Now in Double-A, Brinson has dealt with a shoulder strain in 2016 and his numbers have dipped a bit.
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The Rangers gave up two prospects: outfielder Lewis Brinson and right-handed pitcher Luis Ortiz.
The New York Mets were interested in acquiring the All-Star catcher and proposed a trade for him with Travis d’Arnaud, the catcher for the Mets, a top prospect and a third player to be announced later, but as of late Sunday that offer was rescinded.
The Texas Rangers cemented their lead in AL West of the league with the addition of all-stars Jonathan Lucroy and Carlos Beltran.
On his verified Twitter account, Lucroy wrote, “Now, moving on to the @Rangers let’s take this bad boy to the ‘ship!”
In another tweet, Lucroy thanked Brewers fans and said they would always have a special place in his heart.
The 30-year-old Lucroy, who’s under contract for $5.25 million in 2017, is batting.299 with 13 home runs and 50 RBI in 95 games this season. He will immediately become Texas’ starting catcher, replacing Robinson Chirinos. If he were a free agent after this year, he could likely expect a multi-year deal at about four times that annual salary. However, Lucroy, who had a limited no-trade clause that could prevent a trade to eight teams, made a decision to veto the trade to Cleveland, who was on the list, and remain with the Brewers for the time being. Brinson, a 22-year-old center fielder and first-round pick in 2012, was rated the 16th-best prospect overall by both Baseball America and MLB.com.
In exchange for Will Smith, the Brewers acquired 21 year old right hander Phil Bickford and 26 year old catcher Andrew Susac. In 61 games, he hit.277 with eight home runs and 38 RBI.
Texas will send 2015 first round pick Dillon Tate along with other prospects to NY in that deal, according to club. The New York Mets were against including him in the deal because he is probably going to be the second baseman either in September or next year.
The Mets also got pitcher Jon Niese, who spent his first eight years in NY, from Pittsburgh for reliever Antonio Bastardo. He went 9-8 with a 3.28 ERA and 1 save in 181 relief appearances as a Brewer, including 1-3 with a 3.68 ERA in 27 outings this season.
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Luis Ortiz is ranked as the #63 prospect in the Major League Baseball and was the #3 in the Rangers system before being sent to Milwaukee. He will have to continue proving his plate-discipline gains are legitimate in order to realize his ceiling, but the floor here is insane high too for a soon-to-be 22-year-old center fielder.
