Anybody catch that 3 team trade sending Murphy to ATL? While the ATL-OAK aspect gets all the attention, mainly being that OAK could trade their current catcher because their catcher-in-waiting is ready to go and was acquired from....you guessed it....the Braves in the Olson trade last year. Oakland is essentially a AAA team for Atlanta right now.
But, ATL, had to clear a roster logjam, and OAK had no need for Contreras, a bat-first (bat-only really) catcher. Thus Milwaukee gets to swoop in and get a heist of the century.
Quote:
Braves get catcher Sean Murphy, giving up Kyle Muller, Royber Salinas, Justin Yeager, Freddy Tarnok, Manny Piña and William Contreras.
Brewers get William Contreras, Joel Payamps, Justin Yeager, giving up Esteury Ruiz.
A’s get Kyle Muller, Esteury Ruiz, Freddy Tarnok, Royber Salinas and Manny Piña, giving up Sean Murphy and Joel Payamps.
Brewers get a young all-star (last year) DH who can masquerade as a catcher, an MLB reliever, and a JAG minor league reliever....for Ruiz, a speedy OF prospect who sucked 3 years in a row before having a breakout year in the minors last year. Ruiz still not regarded too high by scouts, basically speed as his only tool. He's only 23, but his future has a much higher probability of "Terrence Gore" than "Rickey Henderson".
Tampa gets all the press for building great teams with shoestring payrolls, but Milwaukee should get some attention as well for doing it as well.