Brewers GM Melvin says they aren’t on trade market right now for 2nd baseman, starting pitcher

Brewers’ Melvin says no active trade talks ongoing

MILWAUKEE — Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said he’s not talking to any teams about trades, dispelling the notion that Milwaukee is looking for a second baseman or in the hunt for Padres starter Jake Peavy.

“We don’t have any trade discussions going on with anybody,” Melvin said Friday night before Milwaukee took on the Cincinnati Reds.

Melvin said he spoke to the agents of a few free agent infielders the day after second baseman Rickie Weeks injured his wrist, but hasn’t since.

Weeks is out for the season after he was hurt swinging a bat on May 17 in Milwaukee’s 8-2 win over St. Louis and later needed season-ending surgery on his left wrist.

The Brewers have slumped lately since Weeks, the Brewers’ leadoff hitter, left the lineup. The Brewers won three of the next four, but are 1-5 in their last six games and are averaging just two runs. In the six-game span, Milwaukee is hitting .204 with two homers and 45 strikeouts.

“There’s no doubt we’re going to miss Rickie over the course of the summer,” Melvin said. “(But) we’re not going to sit here and say that every week because there’s nothing you can do about it.”

Since spring training, Melvin also has repeatedly denied that the Brewers are pursuing Peavy.

Milwaukee has made one trade with San Diego this season, sending outfielder Tony Gwynn Jr. to the Padres for outfielder Jody Gerut on May 21. Both Brewers center fielder Mike Cameron and closer Trevor Hoffman also played in San Diego with Peavy.

The Brewers made a splash last July when they traded four prospects for CC Sabathia, who went 11-2 with a 1.65 ERA in 17 starts as Milwaukee reached the postseason for the first time in 26 years.

With the losses of Sabathia and Ben Sheets in free agency, Milwaukee’s starting rotation was thought to be a weakness. But the Brewers entered Friday night’s game tied for first in the National League with 27 quality starts and have a team ERA of 4.07, good for ninth best in the majors.