreras in a three-team deal.

The Brewers are, very much, in win-now mode. It's an eerily similar position to where the Reds were in 2020 and 2021. With All-Star pitchers Corbin Burnes and Brandon Woodruff, along with shortstop Willie Adames approaching free agency in the coming years, Milwaukee's window for contention is beginning to close.

Milwaukee has a massive, long-term commitment to Christian Yelich, and the former MVP has looked like a shell of himself in recent years. That contract will loom large over the budget-conscience Brewers in the coming years and the likelihood of retaining Burnes, Woodruff, and Adames seems unlikely.

So, what does Milwaukee have that Cincinnati might be interested in? Well, much like the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Brew Crew have some top-notch outfield prospects, and one such prospect seems tailor-made to play in the Queen City.

Could the Reds and Brewers work out a trade for Joey Wiemer?

Of course, outfield prospects like Jackson Churio and Sal Frelick are likely untouchable. But Ohio native and former University of Cincinnati Bearcat Joey Wiemer might fit perfectly in right field for the Redlegs.

Wiemer was a fourth-round draft pick of the Milwaukee Brewers in 2020 and has posted an OPS of .872 in two minor league seasons. The right-handed slugger also has a cannon for an arm. Though he has the speed to play up the middle, right field is where he belongs. Wiemer made it all the way to Triple-A Nashville last season and is on the cusp of making it to the big leagues.

What the Brewers would want in return in anyone's guess, but the Reds have a fair amount of both young infield and pitching prospects. With Milwaukee looking to compete for the division crown this season, perhaps some of the Reds major league talent would be more appealing.

While trading within one's division can always be a bit intimidating, perhaps the Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers could make an exception and work out a trade that's mutually beneficial.