When the Milwaukee Brewers picked up Kolten Wong‘s option, many assumed that they were doing so in order to trade him. They did just that today, trading the veteran second baseman to the Seattle Mariners. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic broke the news on Twitter.
Mariners acquiring Kolten Wong from Brewers for Jesse Winker and Abraham Toro, sources tell @TheAthletic.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 2, 2022
Jesse Winker is an outfielder who may replace Hunter Renfroe, who was traded to the Los Angeles Angels. Abraham Toro is now on his third team in three years, having previously played for the Houston Astros.
Assessing the Trade for the Brewers
Kolten Wong spent the last two seasons as the Brewers’ second baseman. He had a good first season in Milwaukee, hitting .272/.335/.447 with 14 home runs and 50 RBI. He was also a finalist for the Gold Glove award in 2021.
Wong struggled in 2022, however. While his on-base percentage increased slightly, his batting average dipped to .251. Additionally, Wong started to struggled defensively at second base.
This trade opens up the possibility for Brice Turang to start on Opening Day as the Brewers second baseman. Last season, Turang hit .286/.360/.412 with 13 home runs and 78 RBI at Triple-A Nashville. Other options include Luis Urias, Keston Hiura, or another player from outside the organization.
Jesse Winker struggled in his first season with the Mariners last season. He hit just .219/.344/.344 with 14 home runs and 53 RBI. However, when with the Reds in 2021, he hit .305/.394/.556 with 24 home runs and 71 RBI. He was also named an All-Star that year.
For More Great Wisconsin Sports Content
Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19 and follow us @WiSportsHeroics for more great content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in Wisconsin sports, click here!
