Milwaukee Brewers: Yadiel Rivera Makes Segura Expendable

Jean Segura is becoming expendable and it has little to do with superstar shortstop prospect, Orlando Arcia. Yadiel Rivera is coming off his best professional season of his career and with extra work being put in during the Arizona Fall League, he is becoming a very realistic option in the Milwaukee Brewers middle infield puzzle. Segura has been one of my favorites since he was acquired from the Los Angles Angels, but here is a look at why Rivera is making him very tradeable.

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While he has mainly been known for his defense, which is regarded as good if not better than Arcia’s and MLB.com says could play right now at the major league level, Rivera is developing into a better hitter at the plate as well. Through out the first half of the season in Biloxi he was a league leader in many offensive categories which led to a AAA call-up. While his numbers by season’s end did drop a bit, (he finished the year batting a combined .253 at both levels) he has started to prove that he is more than just a glove.

Rivera doesn’t walk much, but with surprising power, he has shown ability to drive the ball for extra-base hits. His future in the lineup looks to be a seven or eight hitter who can use his speed to put pressure on the defense.

Though there has only been one week so far in the Arizona Fall League, Rivera has continued to open eyes with the Surprise Saguaros. In his first two games, he has two steals, five hits including a double and a triple and even scored the game winning run in the Saguaros first win.

With players like Rivera in the system along with Arcia and Luis Sardinas, the Brewers have a boatload of talent in the infield meaning some are more than likely going to be dealt. Though Segura has proven himself in Milwaukee, he has proven value that will make him a solid trade candidate this winter. There will be some growing pains, but adding Rivera’s glove will be an exciting thing to see in a defensive-minded Brewers’ infield. Shuckers’ announcer, Chris Harris raved about the middle infield in Biloxi all year long, and it is hard not to get excited about the possibility of a Rivera/Arcia double-play combo at Miller Park at some point in 2016.

Next: Davies' Final Grade