Milwaukee Brewers: Who Won Orioles Schoop, Villar Trade?

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?

Jonathan Schoop With Milwaukee Brewers

Brewers General Manager David Stearns had a lot in mind when he traded for Jonathan Schoop.

Schoop’s contract extends into 2019 so he is not just a rental player. That is the reason the Brewers had to give up two key prospects along with Villar to acquire Schoop.

Schoop struggled during his first weeks with his new team. He had to adjust after spending his whole career in the AL with the Orioles.

Still, Brewers fans initially had feelings of buyers remorse. And, for good reason.

Schoop hit over 1.000 OPS with Orioles in July and was coming off being named Player of the Week for the AL upon his debut with the Brewers in August. During August, however, Schoop’s OPS tumbled to just ..612 with the Brewers.

Fans and journalists in Milwaukee expressed new optimism for Schoop when he hit a big grand slam off of Madison Bumgarner. But Schoop has only maintained a .522 OPS during September as of the 15th.

On the positive side, Schoop’s mere presence in Milwaukee’s batting order extends its power potential. The Brewers offensive attack looks especially intimidating when they use what 3B Travis Shaw calls their “goal-line package.” 

“This was the big-boy infield tonight,” Shaw continued about having him and Schoop playing with Mike Moustakas. “It pushes everyone down [the order] and makes our lineup extremely deep.”

The acquisition of Jonathan Schoop helps Milwaukee in another way. Because Schoop’s contract goes through 2019, Schoop can help the Brewers next season too.

The Brewers top prospect is 2B Keston Hiura. He is not believed to be ready for a complete major league season until 2020.

Furthermore, Milwaukee has prospect INF Mauricio Dubon who the Brewers called up in 2018 before he suffered a season-ending injury. No one knows how much or how effective Dubon might be in 2019.

Moustakas will likely leave as a free agent, but that will still leave the Brewers with a great infield that includes Shaw at third, Orlando Arcia at shortstop, Schoop at second, and breadout run-producer Jesus Aguilar at first.

Therefore, beyond what Schoop can give the Brewers going forward, he has a chance to contribute as a place-holder for prime Milwaukee prospects next season.