One day after catcher Jonathan Lucroy vetoed a trade to Cleveland, the Milwaukee Brewers dealt him to Texas on Monday with closer Jeremy Jeffress in a trade that reportedly netted them two highly regarded prospects, outfielder Lewis Brinson and right-hander Luis Ortiz, as well as a player to be named.
Brinson is rated the Rangers' No. 2 prospect and Ortiz at No. 3 as the best pitching prospect in the Texas system. The Brewers seemed determined to move Lucroy after the Cleveland deal was nixed and did so just minutes before the deadline.
The Brewers also took advantage of the brisk trade market for relievers by sending left-hander Will Smith to San Francisco for the Giants' top pitching prospect and a catcher who could be useful if now that Lucroy has been traded.
The Brewers acquired right-hander Phil Bickford, the Giants' first-round draft pick in 2015, and catcher Andrew Susac, who has caught 87 games in the major leagues.
Brinson, 22, a 6-foot-3, 195-pounder, was the 29th overall pick in 2012 and has been playing at Class AA Frisco this season. He has improved his approach at the plate and his swing since becoming a pro though his numbers dipped this year after dealing with a shoulder strain.
He has the kind of power and speed that the Brewers covet in a middle-of-the-field player and has a chance to become a 30-30 player if he can stay healthy.
Ortiz, 20, is a big (6-foot-3, 230 pounds) power pitcher who dominated in his first two professional seasons before missing two months in 2015 with a strained flexor muscle. He advanced to Frisco this season before suffering a groin strain in July.
Ortiz throws a fastball in the 92-97 mph range and has a second plus pitch in a low 80s slider. He has improved his changeup and included that in his repertoire to become a better pitcher. He projects as a possible No. 2 starter in the majors.
Smith missed the first two months of the season with the Brewers with a knee injury and has been pitching with a brace on his right knee. He had some rough outings of late, raising his earned run average to 3.68 in 26 outings. Overall, he has pitched 12 innings, allowing 17 hits and nine walks with 21 strikeouts.
Bickford, 21, is a big (6-foot-4, 200 pounds) hard thrower taken as the 18th player in the 2015 draft out of JC of Southern Nevada. He transferred there to be eligible for the draft after first pitching for Cal State-Fullerton.
Bickford has played at two different Class A levels this season and is 5-6 with a 2.71 ERA in 17 games, with 105 strikeouts in 93 innings. The athletic righty throws his fastball in the mid 90s with good sink and has an above-average slider.
Susac, 26, has played at the Class AA and AAA levels this season. In 61 games, he has batted .277 with a .347 OBP, eight home runs and 38 RBIs.
In 243 plate appearances in the majors, Susac is a .240 hitter with six homers, 33 RBIs and .309 OBP.
Lucroy tweeted his thanks to Brewers fans shortly after the deal was completed.
