CarterHud

              The Milwaukee Brewers have acquired INF Brad Miller in exchange for 1B Ji-Man Choi.

              For the Brewers, I don\’t 100% understand the trade. But, With Eric Thames, Ryan Braun and Jesus Aguilar ahead of him on the depth chart, there isn\’t much need for Choi. While both have been assigned to AAA, I think Miller can be up relatively soon. Miller is currently a second baseman, with first and shortstop being primary positions in the past. Right now, he would be the third second baseman, behind starter Jonathan Villar and Eric Sogard, and the second shortstop, behind the struggling Orlando Arcia. But, Hernan Perez can also play second, and Tyler Saladino and Nick Franklin are hurt, and could place ahead of Miller on the depth chart.

              Miller, 28, has a .256 batting average, five homers and 21 RBIs in 174 Plate Appearances for the Rays this season. In his MLB career for the Rays and Seattle Mariners, Miller has a batting average of .240, with 73 homers, 260 RBIs and 33 stolen bases in 2425 Plate Appearances.

             For the Rays, Miller has been very disappointing the last two seasons since a 30 homer 2016 season. He was finally DFA\’d earlier this week. Like Miller, Choi was assigned to AAA. He is currently the third 1B on the depth chart, following starter C.J. Cron and prospect Jake Bauers. The 22 year old Bauers was just recently called up, going 3 for 16 in his short MLB stint. He has options, and unless he quickly heats up, chances are he\’s going back down eventually. Which could lead to a Choi promotion as the backup 1B.

            Choi, 27, has a .233 batting average, with two homers and five RBIs in 32 Plate Appearances for the Brewers this year. In his MLB career for the Brewers, New York Yankees and Los Angeles Angels, Choi has a batting average of .191, with nine homers and 22 RBIs.

              I think this is an even trade. Both teams get some depth in case something goes wrong. But, as most depth trades are, there\’s nothing too special about it.

              The Arizona Diamondbacks have acquired outfielder Jon Jay from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for LHP Gabe Speier and RHP Elvis Luciano.

               For the D-backs, A.J. Pollack\’s injury has caused some problems for them. David Peralta, Chris Owings and Jarrod Dyson are the only outfielders on the roster, and Owings also plays middle infield. Getting a rental 4th outfielder until Pollack returns will help. Also, Jay could just start in center or right, with Owings and short some games, though Daniel Descalco and Nick Ahmed will play mostly at short (and Ketel Marte and short and second). The don\’t give up much, just two low leveled pitching prospects.

               Jay, 33, has a .307 batting average, one homer, 18 RBIs and three stolen bases in 266 Plate Appearances for the Royals this season. In his MLB career for the Royals, Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals, Jay has a .290 batting average, with 34 home runs, 305 RBIs and 54 stolen bases in 3742 Plate Appearances.

               For the Royals, they are one of the worst teams in the league. To hold on the rentals would make no sense. Jay is by no means an all-star, so the price of return makes sense. They are both low leveled prospects, and are risks.

               Speier, 23, has a 3.08 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 193 strikeouts in 234 innings in his minor leagues.

               Luciano, 18, hasn\’t pitched in 2018, but had a 2.84 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 52 strikeouts in 66.2 innings in 2017, his only professional season.

              I think this is an even trade. The Diamondbacks get the rental they need, and the Royals get the prospects they need. That is why this is an even trade.

             The Seattle Mariners have acquired RHP Alex Colome and OF Denard Span from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for RHPs Andrew Moore and Tommy Romero.

              For the Mariners, injuries to their core players, like CF Dee Gordon (we\’ll get into that later) and 2B Robinson Cano\’s 80 game suspension have tried to stop the M\’s from being contenders. This trade shows that they aren\’t out of it yet. In a division with the Astros and Angels, two very good teams, it will be hard for the team to make the postseason. Colome was the Rays closer, but with Edwin Diaz as the team\’s closer, Colome will probably be the set up man for Seattle. With Gordon out, Span will temporarily be the starting center fielder, then go to 4th outfielder when everyone is healthy. Span is a pending free agent, and Colome is under team control through 2021.

              Colome, 29, has a 4.15 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, 23 strikeouts and 11 saves in 21.2 innings for the Rays this year. In his MLB career, all in Tampa Bay, Colome has a 3.21 ERA with a 1.24 WHIP, 265 strikeouts and 95 saves in 294.1 innings.

              Span, 34, has a .238 batting average with four homers, 28 RBIs and six steals in 173 Plate Appearances for the Rays this year. In his MLB career for the Rays, San Fransisco Giants, Washington Nationals and Minnesota Twins, Span has a batting average of .282 with 64 homers, 460 RBIs and 182 stolen bases in 5628 Plate Appearances.

              For the Rays, they unload two players, but I think they could have gotten more for them, especially Colome. Moore is a younger pitcher with a very small amount of MLB experience . Romero is a young, lower leveled prospect.

              Moore, who will turn 24 a week from the day of the trade, hasn\’t played in the majors this year. Last year, his only year, featured Moore with a 5.34 ERA, with a WHIP of 1.15 and 31 strikeouts in 59 innings.

            Romero, 20, has a 2.45 ERA with 54 strikeouts in 44 innings for Class A this year.

           The Boston Red Sox have designated 1B Hanley Ramirez for assignment, and activated all-star 2B Dustin Pedroia off the 10 day DL.

           Ramirez, who was signed through next year after signing a four year, $88 million deal with the Sox back before 2015. After hitting .330 in April, Ramirez has hit .163 in May, which leads to the DFA. The Sox are still responsible for the $15.25 million left on his contract, but now don\’t need to pay the $22 million he was owed for 2019. Ramirez was signed along with 3B Pablo Sandoval in that offseason between 2014 and 2015, was brought in to revamp the Red Sox, putting the world in shock. Unfortunately for Boston, both were terrible, especially Sandoval, who never put a full season together in Boston. Ramirez had his hot moments, but overall was pretty bad. Former Red Sox teammate and current hot hitter Mitch Moreland is now the starting 1B. Pedroia will once again be the starting 2B, leaving Eduardo Nunez without a position. Nunez, who is known to play pretty much all positions, could get some reps at first, and possibly platoon with Moreland.

           Ramirez, 34, has a .254 batting average with six homers and 29 RBIs in 195 Plate Appearances for the Red Sox this year. In his MLB career for the Red Sox, Florida/Miami Marlins and Los Angeles Dodgers, Ramirez has a batting average of .290, with 269 homers, 909 RBIs and 281 stolen bases in 7070 Plate Appearances.

           Chicago White Sox catcher Welington Castillo has been suspended 80 games without pay after testing positive for Erythropoietin (EPO), a PED that is in violation of Major League Baseball\’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. The 31-year old veteran catcher released the following statement through the MLBPA (Major League Baseball Player\’s Association):

              \”I was recently notified by Major League Baseball that I had tested positive for EPO, a substance that is prohibited under MLB\’s Joint Drug Agreement. The positive test resulted from an extremely poor decision that I, and I alone, made. I take full responsibility for my conduct. I have let many people down, including my family, my teammates, the White Sox organization and its fans, and from my heart, I apologize. Following my suspension, I look forward to rejoining my teammates and doing whatever I can to help the White Sox win.\”

            Castillo, a first year White Sox player, was signed by the club this offseason to a two year, $15 million deal with an $8 million option for 2020. He was brought in to help young pitching prospects like Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez, Michael Kopech and Carson Fulmer develop. The White Sox are struggling mightily this year, and are tied with Kansas City Royals for last in not just the AL Central, but the MLB as well. When Castillo returns from the suspension, there will be 35 games remaining in the season. An 80 game period is a long run, and could give the 4 catchers on the 40 man right now (Omar Narvaez, Kevin Smith, Alfredo Gonzalez and Dustin Garneau) a chance to shine, or prospects that are a little lower down, like Zack Collins and Seby Zavala a very small chance, but still a chance, to be called up to the show.

             Castillo, 31, has a .267 batting average, six homers and 15 RBIs in 123 Plate Appearances for the White Sox this year. In his career for the White Sox, Chicago Cubs, Baltimore Orioles, Seattle Mariners and Arizona Diamondbacks, Castillo has a batting average of .259, with 86 homers and 298 RBIs in 2392 Plate Appearances.