SAN FRANCISCO -- Brewers general manager David Stearns landed the late-inning reliever he wanted on Thursday with a trade for White Sox closer Joakim Soria. On Friday, he got an impact bat by trading for Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas.
Is a starting pitcher next?
"We're still out there in conversations in a number of different areas," Stearns said after sealing the trade for Moustakas. "I still think there is an opportunity to make another move or two here. I don't know if we will get anything done, but we are still active and we've got a couple of days until the deadline."
That will come as good news to Brewers left-hander Wade Miley, who likes trade rumors. He particularly liked this trade rumor earlier in the day.
Before the Moustakas news spread in the clubhouse, MLB Network insider Ken Rosenthal reported that the Brewers were in "serious discussions" with the Orioles as Tuesday's non-waiver Trade Deadline nears. The teams had extensive talks before Baltimore dealt Manny Machado to the Dodgers, but now, in the wake of the Moustakas deal, Baltimore might have a pitcher of interest to Milwaukee.
One name that has come up in recent weeks: Right-hander Kevin Gausman.

The Brewers have been interested in Gausman for some time, believing his talent exceeds his basic stat line. The 27-year-old-old has a 4.54 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP in 117 innings this season. Adding to the draw: Gausman has two years of club control beyond 2018. That is important to a team like the Brewers, who lack the resources of other teams to fill holes via free agency.
Last winter, for example, Stearns was willing to part with four premium prospects for outfielder Christian Yelich because Yelich had five years of control left.
Miley, a former Orioles teammate of Gausman, offered rave reviews of the right-hander, who lives near Miley in Louisiana during the offseason and has become a good friend.
"No. 1 [stuff]," Miley said. "I think he could be a true No. 1 somewhere. I'm not trying to be negative about Baltimore at all, but that's a tough place to pitch. Tough league. You have to face the Yankees and the Red Sox in [Oriole Park at Camden Yards]. … I think you bring him over to the National League, I think he would have a really good chance to be very, very successful. And he's very athletic, too. I think he could handle the bat. It would be hard to get him away from Baltimore, but I know he would love to go somewhere he could win."
According to reports, the Brewers' offer for Machado included two top prospects: right-hander Luis Ortiz and outfielder Brett Phillips (who went to the Royals with Jorge Lopez in the Moustakas trade). The Brewers were unwilling to part with either of their top pitching prospects, Corbin Burnes and Freddy Peralta, both of whom are currently in the Major Leagues, for Machado, who is a free agent at season's end.