Minor league RHP Cy Sneed to Astros for SS Jonathan Villar

[And That]

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/11/brewers-acquire-jonathan-villar-astros.html

 

Villar was blocked by Correa and Altuve up the middle at the big league level, though he was not able to unseat Luis Valbuena and/or Marwin Gonzalez and/or Jed Lowrie at the hot corner. He is a 40-man addition, which bumps the 40-man roster back up to 35.

 

Sneed was a 3rd round pick back in 2014 and had progressed to advanced-A Brevard County. He was ranked #24 on the end of season Brewerfan top 25 prospect list.

 

Villar has no options remaining.

[billymac]

Guess we really want to load up on middle infielders....

[patrickgpe]

#1 i think this means that Segura is gone.

#2, i don't like giving up Sneed. I know he doesn't have a high ceiling, but pitched very well for the T-Rats.

[miggs721]

Figured Stearns would make a move for at least one Astro once he was hired!

[Hammer]

I'm sure glad that Stearns is working on that SS shortage that is currently plaguing the Brewers... /sarcasm

[miggs721]

just a precursor to a wide flurry of moves during the Hot Stove season!

[And That]

I don't know that this has anything to do with Segura. We have a hole at third.

[Matt Breen]

Switch hitter. Perhaps looking at 2B?

 

Villar hasn't graded out very well at SS thus far, but the size sample is limited.

 

Based on his major and minor league numbers, it doesn't look like he fits at 3B.

 

Unlike Hernan and Scooter, he can probably handle all the IF positions - making him an ideal back up.

 

Sad to see Cy leave.

[AJOHNSON104]

First trade with Houston for the new GM. Wondered if there would be a few players he went after. He doesn't appear to have much power, although his SLG% has increased as he went along. He takes a few walks, but nothing exciting. My guess is short term SS and utility guy after they go to Arcia. Maybe they'll try him at 3rd, but he's doesn't appear to be the type of guy that would automatically be penciled in.

[BrewBalls]

Looks like he is a good defender with some gap power who could develop even more over time. Not sure if Stearns is looking at SS or 3B with this move but the potential is there and we did not give up much to acquire him so i'm happy. Here is a good scouting report on him: http://www.minorleagueball.com/2013/7/23/4543826/prospect-of-the-day-jonathan-villar-ss-houston-astros

[billymac]

He certainly is not afraid of contact

 

http://giphy.com/gifs/foxsports-mlb-baseball-2P9D8WIcNhraw

[And That]

Villar was optioned in 2013, 2014, and 2015 so he's out of options.

[Matt Breen]

Looks like he is a good defender with some gap power who could develop even more over time. Not sure if Stearns is looking at SS or 3B with this move but the potential is there and we did not give up much to acquire him so i'm happy. Here is a good scouting report on him: http://www.minorleagueball.com/2013/7/23/4543826/prospect-of-the-day-jonathan-villar-ss-houston-astros

Says he has a cannon for an arm, but (at least back then) made a lot of errors.

 

He's had 43 errors in 184 ML games - most of them (162) at SS.

[BrewBalls]

So did Alcides Escobar when he was first promoted. Not saying Villar projects the same but maybe they are similar in their ability to adjust defensively when being promoted.

[Boomer5]

What an odd trade. With Arcia coming up who projects as Blue Chip, and Segura still here (for the moment) plus Sardinas, etc, I cant imagine trading a legit arm for another meh SS in reserve?

 

I am assuming more trades are to come but Sneed isn't a guy I look to trade away unless he is part of bigger package.

[Cooper]

Ouch.

 

Jose de Jesus Ortiz ‏@OrtizKicks 15m15 minutes ago

The #Astros gave Jonathan Villar every chance to succeed. He is very versatile, but his teammates will tell you he is a knucklehead.

 

Jose de Jesus Ortiz ‏@OrtizKicks 18m18 minutes ago

Don't know much about Cy Sneed, but I think we can all agree the #Astros won any trade by dumping Villar.

[Boomer5]

Ouch.

 

Jose de Jesus Ortiz ‏@OrtizKicks 15m15 minutes ago

The #Astros gave Jonathan Villar every chance to succeed. He is very versatile, but his teammates will tell you he is a knucklehead.

 

Jose de Jesus Ortiz ‏@OrtizKicks 18m18 minutes ago

Don't know much about Cy Sneed, but I think we can all agree the #Astros won any trade by dumping Villar.

 

Its way early, but the new guy at GM is really underwhelming so far.......

[MadScientist]

I'm betting they give Villar first crack at the starting 3B job. That would fill a big hole for the Brewers for several years. I know his numbers there aren't great, but if he knows that is where the opportunity is and starts working on it now, I think he'll be fine.

[pacopete4]

Ouch.

 

Jose de Jesus Ortiz ‏@OrtizKicks 15m15 minutes ago

The #Astros gave Jonathan Villar every chance to succeed. He is very versatile, but his teammates will tell you he is a knucklehead.

 

Jose de Jesus Ortiz ‏@OrtizKicks 18m18 minutes ago

Don't know much about Cy Sneed, but I think we can all agree the #Astros won any trade by dumping Villar.

 

 

Can't imagine the tweets/quotes about a guy by the name of Carlos Gomez before we got him, turned him into a all-star and then flipped him for some very good prospects.

 

Love this deal. Time to move on from Segura!

[3and2Fastball]

a switch hitter who is under team control through 2020, can play SS/3B/2B and hit .291/.361 vs RHP at the MLB level last season and you guys are complaining? Wow

[bill hAll Star]

What an odd trade. With Arcia coming up who projects as Blue Chip, and Segura still here (for the moment) plus Sardinas, etc, I cant imagine trading a legit arm for another meh SS in reserve?

 

I am assuming more trades are to come but Sneed isn't a guy I look to trade away unless he is part of bigger package.

 

Arcia is going to be a stud but Villar looks like Tulowitzki next to Rivera and Sardinas in terms of bat. Not a bad buy low guy that is still very young. Maybe he flames out and is just a utility guy, maybe he carves out a 3B, SS (short term), or 2B role. A switch-hitting guy with positional flexibility could be useful in a trade down the road as well.

[3and2Fastball]

He'll only be 25 years old next year. Tremendously versatile. He could platoon with Scooter at 2B. He can play SS vs the best RHP's if you want to give Segura a break, he can play 3B. This is one heckuva trade

[Outlander]

Ouch.

 

Jose de Jesus Ortiz ‏@OrtizKicks 15m15 minutes ago

The #Astros gave Jonathan Villar every chance to succeed. He is very versatile, but his teammates will tell you he is a knucklehead.

 

Jose de Jesus Ortiz ‏@OrtizKicks 18m18 minutes ago

Don't know much about Cy Sneed, but I think we can all agree the #Astros won any trade by dumping Villar.

 

Its way early, but the new guy at GM is really underwhelming so far.......

I trust the guy who worked in the front office of the Astros much more than the Astros sports writer.

[BrewBalls]

Here are projections for 2016 via Baseball Reference:

Villar - .251/.313/.388

Segura - .267/.304/.370

 

Not much difference except for the fact Villar is a switch hitter and bigger (5'10", 205 vs. 6'1", 215)

[And That]

Its way early, but the new guy at GM is really underwhelming so far.......

I would argue irrationally early to make any concrete judgments involving performance. I mean, he got rid of Reid Nichols... that alone might make a successful offseason.