The Brewers and Guardians have lined up on a two-for-two swap that will see outfielder Blake Perkins and right-hander Craig Yoho sent to Cleveland. Milwaukee receives catcher Bo Naylor and right-hander Codi Heuer in return. Jon Heyman of the New York Post was the first to report the trade and the involvement of Naylor, Heuer, and Yoho, while FanSided’s Robert Murray reported Perkins’ inclusion. Both clubs have officially announced the trade, and the Brewers have optioned Naylor and Heuer to Triple-A.
The Guardians’ seemingly years-long search for outfield help is only somewhat addressed by the Perkins add, as Perkins is a defensive specialist who has hit only .223/.307/.330 over 874 career plate appearances (all with Milwaukee from 2023-26). The switch-hitter has a career .693 OPS against southpaws and a .600 OPS against right-handers, so Perkins brings some minor offensive utility to a Cleveland lineup full of left-handed and switch-hitters.
Perkins can play all over the outfield, but he’ll probably be utilized mostly in a timeshare with rookie center fielder Petey Halpin (barring any other trades between now and Monday’s deadline). The 29-year-old Perkins is a controllable asset for the Guards, as Perkins isn’t yet eligible for salary arbitration until the coming offseason.
Yoho isn’t arb-eligible until after the 2028 season, as the righty only made his MLB debut last year. After posting a 7.27 ERA over 8 2/3 innings in 2025, Yoho has improved to a 3.15 ERA, 23.1% strikeout rate, and a 10.3% walk rate over 20 innings out of Milwaukee’s pen this year. While his 3.94 SIERA is higher than his 3.15 ERA, the gap isn’t quite as large as expected for a pitcher with an astoundingly low .128 BABIP, so Yoho is getting by on more than just luck.
The 26-year-old Yoho was an eighth-round pick for the Brewers in the 2023 draft, and the career reliever has posted significantly higher strikeout and grounder rates in the minors than during his brief time in the majors. He can still be optioned to the minors twice more this season, so Cleveland has some flexibility in how Yoho can be used if the club doesn’t immediately see him as a full-time member of the bullpen.
More to come…
