The Brewers have acquired infielder/outfielder Jake Bauers from the Yankees, per bulletins from each golf equipment. Minor league outfielders Jace Avina and Brian Sanchez are headed to the Yanks in return.
Bauers, 28, signed a minor league take care of the Yanks previous to the 2023 season and ended up moving into 84 huge league video games on the 12 months. He struck out in 34.9% of his plate appearances however walked at a 9.9% clip and hit 12 house runs. His remaining batting line of .202/.279/.413 translated to a wRC+ of 89. He’s out of choices and has certified for arbitration for the primary time, with MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projecting a wage of $1.7MM subsequent 12 months. Tonight is the deadline for golf equipment to resolve whether or not or to not tender contracts to arb-eligible gamers and it appears the Yanks most popular to trade Bauers for some prospects versus making him a part of the 2024 membership.
Although the outcomes weren’t excellent in 2023, Bauers has typically hit effectively within the minors and has continued to intrigue golf equipment across the league. Drafted by the Padres again in 2013, he was traded to the Rays as a part of the Wil Myers deal, with Tampa later flipping him to Cleveland within the three-team deal that additionally concerned Edwin Encarnación, Carlos Santana and Yandy Díaz. Bauers was dealt a 3rd time, going to the Mariners in 2021, however couldn’t thrive on the huge league degree with any membership.
He has hit .211/.302/.361 in his profession as a significant leaguer however has a way more spectacular line of .257/.363/.438 at Triple-A. The Brewers would be the newest membership to take an opportunity on him lastly placing it collectively on the huge league degree, maybe as a Rowdy Tellez alternative. Tellez hit simply .215/.291/.376 this 12 months and is projected to make $5.9MM in his remaining arbitration 12 months, making him a speculative non-tender candidate. With Bauers projected at lower than a 3rd of of that value and likewise having two extra seasons of membership management, the Brewers are taking a wager that he will likely be higher worth for cash.
The tender deadline is at 7 pm Central tonight, so the Brewers nonetheless have just a few hours to work out a commerce of Tellez or resolve whether or not to maintain him round. Along with first base, Bauers has additionally performed some nook outfield. That maybe permits them each to suit on the roster however the membership is pretty loaded with outfield choices, having Christian Yelich, Tyrone Taylor, Joey Wiemer, Garrett Mitchell, Sal Frelick and Blake Perkins, with prospect Jackson Chourio charging onerous in direction of a significant league debut.
In trade for a participant that probably wasn’t of their plans anyway, the Yanks will add a few items to their farm system, each long-term performs. Avina, who turns 21 in June, spent 2023 in Single-A. He hit .233/.373/.442 at that degree for a wRC+ of 134. Sanchez is simply 19 and was within the Dominican Summer time League this 12 months, hitting .297/.414/.446 for a wRC+ of 129. Neither are Rule 5 eligible at this level and received’t want a 40-man roster spot in the interim.
