The Miami Marlins front office proceeded to continue dismantling their team on Thursday by trading star centerfielder Christian Yelich for highly regarded Minor League outfielder Lewis Brinson, Minor League infielder Isan Diaz, Minor League outfielder Monte Harrison, and Minor League right-handed pitcher Jordan Yamamoto.
Christian Yelich’s relationship with the Miami Marlins, according to Yelich’s agent, was irretrievably broken” after the Marlins shipped off Giancarlo Stanton, Dee Gordon, Marcell Ozuna, and released Edison Volquez. Yelich, along with teammate J.T. Realmuto, had been begging the Marlins to trade them before Yelich got his wish.
The 26-year-old star centerfielder has 4-years and $44.5 Million remaining on his contract. In parts of 5 seasons, Yelich has hit .290/.369/.432 with 59 dingers, 293 RBI, 369 runs scored, 72 stolen bases, and a 17.7 WAR.
The Brewers will now have Yelich in center field, Ryan Braun in left field, Domingo Santana in Right field, and Keon Broxton becomes either a backup outfielder or trade bait. This is subject to change since the Brewers are reportedly still in the race for free agent center fielder Lorenzo Cain.
The Marlins have traded away three top of the line outfielders this offseason in return for a boatload of prospects. Speaking of prospects, let’s take a look at who the Marlins will receive as they build for the future.
Lewis Brinson, 23, was the Milwaukee Brewers’ Number 1 prospect according to MLB Pipeline. The outfielder had a brief stint in the show where he hit .106 in 55 plate appearances. Brinson spent most of 2017 playing for Triple-A Colorado Springs where he hit .331/.400/.377 in 455 plate appearances.
Monte Harrison, 22, was previously ranked number 14 in the Brewers Farm System in 2017. In 2017, playing mainly in Single-A and High-A, Harrison hit .272/.350/.481 with a cool 21 home runs and 67 RBI in 513 plate appearances.
Jordan Yamamoto, 21, was ranked number 6 in the Brewers’ farm system, per MLB Pipeline. The infielder hit .222/.334/.376 in 455 plate appearances playing for High-A Carolina in 2017.
Isan Diaz, 21, is a right-handed pitcher that is unranked by MLB Pipeline. In 2017, Diaz posted a 2.51 ERA with a 113/30 strikeout to walk ratio in 111 innings in 18 starts and four relief appearances.
The Brewers are preparing to take on the Chicago Cubs in 2018 for the division title, and they are making great steps towards that goal. As for the Marlins, at least Yelich didn’t go to the Yankees.
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