The Milwaukee Brewers are keeping the iron hot during the Winter Meetings, making their first major move by trading reliever Tyler Thornburg to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for corner infielder Travis Shaw, Double-A middle infielder Mauricio Dubon and Single-A pitcher Josh Pennington — plus a player to be named later or cash considerations.
The move comes as little surprise for either team, as Milwaukee accumulated a wealth of relief pitching over the last year and has more than enough options for step-up closing possibilities. The Red Sox, looking to make another playoff push in 2017, bolstered their midrange bullpen, adding necessary depth and more importantly, consistency and insurance.
Thornburg was gangbusters in 2016 after stepping in for the departed Jeremy Jeffress. His 2.15 earned run average and 0.940 walks plus hits per inning was the best amongst Brewers pitchers and ranked with some of the best relievers in the game after taking over. On the season, Thornburg tallied 90 strikeouts and only 25 walks in 67 innings and earned 13 saves.
Shaw will be a perfect addition for the Brewers, as he possesses the defensive versatility the team has been seeking and has the capacity to be a solid offensive producer. He arrived to the majors just last year and hit .270/.327/.487 with 13 home runs and 36 runs batted in, in only 65 games (248 PA). Although not on par with his excellent first showing, he still played well in 2016, hitting .242/.306/.421 with 16 home runs, 71 RBI and five stolen bases in his first full season (145 G, 530 PA). The 26-year-old also posted an impressive 1.1 and 2.2 wins above replacement value in 2015 and 2016 respectively.
It’s likely that the Brewers will opt to start him at third base most frequently, but like their other utility-man Hernan Perez, may have him fill a spot in the outfield from time to time, as both players have acquired at least some experience there.
Although Pennington will start 2017 deeply buried in the system, he has shown considerable talent in limited opportunities. In rookie ball in 2015, he pitched to a 0.83 ERA and 1.364 WHIP with 22 strikeouts and 13 walks in 22 innings. With Single-A Lowell in 2016, he managed a 2.86 ERA and 1.165 WHIP with 49 strikeouts and 27 walks in 56 2/3 innings. Before departing Boston’s organization, Pennington was listed as the team’s No. 22 top prospect and may be talented enough to slot into the Brewers’ list once its reshuffled to accommodate new acquisitions.
Overall, Pennington is a solid addition to the Brewers’ stable of young arms. He isn’t likely to poke his head into the majors for a few years but falls toward the back end of the talent the team has already acquired, giving them additional opportunities to elongate what is soon to be a quick upswing. He’ll likely start with either Single-A Wisconsin or the newly-acquired Advanced-A Carolina Mudcats.
Dubon may be the most interesting name on the list. Although the Brewers’ system is already stacked at middle infield, Dubon profiles as a high-upside talent with lots of offensive potential. Before coming to Milwaukee, he was ranked as Boston’s 12th best prospect and for good reason. In 2016 between High-A Salem and Double-A Portland, he hit .323/.379/.461 with six home runs, 69 RBI and 30 stolen bases in 124 games, showcasing his excellent speed and above-average power potential for a middle infielder.
Although both teams filled their respective needs, it’s tough to argue that Milwaukee didn’t walk away with the better side of the deal. They’ve again bolstered their minor league depth, filled a necessary hole in the infield, and added an immediate and impactful presence to their 2017 roster.
Jonathan Powell is the Managing Editor of Outside Pitch MLB and the Milwaukee Brewers writer. Follow him on Twitter @jonathannashhh.
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