We’ve heard for years about how The Brewers Almost Drafted Mike Trout (he was taken one pick before them! So close!). Now we have a story that might join that one in Brewers what-if lore.
Apparently, the Brewers nearly traded for Mookie Betts, back before he was The Best Non-Trout Player in Baseball.
Admittedly, saying “nearly” might be a stretch, but Doug Melvin apparently did ask for him in a possible deal for Francisco Rodriguez in 2013. Adam McCalvy has the story:
Betts was only 20 years old at the time, a relatively unheralded prospect in the middle of a breakout 2013 season in Class A ball.