Milwaukee Brewers: Grading Hunter Renfroe trade
The Milwaukee Brewers made their first big splash of the offseason when they traded outfielder Hunter Renfroe to the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for pitching prospects Janson Junk, Elvis Peguero, and Adam Seminaris.
Some could see this as the beginning of a salary dump for Milwaukee. Renfroe was one of the Brewers’ best hitters a season ago when he posted a 126 OPS+, 17 home runs and 69 RBIs. He’s also set to make around $11 million in 2023 before he hits free agency the following season.
On the other hand, Junk, Peguero, and Seminaris are much cheaper and at the beginning of their MLB careers. They have a lot of team control left, but aren’t surefire contributors at the major league level.
Brewers’ general manager Matt Arnold wants to ensure fans that is not the case. Milwaukee has a plethora of outfield prospects who are ready to contribute and this move opened up a starting spot for one of them. Those prospects include Garret Mitchell, Esteury Ruiz, Sal Frelick and Joey Weimer.
Here is a grade for the Milwaukee Brewers’ trade of Hunter Renfroe to the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for three pitching prospects.
Additionally, Arnold believes Junk will have the opportunity to earn a spot in the rotation as well. He was the Angels’ 16th-ranked prospect in their farm system. In six starts and seven total MLB appearances, he’s posted an ERA+ of 93 and an ERA of 4.74. It’s safe to say he needs work to do.
Peguero has had similar struggles in his brief MLB appearances. Seminaris was ranked as the 18th-best prospect for Los Angeles and has risen quickly since being drafted in 2020. Both Junk and Peguero are on the 40-man roster.
On the surface, this appears to be the beginning of a salary dump. It’s good to hear Arnold specifically say it’s not and that it’s about baseball. Only time will tell if that’s accurate. Milwaukee does have a few outfield prospects who could be ready to contribute in 2023 and needed to clear space to make that happen. This move does that, I guess.
Next. 5 Brewers set to hit unrestricted free agency. dark
It would’ve been nice to get some proven MLB players back since the Brewers are close to contending. However, we’ll get to see what their staff does with new pitchers. It’s also not a coincidence Renfroe will be on his fifth team in as many years. This deal is basic and unexciting from a Brewers’ perspective at this time.
Grade: C