Huge news from Miller Park, where it appears our hometown Brewers have acquired 2009 Cy Young Award winner Zack Greinke from the Kansas City Royals. In return for Greinke and shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt, the Brewers sent shortstop Alcides Escobar, centerfielder Lorenzo Cain and pitching prospects Jeremy Jeffress and Jake Odorizzi to the Royals to acquire Greinke, considered the top pitcher available on the trade market.
While there may have been other teams (Yankees, Red Sox, etc.) who had the talent to offer the Royals a better deal for Greinke, it’s worth remembering Greinke had a limited no-trade clause allowing him to bar a trade to certain teams within the league. Given that Greinke has suffered from an anxiety disorder, a smaller market like Milwaukee should be a great fit for him, and it will be great to see him in a Brewers uniform for the next two seasons (and hopefully more).
You may say, “wait, we’re trading away our young star shortstop”, but with Betancourt you’re getting a legit shortstop with much better offensive numbers than you will have ever seen with Escobar. So now you have a legitimate starting rotation with even more power in the field. This could be the signature trade of Melvin’s career. Time will tell.
This will also mean that Prince Fielder will at least start the season with the Brewers and stay with them for as long as they are in a playoff race. Given it’s his contract year, expect big numbers.
This was a trade of proven performance vs. potential. While the Brewers got their ace starting pitcher, the Royals got a lot of potential in Escobar, Jeffress, Cain, and Odorizzi.