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Some things to read while helping out a friend.
We are 63 days away from Milwaukee Brewers pitchers and catchers reporting to Maryvale Baseball Park for spring training, and on Thursday the team pulled the trigger on a minor trade with the Dodgers to send catcher Shawn Zarraga to the west coast for reliever Jarret Martin and outfielder Matt Long.
Of the two players entering the organization, Martin is the most interesting. He’s 25 and spent the 2014 season pitching at the AA level, where he posted a 3.29 ERA over 46 relief appearances. He throws left-handed but has been used with some success against both lefties and righties, striking out 9.3 batters per nine innings for his career. Control is a major concern for him, as he’s walked over six batters per nine innings over five professional seasons, but MLB.com has already named him as the Brewers’ 18th-best prospect (h/t @BrewerNation). Eric Stephen of True Blue LA has a quote from Martin on his mechanics and a note on his recent struggles with shoulder inflammation.
Long, who has now gone from the Angels to the Dodgers before moving on to the Brewers this winter, is 27 and has experience at all three outfield spots, plus some time at second base. He’s played 262 games at the AAA level over the last three seasons and hit .279/.358/.442 in 1102 plate appearances, but has never reached the majors. The Brewers had a glaring need for outfield depth in the upper levels of the minors following the recent departures of Caleb Gindl, Jeremy Hermida, Kentrail Davis and Sean Halton.
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