Daniel Vogelbach is on his third team in three weeks, the Milwaukee Brewers.
Daniel Vogelbach is a big man who can hit the ball a mile. Unfortunately, he doesn’t hit the ball very often. For this reason, he will suit up for his third different team of this shortened season.
Brewers DFA Smoak, get Vogelbach, source tells The Athletic.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) September 3, 2020
A year ago we called the guy an All-Star, now we call him a vagabond. Well, that is not necessarily true. Vogelbach always lands a job and his new home will be with the Milwaukee Brewers. They are the latest team to try and tap into this once-promising prospect, who has fallen on hard luck this year.
Kicked to the curb earlier this year by the Seattle Mariners, Vogelbach landed on his feet days later when the Toronto Blue Jays brought the slugger in.
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His stay north of the border (figuratively speaking, as the Jays are playing their home games in Buffalo) lasted all of four at-bats over the course of two games. Vogelbach received his second DFA of the season, though wasn’t on the market long.
In swooped the Brewers, and the former 2nd round pick of the Chicago Cubs was back in the Midwest.
To make room on the roster, the Brewers DFAed Justin Smoak. Am I mistaken in saying Smoak is just an older version of Vogelbach? Basically the Brewers have the same player, just six years younger.
They both hit for power, they both strike out often, and neither one of them hits for average. They both are relegated to designated hitter duties, though can make the occasional start at first base.
I’m somewhat perplexed at this move. Smoak has a proven track record and even though his average has been putrid for two years, he is still hitting long balls. Vogelbach is a lifetime .195 hitter who only hits home runs. And not very often.
The Brewers might as well of made this swap. Give Daniel Vogelbach a test drive and if he works out, he’s controllable until 2025.