In just the first step in a bit of trading flurry by the Denver Brewers, the team traded away AAA starting pitcher Steve LaCoste, 27-year old catcher Jeff Darden, and 21-year old catcher Jonathan Bennett to the Phoenix Speed Devils for 30-year old left-handed starting pitcher Hector Hard and 19-year old catcher Tommy Hollars.
In a clear sign that the team is thinking ahead to the possibility of a post-season berth, the acquisition of the first year pitcher who was signed by Phoenix as a free agent out of Cuba this past off-season gives the Brewers another quality left-handed starter and insurance in case the often injured Matt Helm is unavailable at any point the rest of this season. Hard is considered a great clubhouse presence, has great control, and is a ground-ball pitcher. Although he is a sidearmer, he is not considered particularly vulnerable to right handed hitters. He does have below average stamina and might tax the bullpen a bit in his starts, but he gives the team great flexibility in the post-season, should they make it.
Steve LaCoste is a great team leader (a captain, in fact) with decent skills who deserved a shot at the big leagues before this but was blocked in the Brewers organization. He may now get the chance he has been itching for. (Rumors are that he was unhappy to the point of anger pitching for AAA Chester.) Jeff Darden is a former Brewers back-up catcher who has been bypassed by younger players and had no future in Brewers purple.
Tommy Hollars is a young catcher with some potential to eventually have a big league role, though probably not a large one.