Milwaukee Brewers Trade Deadline Transactions

The 4 pm deadline has come and gone for Major League Baseball, and the Milwaukee Brewers have solidified themselves as having the best trade deadline moves as well as the best farm system. For the Cream City Crushers, though, the moves began well before the trade deadline clock started.

July 7 – Acquired RHP Aaron Wilkerson and 2B Wendell Rijo from the Boston Red Sox in exchange Aaron Hill and cash.

In Wilkerson, the Milwaukee Brewers get a 27-year old pitcher who set a NAIA record for consecutive scoreless innings (54) back in 2011. He has a sub 3 ERA in the minors and is a fringe prospect whom the brilliant minds over at FanGraphs think is a pitcher under the radar to watch (they said the same thing about Junior Guerra when a lot of people were skeptical).

In Rijo, he is now the Milwaukee Brewers 20th ranked prospect, but has struggled at the AA level posting a slash line of 186/245/266 at AA. Since coming to the Milwaukee Brewers he has been playing for Brevard County, and at 20 there is still plenty of time for him to pan out.

Next: Milwaukee Brewers get PTBNL or Cash

July 10 – The Milwaukee Brewers receive cash or PTBNL from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for RHP Jayce Chapman. 

The 29 RHP has spent ten years in the minors and hasn’t had any noteworthy performances to his name.

Next: Milwaukee Brewers Demote Struggling Reliever

July 11 – Milwaukee Brewer’s option Michael Blazek to AAA Colorado Springs.

Blazek had been struggling relief with the Milwaukee Brewers and as a result, he was optioned to Colorado Springs.

At the time skipper Craig Counsell had this to say:

“We’ve got to get Mike on track,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. “It’s been a little bit of a struggle for him lately. We’ll try to get him on the mound for some multiple innings. I think he really benefits from [that]. I think he’s able to fix himself when he’s out there with more pitches in his outings.”

Next: Milwaukee Brewers Claim Pitcher Off of Waivers

July 15 – The Milwaukee Brewers optioned reliever Corey Knebel to AAA Colorado Spring Sox. 

After Blazek was optioned the Brewers called up Knebel

Only to send him back to Colorado Springs a day later.

Next: Milwaukee Brewers Recall Davies

July 16 – The Milwaukee Brewers brought back Zach Davies from AAA to the clubhouse.

Despite being sent down to the AAA level Davies has made the most of his big league starts. He’s posted multiple quality starts including  6.1 quality innings, allowing two earned runs, six hits and one walk while striking out five against the Dbacks.

August 1 – July 31st looked like Jonathan Lucroy was packing his bags and heading to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but he vetoed the trade and the first trade deadline move from the Milwaukee Brewers saw Will Smith head to the Bay in exchange for RHP Phil Bickford and C Andrew Susac from the Giants.

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• Brewers: Where Does Devin Williams Stand In NL Reliever Of The Year Race?

In 93IP Bickford has 105Ks credited to his name and is working on a sub 3.00 ERA, while be ranked a top 50 prospect by Baseball America. Make a strong Milwaukee Brewers farm system even stronger. Susac on the other hand hasn’t had anything of importance credited to his minor leagues career. Susac is merely a depth option after the Milwaukee Brewers traded away Jonathan Lucroy.

Next: Lucroy and Jeffress Shipped Away To Text

August 1 – The Milwaukee Brewers acquire OF Lewis Brinson, RHP Luis Ortiz, and a PTBNL in exchange for Jonathan Lucroy and Jeremy Jeffress.

Brinson and Ortiz were the #2 and #3 prospects in the Rangers system. With the move, the Milwaukee Brewers solidified that they had the best moves on deadline day. The final move of deadline day: