The MLB trade deadline on August 1st is fast approaching, and this time of the year never fails to rekindle memories and banter of past dealings made by the Milwaukee Brewers. Some were ridiculously successful (see CC Sabathia, 2008), while others have not quite panned out as planned (Josh Hader?). However, one deadline trade 17 years ago sparked a chain of further transactions that eventually garnered the Brew Crew arguably one of the most popular players in their history.
Remember Milwaukee Brewers Prospect Nelson Cruz?
Most people forget that Nelson Cruz, yes, THAT Nelson Cruz, began his illustrious big-league career in Milwaukee. He only appeared in 8 total games for the Brewers, and he did not even hit one of his 464 career home runs during that brief span.
However, the Brewers gave up on the 26-year-old Cruz. On July 28, 2006, the Brewers sent Cruz and outfielder Carlos Lee to the Texas Rangers in exchange for Laynce Nix, Kevin Mench, Francisco Cordero and minor league pitcher Julian Cordero. The key to that trade was Francisco Cordero, who quickly asserted himself as the Brewers’ closer.
After saving 60 games for Milwaukee, including 44 in 2007 during his only full season with the Brewers, Cordero opted for free agency. The Brewers were awarded a draft pick as a result, and they chose pitcher Jake Odorizzi in the 2008 amateur draft.
A Blockbuster Deal in 2010
The transactions in this strand remained silent until December 19, 2010. On that day, Jake Odorizzi, Lorenzo Cain, Jeremy Jeffress, and Alcides Escobar were all sent to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for 2009 Cy Young award winner Zack Greinke. This was a major deal, one that earned the Brewers instant credibility as an immediate contender for the NL Central crown.
Greinke did not disappoint. Behind his mound work and the emergence of Ryan Braun and Prince Fielders as perennial all-stars, the Brewers captured the 2011 NL Central championship before bowing out in the NLCS to the eventual world champs, the St. Louis Cardinals.
Unfortunately, that momentum did not carry over to 2012, and the Brewers found it necessary to trade their star pitcher at that year’s trade deadline, this time to the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for Jean Segura.
Segura Worked Out, But A Bigger Deal Loomed
After spending parts of four productive seasons in a Brewers uniform, including an All-Star game appearance in 2013, Segura was shipped to Arizona for three players, including minor-leaguer Isan Diaz. This deal did not see its true benefit until the off-season before the 2018 season.
In perhaps the most popular and prosperous trade in team history, the Brewers acquired Christian Yelich from the Miami Marlins in exchange for Diaz, Lewis Brinson, Monte Harrison, and Jordan Yamamoto on January 25, 2018. At the time, the Marlins were ecstatic with the deal that brought them four highly-sought prospects.
“Christian Yelich is a talented player, as were all of the players we’ve moved this offseason,” Marlins president of baseball operations Michael Hill told MLB.com. “You want to get talent in return. You want to get impact, championship-caliber players, and that’s what Lewis Brinson is. That’s what Monte Harrison is. That’s what Isan Díaz is, and that’s what Jordan Yamomoto is.”
Of the four players sent to the Marlins, only Diaz has played in a major league baseball game this year, having appeared in two contests for the San Francisco Giants.
As for Yelich, all he did was win the 2018 NL MVP trophy while leading the Brewers to within one game of their first World Series berth since 1982. Only a season-ending injury that cut his 2019 short kept him from winning a second consecutive MVP. Since that fateful winter day in 2018, Yelich has been a mainstay in the Brewers’ lineup, and his recent resurgence at the plate is a major reason why Milwaukee is poised for post-season baseball in 2023.
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