Brewers trade Ji-Man Choi
The hero of Saturday’s victory goes to Tampa Bay for infielder Brad Miller.
PHILADELPHIA - Seeking another infielder capable of playing shortstop with Tyler Saladino out and Orlando Arcia and Eric Sogard struggling, the Milwaukee Brewers traded Ji-Man Choi to the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday night in exchange for infielder Brad Miller and cash considerations.
Choi, a first baseman-outfielder, had been optioned to Class AAA Colorado Springs before the Brewers' 4-3 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park to clear space on the 25-man roster for right-hander Brandon Woodruff, who made the start Sunday.
The move came just a day after Choi's pinch-hit grand slam helped turn the tables in a 12-3 Brewers victory over the Phillies.
Choi hit .233 with two homers and five runs batted in over 12 games (three stints) with Milwaukee. He quickly became a popular player in the organization, but with the team's depth at both first base and in the outfield it was unlikely he'd see more than sporadic action with the Brewers moving forward.
Miller was optioned to Colorado Springs by the Brewers, but it's likely he'll return to the majors quickly. He had been designated for assignment by Tampa Bay on Thursday after hitting .256 with five homers and 21 RBI in 48 games.
"At this point we thought that the positional versatility and the infield experience that Miller brings would be helpful," Brewers general manager David Stearns said. "He will head to Triple A, and when we have a need, I'm sure he will be ready to contribute."
The 28-year-old Miller is two years removed from hitting 30 homers and driving in 81 runs for the Rays. A lefthanded hitter, Miller hasn't played shortstop since 2016 but has 345 career starts there over six major-league seasons in Tampa Bay and Seattle.
He started 34 games at first base for the Rays this season while also seeing action at second base and designated hitter.
Miller, playing on a one-year, $4.5
million contract, has one more year of arbitration remaining.
Saladino had replaced Arcia as the Brewers' primary shortstop but suffered an ankle injury that sent him to the disabled list. Arcia is hitting .207 and Sogard .114.
The Brewers have two other players capable of playing shortstop in Jonathan Villar and Hernán Pérez, but Villar has emerged as the team's primary second baseman and Pérez has remained in a utility role.
Choi was called up most recently primarily to serve as the designated hitter in interleague series in Chicago and Cleveland. He made no impact in those series, going 1 for 13, but turned the game Saturday in the Brewers' favor.
"He had a great game and helped us win yesterday," manager Craig Counsell said before Sunday's game. "There's a certain part of the 40-man roster that their job is going to be partial players on the 25-man roster."
Another reason Choi became vulnerable is the pending return of first baseman Eric Thames, who has been on the DL with a thumb injury. Thames was scheduled to play his final minorleague rehab game Sunday for Colorado Springs, and Counsell said if all goes well, Thames would rejoin the club Monday and be activated for the series against Chicago.
"Everything has gone well," Counsell said of Thames. "He swung the bat well last night (3 for 4, three-run HR)."
Woodruff went four innings against the Phillies, allowing only one hit and an unearned run. His stay could be short, with a roster spot needed for Thames.
The return of Thames will put Counsell back in the position he was in at the outset of the season, getting playing time for three players at two spots, left field and first base: Ryan Braun, Jesús Aguilar and Thames. In Thames' absence, Aguilar has flourished as the regular first baseman, batting .290 with 11 homers, 37 RBI and .905 OPS for the season.
"We're adding a good player," Counsell said. "Obviously, we're going to have some lineup decisions. We'll figure that out. We can question them but we're adding a good player."
Logan still searching: Veteran reliever Boone Logan has been playing catch-up since missing the first five weeks with a triceps strain suffered during spring training. He pitched a scoreless ninth inning Saturday in the 12-3 win over the Phillies but threw only 16 of 31 pitches for strikes and had to wiggle out of a bases-loaded jam created when he walked a batter and hit another.
In 13 outings, Logan has allowed 10 hits and seven walks in nine innings while posting a 5.00 earned run average and 1.889 WHIP. He has been erratic with his slider, a big pitch against left-handed hitters, but Counsell said it all begins with fastball command.
“When you’re a two-pitch guy, you’re counting on both of them to work together,” Counsell said. “The slider can work; it doesn’t have to be a strike. You can get swings on the slider when it’s not a strike.
“It’s hard to get swings on your fastball when it’s not a strike. So, throwing your fastball in the zone is a prerequisite for every guy. That’s the foundation for every guy. That’s where success is going to start.
“He put up a zero, so we’re picking here. We got a zero out of the inning. But Boone has not been locked in. I think he’d tell you that. He’s another guy that I’d like to get out there more. I’d like to get Corey (Knebel) out there more, too. We have a couple of guys I’d like to pitch more just for the rhythm and feedback that pitching in a game gives them. Hopefully, we can do that.”