MIL / ATL Trade

[Milwaukee Brewers]

The Brewers and Braves would like to announce a trade!

Brewers trade:

• Michael Conforto, RF, NYM - 20/$7.8 21/$7.8 22/$7.8 23/UFA
• Charlie Morton, SP, TB - 20/$15.75 21/UFA
•     Brewers to retain 50% of the $15.75
  
• Freddy Tarnok, SP, ATL - $0.2 prospect
  
  

Braves trade:

• Randall Grichuk, CF, TOR - 20/$2.34 21/$2.34 22/$2.34 23/$3.51(TO) 24/UFA
• Caleb Smith, SP, MIA - 20/$1 TC3
• Eric Thames, 1B, WAS - 20/$7.5 21/UFA
• Jackson Kowar, SP, KC - $0.3 prospect
• Tre Fletcher, CF, STL - $0.2 prospect
• Dauri Lorenzo, SS, HOU - $0.2 prospect
• Wilderd Patino, CF, ARI - $0.2 prospect

We hadn't really planned on trading Conforto but had a couple guys after him and settled upon this deal.  I acknowledge Grichuk is a step down from Conforto but he's the everyday CF in an improving offense in Toronto.  It's not unreasonable to think he takes a step forward in his production output.  Morton wasn't going to be re-signed by us so we didn't want to just let him walk for nothing. 


As far as the pieced we got in return, Caleb Smith is a capable pitcher who just needs to stay healthy and could be a big piece of our rotation going forward.  Thames is not in our long-term plans but was just an add on to help with cap space.  Kowar looks both good and durable and should get plenty of opportunity in KC once them deem him ready.  Fletcher, Lorenzo and Patino are all young and have tons of upside.  We'll just have to wait a while to see what they become.

Overall, I downgrade my OF a bit but upgrade SP long-term and add several lottery tickets that could make this deal a steal down the line.  Time will tell.

Thanks to the Braves for the prolonged talks and eventual deal.

Best of luck. 

[Atlanta Braves]

This is more than I wanted to give up but with Grichuk playing CF everyday I was left with a hole in my lineup in RF for the future. Conforto will now fill that for years to come.

This will be the 2nd trade in a row I downgrade my SP. losing Smith and a guy I love in Kowar gives the Crew two nice controllable SP. hopefully Morton can help me down the stretch. I am not sure I can fit his EOS extension in my budget next year. The kids I am
Losing hurts an already depleted system but Tarnok could be an under the radar piece coming back as well.

As always, this was a fun deal between the Brew Crew and myself. Best of luck with The deal.

[Milwaukee Brewers]

docced