Milwaukee Brewers

As the MLB trade deadline approaches, teams around the league are reportedly checking in on the availability of one of the best relievers in the majors.

According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Milwaukee Brewers are receiving calls from teams interested in trading for closer Josh Hader. Heyman added that there's "no indication" Hader is actually available, but the Brewers "seem willing to listen" to offers.

Hader leads MLB with 29 saves entering Sunday. He got off to an incredible start to the 2022 season in which he didn't allow an earned run in the first two months, putting together a run of 40 straight scoreless appearances dating back to last year. However, he hasn't been his usual dominant self in his most recent outings.

In the month of July, Hader has an ERA of 12.54. He gave up three homers and six runs in a blown save against the San Francisco Giants on July 15. His season ERA has ballooned to 4.24 to go with a 1-4 record and 59 strikeouts in 34 innings.

A three-time NL Reliever of the Year, Hader has been a star out of the bullpen since his major league debut in 2017. The 28-year-old has a career ERA of 2.48 with 541 strikeouts in 316.1 innings.

Milwaukee is in first place in the NL Central with a 57-44 record, four games ahead of the St. Louis Cardinals. The Brewers are seeking their fifth consecutive win in Sunday's series finale against the Boston Red Sox. It would be a massive surprise to see the team part with its four-time All-Star closer in the midst of a pennant race.

The New York Yankees are trying to move on from outfielder Joey Gallo and have reportedly received interest from the Milwaukee Brewers, San Diego Padres and Tampa Bay Rays, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today (h/t Mark Polishuk of MLBTradeRumors).

Gallo is hitting just .159 with a .282 on-base percentage and 12 home runs in 82 games this season with the Yankees.

The 28-year-old joined New York in a July trade from the Texas Rangers last season but now appears to be on his way out before becoming a free agent this offseason.

Gallo did hit 13 home runs in just 58 games last year with the Yankees, but his .160 batting average left a lot to be desired. Even he acknowledged his shortcomings after continued struggles in 2022.

"I feel bad," Gallo told Lindsey Adler of The Athletic. "It's something I'm gonna have to really live with for the rest of my life. It's going to be tough. I didn't play well, I didn't live up to expectations. And that's a tough pill to swallow."

New York acquired outfielder Andrew Benintendi to effectively replace Gallo's spot in the lineup.

Despite his struggles with the Yankees, the slugger clearly has some value around the league. He had two All-Star selections and two Gold Glove Awards with the Rangers and is averaging 39 home runs per 162 games over his career. He hit at least 40 home runs in consecutive seasons in 2017-18.

The Rays and Padres–currently ranked 22nd and 25th, respectively, in the majors in total home runs this season–could especially use this production.

The Brewers do have quality power hitters in Rowdy Tellez, Willy Adames and others, but they could use more outfield depth with the aging Christian Yelich and Andrew McCutchen rotating at designated hitter.

Gallo could represent a high-upside, buy-low option for any of these playoff contenders.

The Milwaukee Brewers plan to honor an 8-year-old boy who was paralyzed from the waist down in the July 4 Highland Park, Illinois, shooting during Friday's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Miller Park.

The Brewers will hang a No. 22 Cooper Roberts jersey in their dugout Friday to honor the boy, according to ESPN's Jesse Rogers. In addition, the club is giving Cooper and his twin brother, Luke, each a team-signed City Connect jersey, and Christian Yelich recorded a video to be shared with his family.

Cooper, his brother and his mother were all shot Monday during a July 4 parade in Highland Park, Illinois. Seven people were killed and at least 38 injured when alleged shooter Robert Crimo III opened fire from a rooftop before fleeing to Wisconsin.

Crimo has since been arrested and charged with seven counts of first-degree murder. He is expected to receive more charges in the coming days, including attempted murder, aggravated battery, and aggravated discharge.

"These are just the first of many charges being filed against Mr. Crimo," Lake County State's Attorney Eric Rinehart said Tuesday. "I want to emphasize that: there will be more charges. We anticipate dozens of more charges centering around each of the victims."

In addition to the Brewers, the Chicago White Sox and Minnesota Twins held a moment of silence to honor the victims on Monday and Tuesday.

The Brewers, who are first in the NL Central with a 47-37 record, are hosting the Pirates for a three-game series at Miller Park before traveling to face the Twins.

Milwaukee Brewers closer Josh Hader can make MLB history the next time he steps on the mound.

The southpaw pitched a scoreless inning in Sunday's 6-4 extra-innings loss to the San Diego Padres. He has now gone 19 appearances in 2022 without allowing a run, and his streak of 40 appearances dating back to last year is tied for the longest ever. Houston Astros reliever Ryan Pressly set the original mark.

Hader is well on his way to a fourth All-Star appearance in five years. Following Sunday's outing, he has 18 saves and 28 strikeouts in 17.2 innings of work. His 1.1 WAR was also tied for third-most among relievers entering the day, per FanGraphs.

Alas, Hader's efforts weren't enough to help propel Milwaukee to victory. He maintained a 3-3 in the ninth, but Jake Cronenworth's three-run home run in the 10th off Trevor Gott was the game's decisive moment.

Milwaukee Brewers star Christian Yelich has added to the misery of the 2022 Cincinnati Reds by hitting for the cycle against them. 

The 2018 National League MVP tripled in the top of the ninth inning in Milwaukee's 14-11 loss Wednesday to complete the feat.

Per MLB.com's Adam McCalvy, all three of Yelich's career cycles have come against the Reds. 

Yelich finished the game 4-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored. He doubled in the first inning, hit a three-run homer in the third inning and singled in the fifth inning. His lone out was on a fly ball to center in the seventh. 

Both of Yelich's previous two cycles against the Reds came during his MVP season in 2018. In the second game he hit for the cycle, he went 6-for-6 in six at-bats. He is one of just nine players in MLB history to record six hits and a cycle in the same game. 

Despite Yelich's best efforts Wednesday, the Brewers were unable to come away with a win against Cincinnati. 

The Reds scored six runs in the bottom of the eighth to take a 14-5 lead. Milwaukee responded with six runs of its own and had the tying run in the on-deck circle, but Jace Peterson grounded out to end the game.

Cincinnati took two of three games against its NL Central rival. This marks the second consecutive series win for the Reds, who went 0-7-1 in their first eight series of the season. 

The Brewers swept the Reds at American Family Field in the first series of the season between the two teams from May 3-5. They are in first place in the NL Central despite this week's struggles against Cincinnati. 

Yelich is still trying to find the power he had at his peak when he finished in the top two in NL MVP voting in 2018 and 2019. The two-time All-Star boosted his slash line to .259/.356/.482 after his four-hit game Wednesday.     

Former Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Andrew McCutchen has agreed to a contract to join the Milwaukee Brewers, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan.

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported earlier on Monday that McCutchen was "in talks" with Milwaukee.

Here's a look at the Brewers' starting lineup with McCutchen added to the mix:

C: Omar Narvaez

1B: Rowdy Tellez

2B: Kolten Wong

3B: Luis Urias

SS: Willy Adames

LF: Andrew McCutchen

CF: Lorenzo Cain

RF: Hunter Renfroe

DH: Christian Yelich

The Brewers already have a strong crop of outfielders, so McCutchen will likely be a plug-and-play option in the outfield. He can relieve Christian Yelich in left field and allow the slugger to do what does best. McCutchen can also fill in for Lorenzo Cain in center field, where he won a Gold Glove in 2012.

It's also likely that McCutchen will see substantial time at designated hitter as well after the implementation of the universal DH rule.

Philadelphia had declined its club option on McCutchen earlier this offseason prior to the MLB lockout that lasted 99 days.

McCutchen originally joined the Phillies on a three-year, $50 million contract after the 2018 season. He hit .237 with 47 homers and 143 RBI in three seasons in Philadelphia.

McCutchen previously played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, San Francisco Giants and New York Yankees.

The Pirates drafted McCutchen 11th overall in the 2005 MLB draft. He made his major league debut in 2009 and quickly established himself as Pittsburgh's best player. McCutchen was named to five consecutive All-Star Games from 2011 to 2015.

McCutchen put together one of the best seasons of his career in 2013 to be named National League MVP. He batted .317 with 185 hits, 38 doubles, 21 home runs, 84 RBI and 27 stolen bases. McCutchen was instrumental in leading Pittsburgh to its first postseason appearance since 1992. McCutchen was the first Pirates player to be named MVP since Barry Bonds in 1992.

Pittsburgh traded McCutchen to San Francisco prior to the 2018 season. Midway through that year, he was traded to the Yankees.

McCutchen joining the Brewers provides them with a veteran presence and outfield depth. McCutchen still has a potent bat, recording 27 home runs and 80 RBI in 144 games last season.

The addition of McCutchen should bolster Milwaukee's chances to make another run to the postseason after four straight playoff appearances. The Brewers fell to the eventual champion Atlanta Braves in the NLDS last year.

The Milwaukee Brewers reportedly agreed to a contract with five-time All-Star Andrew McCutchen as Major League Baseball's condensed offseason continues, per ESPN's Jeff Passan.

This comes after Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported the National League Central team is "in talks" with the free-agent outfielder. While McCutchen played for the Philadelphia Phillies the last three years, he is familiar with the division from his nine seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

McCutchen's impressive resume includes the 2013 National League MVP award, a Gold Glove, four Silver Slugger awards and the five All-Star nods.

He has been in the league since 2009 and was one of the best players in baseball during his prime. In fact, he finished in the top five of NL MVP voting in four straight seasons from 2012 through 2015 when he was the face of the Pirates.

The 35-year-old won't consistently hit .300 while threatening for 30 home runs and playing Gold Glove defense anymore, but he can still be a productive veteran leader for a Brewers club in win-now mode.

McCutchen slashed .222/.334/.444 with 27 home runs and 80 RBI in 144 games for the Phillies last season. The 27 long balls represented his highest mark since he was on the Pirates in 2017 and underscored his ability to still impact a game with his power.

Milwaukee is looking to make the playoffs for the fifth straight season and figures to rely on its strong pitching. Yet it likely needs more offense to go from a playoff team to a World Series winner for the first time in franchise history, and McCutchen can be a piece of that puzzle.

If Christian Yelich returns to form after a disappointing pair of seasons, the Brewers will have two former MVPs in the lineup at the same time who can form a decent one-two punch when they are playing at their best.