Brewers 4, Cubs 0
CHICAGO - Once the Milwaukee Brewers committed to Luis Urías as their primary shortstop, it was inevitable at some point that they would trade Orlando Arcia, the incumbent for more than four years.
That point came Tuesday when the club announced it dealt Arcia to the Atlanta Braves for a pair of big right-handers, Patrick Weigel and Chad Sobotka. Both pitchers were assigned to the
Freddy Peralta and two relievers combined on a one-hitter with Travis Shaw and Omar Narváez homering for the Brewers in their win Tuesday night at Wrigley Field. See story,
Brewers' alternate training site in Appleton.
The Brewers replaced Arcia on their major-league roster with veteran reliever Brad Boxberger, who had been assigned to their ATS out of spring training. To make room for Boxberger on the 40-man roster, right-hander Justin Topa (flexor strain) was shifted to the 60day injured list.
“We've had conversations,
off and on, with a number of teams about Orlando for a couple of months,” Brewers president of baseball operations David Stearns said. “I think teams recognized our infield situation and teams that had needs for infielders thought we might have some surplus there.
“This has probably been an ongoing conversation and we got to the point late (Monday) night where we were able to work this out. We evaluated deals of all different varieties — those that helped the major-league team, those that were farther away. Ultimately, this is one that made sense for both sides.
“We do think that continuing to ensure we had the pitching to make it through this season is important. These
are two guys with big, power arms. Two very big people in general. We think they will be able to help throughout the course of the season. The flexibility to add to the number of pitchers who have the ability to spend time at Triple-A as well as the major leagues is important.”
Arcia, 26, was hitting .091 through four games this season, though he did play a major part in the team's lone victory on opening day, driving in the winning run in the 10th inning with a fielder's choice. He started the Brewers' last two games at third base, a new position for him.
Arcia was informed this offseason that he and the Urías, 23, would be sharing the shortstop job. But the plan was for Urías to see most of the action, making Arcia expendable and open to being traded.
“We feel like we have a pretty good set of options on the left side of the infield,” Stearns said. “We were asking Orlando to do something that was unusual for him, maybe a little bit out of his comfort zone. He took it on full-steam but it was different.
“So, when this opportunity arose to be able to add a couple of power arms, who have (minor-league) options, who have pitched in the big leagues, we think it had some potential. We think it's the right thing to do for our organization, for our season this year, to continue to stockpile arms for 162 games.”
Arcia was the Brewers' most consistent hitter in 2020, leading the team with a .260 average, but is a .244 hitter with a .293 on-base percentage for his career. He has tremendous range — a major plus for all the shifting the Brewers have done — and a strong throwing arm.
But in 2019, in 2020 and in his one start at shortstop this season, Arcia accounted for minus-6 defensive runs saved at the position. His best overall season came in 2017, when he hit .277 with 15 home runs and 53 runs batted in while playing in a career-high 153 games.
Arcia avoided arbitration this offseason by signing a one-year, $2 million contract with the Brewers on Dec. 2. His fit with the Braves appears to be more as a move for depth, as they already have a fixture at shortstop in Dansby Swanson. Arcia was optioned to Atlanta's alternate training site.
“I do want to take a moment to recognize Orlando's contributions to our organization and contributions to some of the biggest moments in Brewers history, certainly recent Brewers history,” Stearns said. “Orlando, although he is relatively young, is one of the longest-tenured Brewers on the team. With that comes a great deal of respect, not only from his teammates and fans but the organization as a whole for what he has done, the way he has comported himself, and frankly through ups and downs.
“This wasn't smooth sailing for a top prospect breaking into baseball. But I think Orlando always handled himself well, always showed up to the park with a smile. And as we saw, routinely contributed to big moments. He's someone we've all appreciated during his time here.”
Of Arcia's struggled to live up to the hype of once being the top prospect in the organization, Stearns said, “I think expectations at times for prospects can be unfair. Orlando entered the major leagues with expectations that may have been almost impossible to achieve at such an early stage in his career.
“He was long considered one of the top prospects in baseball, and when it didn't happen immediately, that can be tough for a player. Orlando handled it very well. I think he's always worked hard and I think there's still plenty of baseball left and plenty of career left for Orlando Arcia.”
Brewers pitcher Brandon Woodruff, who learned of the trade while watching the MLB Network on television in his hotel room, said you never expect a trade such as this one so early in the season.
“Ever since I came into the organization, he was the guy everyone talked about,” Woodruff said. “He was the top prospect in the organization. Everyone knew who Orlando was. He was a year above me but I got to know him once I got to the big leagues. He was somebody who looks forward to coming to the ball field every day; played hard. Really cared for other people, his teammates.
“I'd describe him as the (Brent) Suter of the dugout. (Suter) would go crazy in the bullpen and we'd have Orlando in the dugout. He kept things loose; just a great guy. A lot of guys will miss him around here.”
The Brewers hoped to make the move to Urías at shortstop last season but he suffered a broken hamate bone in his left hand in winter ball in Mexico, then the game was shut down for more than three months by the pandemic. When summer camp opened in July, Urías tested positive for COVID-19, setting him back further.
Urías played in 41 games, mostly at third base, but made little impact, batting .239 with no homers, 11 RBI and .602 OPS.
“It wasn't too long ago when he was considered one of the top prospects in baseball and it's also easy to forget that he's only 23 years old,” Stearns said. “Because he broke into the big leagues at such a young age (with San Diego), because he rocketed through the minor leagues so quickly, he's still a very young player.
“So, it's natural for the learning process to continue. That's what we've seen. As he gets more experience, as he gets more comfortable, I think we'll see him continue to flourish and contribute to our club.”
As for where this leaves the Brewers at shortstop, Stearns said, “I think it's a combination of continued maturation and growth with Luis. Confidence in Daniel Robertson, knowing we have him there as well. We think he can play a very quality shortstop when called upon.
“We liked what we've seen out of Pablo Reyes throughout the spring. We believe Jace Peterson provides some infield versatility, as well. There are enough options there that we felt comfortable making a move like this, but the primary one is Luis.
“We do believe in him as a player. I think we've begun to see flashes of that and we're looking forward to seeing him more.”
The 6-7, 225-pound Sobotka, 27, was a fourth-round draft pick of the Braves in 2014. He has pitched in 50 major-league games since 2018, all in relief, and is 1-0 with a 5.36 earned run average and 61 strikeouts in 47 innings.
Weigel, 26, who is 6-6, 240 pounds, made his major-league debut for the Braves last season, throwing 2⁄3 of an inning in one relief outing. A seventh-round pick of Atlanta in 2015, he missed most of 2018 after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Splitting 2019 at Class AA and AAA, Weigel was 6-2 with a 2.73 ERA in 28 games, including 18 starts.
In an interesting twist, the Brewers drafted Weigel out of Oxnard College in the 22nd round in 2014 but were unable to sign him.
Atlanta grabbed him the next year out of the University of Houston.