The Major League Baseball hot stove is suffering from its own polar vortex as it’s been ice cold with news. Today, we received a carrot from The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal who mentioned that the Milwaukee Brewers and Texas Rangers both have their eyes on Kansas City outfielder Lorenzo Cain. As many know, Cain began his career in Milwaukee before being dealt for Zack Greinke. Milwaukee is completely loaded at outfielder and adding another one may not be a need to the outside eye yet if you look further, this move could set up the next one.

Cain would be the centerfielder for the Brewers as he still plays a majority of his time there with a sprinkling of right field. The contract that he might ask for could be heavy as Spotrac rates his market value at four years and 68 million dollars. Not sure if I want to play a guy 14 million a year at 36 years old even if he’s shown decent durability. He would be an immediate upgrade to the Brewers top of the order giving them a very solid two hitter in their lineup. Where the doubts may lie is the early 30’s centerfielder does not have a good track record of being a good deal with busts like Jacoby Ellsbury, Carl Crawford, Melvin ‘Don’t Call Me B.J.’ Upton, so, you worry that Cain may follow suit.

Why would Brewers general manager David Stearns complicate his outfield even more? Because he would be making a deal for a frontline pitcher like Chris Archer or Marcus Stroman. The team could dangle a player like Lewis Brinson or Domingo Santana to a team in order for them to bite and give the team the ace pitcher they are lacking right now. It’s a savvy move by Milwaukee because they can avoid signing someone like Jake Arrieta to this huge deal where age is also an issue. Another place the Brewers could look is Miami with J.T. Realmuto. If the Brewers added a power hitting emerging catcher to this lineup, look out. They would still need pitching but holy hell, this offense would be dangerous.

We’ll see if anything comes of the interest for the former Brewer. I’m not huge on retreads, but Cain was a great dude for this Brewers team years ago. He would definitely be welcomed back with open arms.

Charlie.