MLB Trade Rumors: Brewers Interested in Sonny Gray, Jose Quintana

With their lead in the NL Central at 4.5 games, the Milwaukee Brewers are reportedly looking into possibly acquiring starting pitchers Sonny Gray or Jose Quintana.

MLB Network's Jon Morosi added the Brewers are also doing "background work" on other starters and intend to be buyers at the trade deadline.

While the Brew Crew rank second in home runs and seventh in runs scored, its pitching is middling. The Brewers' 4.10 ERA ranks a solid eighth overall, but they are in the middle of the pack in batting average allowed and strikeouts.

With top starter Chase Anderson on the disabled list with an oblique strain, Milwaukee could use some support. Both Gray and Quintana are former All-Stars, though they have struggled in 2017.

Gray is 4-4 with a 4.00 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 74 strikeouts in 78.2 innings, while Quintana is 4-8 with a 4.45 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 99 strikeouts in 99 innings.

The 27-year-old Gray finished third in American League Cy Young voting in 2015, but he's been limited by injuries since. Quintana, 28, enjoyed the best season of his career in 2016 with a 3.20 ERA en route to finishing 10th in the Cy Young voting.

One can only assume the Cubs' pure talent will tighten the NL Central race at some point, but acquiring a high-level arm may give the Brewers their best chance at holding off the defending World Series champions.