Brewers: Grading GM Matt Arnold's First Year On The Job

In-Season Moves/Trade Deadline: A-

Matt Arnold has been excellent at supplementing this team over the course of the season. He brought in a couple of optionable bullpen arms early on, bringing in Bennett Sousa and J.B. Bukauskas off waivers. Then he acquired Trevor Megill from the Twins, who's been solid for the Crew.

Arnold seized an opportunity to add Darin Ruf back in May when Luke Voit was struggling and then hurt, and the Brewers were struggling to hit lefties. Ruf was a big help on that front before he cut up his knee running into a tarp.

In late May, Arnold signed Julio Teheran when his starting rotation was in dire straits due to injuries. Teheran came in and stabilized that group along with Colin Rea. He was excellent, especially in his first few starts. Teheran regressed after that, but by then the rotation was getting healthy and he helped get this team through a tough stretch that could've sunk them. The quick action of Arnold to bring in Teheran was huge.

There were some other position player additions that helped. Jahmai Jones was brought in and made an impact on day one. He didn't do much else after day one but his game-winning three run double was a key part of this season. Raimel Tapia had some moments but overall underwhelmed and was just a placeholder until Sal Frelick was ready.

Now, on to the Trade Deadline. Things started with the addition of Carlos Santana from the Pirates. Santana's been a great piece, slugging nine homers, providing excellent leadership and defense, and providing an upgrade at a first base position that was in desperate need of it. All Arnold gave up was minor league prospect Jhonny Severino, who wasn't even among Milwaukee's top 30 prospects.

Arnold followed that up with a trade for Mets outfielder Mark Canha. Canha's been the best addition of the Deadline, quickly posting a 1.2 WAR, the best of any bat acquired in July with his new team. Arnold gave up Justin Jarvis, a solid pitching prospect that was a late bloomer and his value was peaking. Canha was supposed to solidify right field, a black hole offensively for Milwaukee, but he's done more than that and has been an excellent all around addition.

The injury to Justin Wilson necessitated a trade for another reliever, specifically a lefty. Matt Arnold went out and got Andrew Chafin from Arizona in exchange for Peter Strzelecki. Strzelecki was solid early for Milwaukee but began to struggle before being traded. He's only appeared in one game for Arizona since the deal. Chafin has struggled to a 7.82 ERA in a Brewers uniform. This trade has been a bust.

Arnold followed up the deadline with signing Josh Donaldson at the end of August, bringing in a power bat with experience to help at third base and Donaldson has been as advertised. The cratering of the Chafin trade brings this grade from an A to an A-minus, but only barely.