With
Ryan Campbell taking over as the starting third baseman it was felt that Russell Fleming deserved a chance to start elsewhere so he was traded to Oklahoma City for the 28-year old
Justin Banks.
Banks provides the Brewers with another excellent infield defender who also can hit pretty well and has great speed on the base paths. It does present a new challenge as
Victor Martinez had certainly earned the starting second base job and won't be happy to be a backup infielder.
Banks is also not very happy with the trade but hopefully over time we will win him over. The other trick is that
Banks is another right-handed bat and
Martinez is a valuable left-handed bat and the Brewers are unbalanced with some of their only left-handed bats remaining being veteran outfielders
Val Guzman and
Joe McPhillips, who are unlikely to be starters next season. This might cement
Chris Romines role on the club as a backup given that he is a switch hitter who bats better from the left side.