WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 07: Ross Stripling #68 of the Los Angeles Dodgers delivers against the Washington Nationals in the sixth inning of game four of the National League Division Series at Nationals Park on October 07, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Could Drew Rasmussen factor into the Brewers bullpen in 2020? by Matthew Dewoskin

The Los Angeles Dodgers have acquired Mookie Betts and David Price. They may still need to cut salary to get their luxury tax situation under control. Should the Milwaukee Brewers see if they can work out a trade for starter Ross Stripling?

One deal for Ross Stripling and Joc Pederson has already fallen through for the Los Angeles Dodgers. It’s unclear exactly why the deal fell through, but Stripling and Pederson will stay with the Dodgers for now.

The Milwaukee Brewers still need starting pitching, and Stripling would look at lot better slotted behind Brandon Woodruff than in the the Dodgers bullpen. Could the two teams work out a deal?

How good is Stripling?

Stripling would be the second best starter on the Brewers if he were brought in.

He’s spent the last four years shuttling between the rotation and the bullpen, and he’s never posted an ERA over 4.00.

In 2019, Stripling made 15 starts and 17 relief appearances. He managed a 3.47 ERA in 90 2/3 innings. He also struck out 93, walked 20, and got tagged for 11 homers. He may never eclipse 200 innings in a season, but he could be extremely effective in the Brewers starting rotation.

How about Stripling’s contract?

He’s signed for the $2.1 million for the 2020 season, and offers two years of control beyond that.

Would the Brewers have to take on Pederson, too?

It’s unclear, but adding Pederson wouldn’t be especially expensive for the Brewers. He’s only slated to cost $7.75 million in 2020, and he will become an unrestricted free agent after the 2020 season.

What would the Brewers have to part with to make a trade?

The Dodgers were willing to send Stripling and Pederson to the Angels for Luis Rengifo. While Rengifo is an actual prospect, he’s not anywhere near the top-100. He’s the rated in the lower half of the Angels top-10 prospects. The Brewers could package a couple of their mediocre prospects and easily beat the package the Angels were offering.

Brewers GM David Stearns should be on the phone for Stripling this second. Stripling is a capable arm, inexpensive, and under team control. He even has the flexibility of working out of the bullpen, and Stearns loves flexibility.

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Even if it means having to shoehorn Pederson into the roster, the Brewers need to be at least kicking the tires on this. The team still needs to solve their starting rotation, and Stripling could really help for 2020 and beyond.