Milwaukee Brewers: Who Won Orioles Schoop, Villar Trade?
By Max Neibaur
The Milwaukee Brewers traded INF Jonathan Villar and prospects (P Luis Ortiz and INF Jean Carmona) to the Baltimore Orioles for 2B Jonathan Schoop on the July 31 deadline to boost their playoff run. The Brewers hope Schoop will help in the short-term while the Orioles hope their haul will help in the long-term.
Most mid-season deadline trades are between a team like the Milwaukee Brewers looking for immediate help and a team like the Orioles looking for future strength. A true reading of this trade and others like it cannot be determined until after the prospects involved have time to develop.
For Instance, the Brewers traded Carlos Lee to the Texas Rangers back in 2006 for RHP Francisco Cordero. Cordero had recently lost his closer job with Texas, but the Brewers knew there was talent there and accepted a couple outfields. Those outfielders never made a mark for Milwaukee.
Cordero ended up being a decent closer with the Brewers, and Carlos Lee greatly helped the Rangers as a rental. The difference-maker in the trade was the prospect the Brewers sent to the Rangers.
Brewers prospect Nelson Cruz developed into a valuable power hitter who made two All-Star games while with Texas. Trades can have a funny way of biting teams when prospects are involved.
Other times, trading prospects for playoff help works for both teams.
The Brewers sent SS Alcides Escobar, RHP Jeremy Jeffress, OF Lorenzo Cain, and RHP Jake Odorizzi for RHP Zack Greinke and SS Yuniesky Betancourt in 2011.
Greinke helped the Brewers all the way to Game 6 of the NLCS before falling to the St Louis Cardinals.
In hindsight, the Royals also made out very well in the deal. Escobar and Cain would end up winning two AL Pennants and a World Series as starters with the Royals.
Currently, many fans in the Milwaukee are a bit upset with the early return on Schoop while Orioles fans have gotten good production from Jonathan Villar. And, what are the expectations of Luis Ortiz and Jean Carmona?