Crochet instantly became the team’s ace, and Craig Breslow mentioned earlier this month that any addition to the rotation would be a player who can pitch in the top half of the rotation. The Milwaukee Brewers are a team that operates on a tight budget and has a history of trading pitchers a year before they hit the open market. They did so with Corbin Burnes, Josh Hader and Devin Williams.

Freddy Peralta’s $8 million club option was picked up for next season, but after that, he will be a free agent. If the Brewers already know they cannot afford to keep him, they would be wise to trade him. Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller called the Red Sox the top landing spot for Peralta and proposed this trade to land him in Boston:

• Brewers receive: OF Wilyer Abreu, RHP Hunter Dobbins and LHP Hayden Mullins
• Red Sox receive: RHP Freddy Peralta

“It’s probably a bit of an overpay by the Red Sox, but it’s one they could be willing to make as a team that is one top-half-of-the-rotation arm away from possibly becoming the American League team to beat,” wrote Miller. “And if they can get that arm at a dollar cost of just $8 million instead of spending upwards of $200 million on Framber Valdez or Dylan Cease in free agency, that’s a ‘savings’ they can instead invest in either Alex Bregman or Munetaka Murakami at third base — to become even more of a potential wrecking ball in 2026.”

Abreu is part of the Red Sox outfield logjam. On the Brewers, he would once again be part of a crowded group. Abreu is a Gold Glover and the Brewers value defense higher than most teams, so he could push Isaac Collins out of a role. It will be tough to find a better package than this one for the Brewers, considering Peralta is just one year away from free agency and Abreu has multiple years of control.

The Brewers also develop pitching well, so Dobbins and Mullins could become important pieces for them. Adding Abreu to an outfield with Sal Frelick and Jackson Chourio would improve an already great defensive outfield, but also give the Brewers an offensive upgrade they desperately needed.

With Brandon Woodruff accepting his qualifying offer, the Brewers have one less reason to hold on to Peralta. He is no longer the only proven pitcher on their staff. Peralta is a two-time All-Star and would instantly slot in as the Red Sox’s No. 2 starter.