Brewers Beef Up


Thursday's news really shook up this sluggish off-season, as the Brewers, who came so close to a National League Wild Card last season, decided they were "all in" for 2018.
The Brewers signed free agent centerfielder Lorenzo Cain to a five-year deal, and then sent four young players -- including their top prospect Louis Brinson -- to the Marlins for Christian Yelich. Combine those two with Ryan Braun -- plus 1st baseman Eric Thames, shortstop Orlando Arcia and 3rd baseman Travis Shaw -- give Milwaukee its best middle-of-the-order punch since the days of Gorman Thomas and Harvey's Wallbangers 35 years ago!
The moves also enable Brewers GM David Stearns to swap some now-excess bats, such as outfielder Domingo Santana, for the pitching help his club needs. And it sends a signal to the Cubs and Cardinals -- who recently picked up Yelich's ex-teamate Marcel Ozuna -- that the club from the #41 TV market is ready to slug it out with the big guys.
(The image of Cain came from the Royals game in New York last May 23rd; I captured Yellich with the Marlins in Philadelphia on August 22nd.)

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