It was announced yesterday that the Denver Brewers had sent third baseman Rodrigo "RodRod" Rodriguez and left fielder John Flores to the Portland Wild Things in exchange for 25-year old outfielder
Antonio Acuna and minor league starting pitcher
Jesus Rodriguez.
The timing of the deal seemed to mostly have to do with
Bobby Erbakan's return to the active roster from his rehab stint at AAA Chester. With Bobby returning space needed to be cleared on the roster and the feeling is that rookie third baseman
Jose Figueroa has earned a spot on the big league roster and with veteran utility infielders
Joe Willemse and
Nick Ward both being able to provide him with quality back-up at the position, the unloading of the fragile and increasingly defensively challenged RodRod, the 1975 MGL Rookie of the Year, made the most sense. (And, of course, eventually
Jake DiCesare will return from the IL.) In packaging 29-year old John Flores in the mix the Brewers were able to get a younger, more defensively gifted and versatile, and more affordable, outfielder in
Acuna to replace him.
Acuna is a right-handed batter who will complement the three left-handed outfield starters on the team, all of whom he is quite capable of providing breathers to. While he is a capable center fielder, he is tremendous defensively on the corners, gives them team another speedy runner, and although he will rarely walk he has an advanced approach at the plate and potentially as good or better over-the-fence power than anyone on the team.
Jesus Rodriguez at best projects as a possible swing-man/spot starter with poor stamina, but the reality is that the organization needed some pitching help at the AA level and the durable control specialist should help stabilize the Nashville rotation a bit.
