What a trade! Yelich is entering his age-26 season and the Brewers will have five seasons of control. You can't get that very often, so yes, the prospect haul had to sting a bit to get a player of this caliber. Brinson: 20-20 potential, maybe a question on durability (122 games was his high in the minors), good defender Diaz: Hit-first shortstop-second baseman who reportedly had some maturity issues this season Harrison: Had a breakthrough year in 2017, but is he just the next Glenn Braggs? Or better? Or worse? Yamamoto: Clearly blossomed with a superb 2017 Which one of these players hurts the most to lose? I would say Brinson at the moment, but Harrison is not too far behind. The Crew still has outfield depth in the minors. Don't forget about Corey Ray (yes, he struggled in his first full season in the minors after maybe being pushed a bit), with Tristen Lutz and Trent Clark-Grisham still coming. The Yelich trade erases any urgency for these guys. I have wondered if Braun would ever go play first. This would be the time, even if Santana was traded. Thames would platoon with Braun, giving Braun he requisite day off each week and being a top bat off the bench. Yelich will be solid but not spectacular in center. He has good range, but probably won't be pulling them back like Gomez and Broxton have. Yelich, Cain, Phillips and Broxton are all versatile enough to play any outfield spot (maybe not right field for Cain). The defense would be much improved. Santana had his issues and Braun had some lapses, but I don't see that happening with these four out there. If Santana stays? Even more of a reason for Braun to go to first and the offense is dynamic.
What a trade! Yelich is entering his age-26 season and the Brewers will have five seasons of control. You can't get that very often, so yes, the prospect haul had to sting a bit to get a player of this caliber. Brinson: 20-20 potential, maybe a question on durability (122 games was his high in the minors), good defender Diaz: Hit-first shortstop-second baseman who reportedly had some maturity issues this season Harrison: Had a breakthrough year in 2017, but is he just the next Glenn Braggs? Or better? Or worse? Yamamoto: Clearly blossomed with a superb 2017 Which one of these players hurts the most to lose? I would say Brinson at the moment, but Harrison is not too far behind. The Crew still has outfield depth in the minors. Don't forget about Corey Ray (yes, he struggled in his first full season in the minors after maybe being pushed a bit), with Tristen Lutz and Trent Clark-Grisham still coming. The Yelich trade erases any urgency for these guys. I have wondered if Braun would ever go play first. This would be the time, even if Santana was traded. Thames would platoon with Braun, giving Braun he requisite day off each week and being a top bat off the bench. Yelich will be solid but not spectacular in center. He has good range, but probably won't be pulling them back like Gomez and Broxton have. Yelich, Cain, Phillips and Broxton are all versatile enough to play any outfield spot (maybe not right field for Cain). The defense would be much improved. Santana had his issues and Braun had some lapses, but I don't see that happening with these four out there. If Santana stays? Even more of a reason for Braun to go to first and the offense is dynamic.