I THINK part of the process of fielding minor league rosters is letting the rosters breathe appropriately so as guys need to be advanced (or sent back) ... there is space to do so. This is the same reason why I think Carlos Rodriguez is going to cost very little for another team to acquire this spring. There is no room at present for any movement or flexibility in that AAA rotation.
Of the 5 guys listed for the AA rotation (Hardin, Wichrowski, DeBerry, Letson, Hunt) Hunt was maybe the least sticky? (that can be argued)
So the thought of the Brewers being able to get any kind of MLB value from Hunt (some right handed MLB mop up innings via trade) while also allowing the AA rotation to be slightly more malleable for guys to move up or down appropriately - seems like a reasonable move.
A good minor league system forces you to alleviate pressure. Just like the Brewers have a lot of + middle infield prospects that caused us to trade away to depth pieces at the big league level AS WELL as move Josh A to LF (alleviated pressure at the position within the organization) ... I have a hunch the same needs to be done amongst our starters top to bottom to a certain extent.
It's an amazing 'problem'.
Now we can argue whether it was a worthy trade or if Hunt was the right guy to move to do the above (and of course acknowledging injuries will happen so depth naturally thins as the season progresses), etc ... but it seems there was another layer to this move beyond just a person for person deal.
Just an observation.