As the Milwaukee Brewers look to solidify their grasp on the NL Central, they have clear holes on their roster. The lineup, particularly at first and third, has failed to live up to their end of the bargain, as the Brewers have ridden their stellar pitching to the lead in the division.
On Wednesday, they took the first step towards addressing the lineup. They have acquired Eduardo Escobar from the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for minor leaguers Cooper Hummel and Alberto Ciprian.
The Diamondbacks are acquiring Cooper Hummel and Alberto Ciprian for Eduardo Escobar, per a source.
— Zach Buchanan (@ZHBuchanan) July 28, 2021
Milwaukee Brewers solidify third base with Eduardo Escobar
Escobar immediately adds another power bat to the Brewers’ lineup. In his 400 plate appearances, Escobar had produced a .246/.300/.478 batting line, hitting 22 homers and 14 doubles. While his 107 OPS+ may not be overly impressive, it is certainly an improvement over what the Brewers had received from third base so far this year.
The Brewers did not give up much in terms of prospect capital. Neither Hummel nor Ciprian were considered to be amongst their top 30 prospects by any source, which may be indicative of what the market for a mid tier rental bat will be like.
Chances are, the Diamondbacks are considering Ciprian to be the centerpiece of the trade. He has appeared in just 12 games in the Dominican Summer League, with 14 hits, including five doubles, and two steals in his 43 plate appearances. He is considered to have considerable raw power, but will need to refine his swing in order to have that power appear during game action. However, at 18 years old, he has plenty of time to develop.
Hummel has had a strong showing in Triple-A, posting a .254/.435/.508 batting line in his 168 plate appearances, hitting six homers and eight doubles. He has improved his approach at the plate without sacrificing power, as he has drawn 41 walks with just 26 strikeouts. His versatility, as he can play in left, at first, or behind the plate, could make him an asset on a major league bench. However, at 26 years old, he is not likely to be much more than a super utility type that can also slot behind the plate.
In the end, the Brewers did not part with much in order to improve their lineup. Escobar can help at third, while also getting the occasional start at second or short if need be. While the Brewers certainly need more if they have hopes of breaking through and getting to a World Series, Escobar is a strong beginning.
The Milwaukee Brewers have begun the process of improving their lineup by acquiring Eduardo Escobar from the Arizona Diamondbacks. In even better news for the Brewers, he did not cost much.