MLB Trade Deadline 2016: Winners and losers

Winner: Milwaukee Brewers

The Milwaukee Brewers came into the 2016 MLB Trade Deadline as potentially the most obvious sellers. Their team has struggled for a few years, and it was time to continue pushing the rebuild. They started this in 2015 by dealing Carlos Gomez and continued this on Monday, moving two pieces.

Their biggest name moved, and possibly in all of baseball at the deadline, was Jonathan Lucroy. His name had been in talks for months, but the Brewers decided to pull the trigger on moving their longtime catcher. They sent Lucroy and reliever Jeremy Jeffress to the Texas Rangers.

Replacing Lucroy is difficult, and something that won’t be done for a while. The pieces they got back may be worthwhile, though.

They start with outfielder prospect Lewis Brinson. He’s a toolsy player who has shown plenty of power and speed promise in the minor leagues. Strikeouts have been an issue, but his other traits should work in his favor. Brinson could start for the Brewers by 2017.

Luis Ortiz is the other big prospect in this deal. He’s a right-handed pitcher who has had early success in the minor leagues. This includes a 2.62 ERA through 38 total appearances across three seasons. He could be in the major league rotation in a few years.

The Brewers also sent set-up man Will Smith, who has struggled after knee surgery, to the Giants for pitching prospect Phil Bickford and catcher Andrew Susac.

Bickford is a former first-round pick who has posted a sub-3.00 ERA with 105 strikeouts in 93 innings in 2016. He has the makings of a potential top of the rotation starter.

Susac may step in for Lucroy at catcher. He has been stuck behind Buster Posey in San Francisco, and could get his first chance to shine in the MLB.

So the Brewers did well on Monday. They are slowly rebuilding their team and could rise in the NL Central in a few years.

Next: Cleveland Indians