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Brewers Make Splash Trade Adding Hunter Renfroe for JBJ & Others

By Paul Bretl

Oct 8, 2021; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Boston Red Sox right fielder Hunter Renfroe (10) hits a single against the Tampa Bay Rays during the ninth inning in game two of the 2021 ALDS at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 8, 2021; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Boston Red Sox right fielder Hunter Renfroe (10) hits a single against the Tampa Bay Rays during the ninth inning in game two of the 2021 ALDS at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Just before the work stoppage was to begin, David Stearns and the Milwaukee Brewers were able to make one more move in an effort to bolster their roster for the 2022 season.

According to the Brewers team site, they acquired outfielder Hunter Renfroe from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for Jackie Bradley Jr. and prospects Alex Binelas and David Hamilton.

The Brewers’ signing of Bradley late last offseason is a move that did not pan out whatsoever. From 2014 to 2020, Bradley was a one-time All-Star, a Gold Glove-caliber defender, and slashed .240/.322/.414.

However, in 2021 with the Crew, Bradley was still a Gold Glove Award finalist, but he was abysmal at the plate, batting .163 with a .497 OPS. After Bradley picked up his player option for the 2022 season, he is going to be due $9.5 million.

Hunter Renfroe will join a Milwaukee Brewers outfield with Christian Yelich and Lorenzo Cain.

The addition of Renfroe will hopefully replace the production lost from Avisail Garcia’s departure–who posted an .820 OPS with 29 home runs. Since 2017, Renfroe has slashed .234/.295/.484 with an above-average OPS+ of 106.

In 2021 specifically, Renfroe hit .259 with 31 home runs, he posted an .816 OPS, and an OPS+ of 112. He brings some much-needed pop to this lineup and also a strong arm to the outfield. By DRS the last two seasons, Renfroe is just below league average at -2, although he was +23 between 2018 and 2019, according to Fangraphs.

Including the 2022 season, Renfroe still has two years of team control available and MLB Trade Rumors projects that he will earn $7.6 million in 2022 through arbitration—which is a few million dollars less than Bradley, giving the Crew some additional financial flexibility.

In addition to sending Bradley back to Boston, the Milwaukee Brewers are also sending two of their top-30 prospects. Hamilton, a shortstop, spent 2021 in high-A Wisconsin and AA Biloxi, slashing .258/.341/.419. While Binelas, a third baseman, was a Brewers draft pick this past summer.

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