Milwaukee Brewers: Catching Up On Recent Roster Moves

The Milwaukee Brewers have been active in terms of roster movement even after the July 31st Trade Deadline came to pass. There’s been a lot that’s happened lately.

Matt Albers/Jordan Lyles

The Brewers claimed Jordan Lyles off revocable waivers from the Padres the other day. What remained to be seen was what roster move would be made to clear room for Lyles on the 25 man roster.

Matt Albers has been placed on the 10 day Disabled List with a hamstring injury. Whether the injury is actually serious enough to put him on the DL or the Brewers just want to get him off the active roster and don’t want to DFA him isn’t clear. But either way, he’s no longer causing Craig Counsell a headache coming into games.

Lyles has pitched well this year and is still improving and young at 27 years old. He has a cheap club option for next season should GM David Stearns want to pick it up. But this move will fortify the bullpen by bringing in a fresh arm that can throw multiple innings.

Ariel Hernandez

Hernandez was designated for assignment by the Dodgers last week. The Brewers picked him up off those waivers on Tuesday. These were different waivers than the ones that brought Jordan Lyles to Milwaukee.

There was one remaining 40 man roster spot after the Lyles addition and it goes to Hernandez. His fastball works above 98 MPH, giving him very enticing velocity. But he also has a major control issue, giving up 22 walks in just over 24 innings last year with the Reds.

Hernandez was immediately optioned to Triple-A Colorado Springs after getting claimed. That isn’t exactly the best spot in the world for a guy with control issues, but that’s the hand that the Brewers have dealt him.

It’s an intriguing pickup, and one Derek Johnson and Rick Sweet are going to have another project put on their plate with the 26 year old Hernandez.

Jon Perrin Traded To Kansas City

Jon Perrin was an interesting prospect for the Milwaukee Brewers. A 27th round draft pick in 2015, the 25 year old Perrin was Rule 5 eligible this winter. If the Brewers didn’t add him to the 40 man roster, he would’ve likely been lost for nothing at the end of the Winter Meetings.

Instead, David Stearns called a familiar trading partner in Royals GM Dayton Moore and made a trade.

In return, the Brewers received Class A pitcher Sal Biasi, an 11th round pick of the Royals in 2017. Biasi had a strong season last year, but has struggled with the Lexington Legends this year. He has a 5.06 ERA this season, but showed a lot of promise last year.

Biasi is purely a bullpen arm at this point, and so was Perrin. But Perrin was closer to the big leagues and could help out that Royals pitching staff sooner rather than later. They have the 40 man spot for him, and the Brewers didn’t.

This way, the Milwaukee Brewers at least get something for Perrin and it’s another bullpen arm that’s a bit farther away from the big leagues, giving the Crew more time to make a decision.

GM David Stearns did say that August was going to be an active month for the Brewers. He likely still has a couple more moves that he can make before the month is up.