Tag: Milwaukee Brewers

Brewers get Moustakas from Royals for prospects

ESPN News Services

The Kansas City Royals have traded former All-Star slugger Mike Moustakas to the Milwaukee Brewers for minor league outfielder Brett Phillips and minor league pitcher Jorge Lopez.

A key member of the Royals’ 2015 World Series championship team, Moustakas became a free agent after last season and signed a one-year contract with the Royals in March that includes a mutual option for 2019. The Royals are last in the American League Central at 31-71.

“We were looking for another big bat to add to the lineup, and we got it,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said Friday night. “We feel like we can put together a really tough lineup on a daily basis now.”

The 29-year-old Moustakas is hitting .249 with 20 homers and 62 RBIs this season. Milwaukee announced the trade after beating the San Francisco Giants 3-1.

“Two left-handed bats in the lineup with pop, I’ll take it,” Chase Anderson, Friday’s winning pitcher, said in reference to Moustakas and Brewers first baseman Eric Thames.

Kansas City had left Yankee Stadium when Friday’s rainout was announced. Moustakas will be reunited with former World Series champion teammate Lorenzo Cain on the Brewers.

Travis Shaw is the Brewers’ regular third baseman. He could move to second to make room for Moustakas. Shaw has been taking grounders at second, although he has never played the position professionally.

“They approached me, I guess, about a month ago and asked my thoughts about how comfortable I was over there, this and that,” Shaw said. “I feel like I can do a decent job over there. The world’s going to say I can’t do it. I take that challenge to heart. It’s obviously going to make our lineup better. It’s going to make our lineup deeper. Moustakas is a good player. He’s won a World Series. He’s a middle-of-the-order type of guy. He’s going to extend our lineup. He’s going to give us another left-handed power guy.”

The Brewers, whose last playoff appearance was in 2011, are 1½ games behind the Chicago Cubs in the National League Central and have a 2½-game lead for the first NL wild-card spot. Earlier this week, they acquired veteran reliever Joakim Soria from the Chicago White Sox.

“We’re focused on the upside offensively to add an impact bat to the lineup, a guy who we think fits our lineup and our ballpark very well,” Milwaukee general manager David Stearns said. “The truth is, with the way we move our infielders around, conventional positions don’t apply to us all that much. We ask a lot of our infielders … to play all over the dirt. And so Travis has played all over the dirt for the majority of this season and for most of last season as well.”

Moustakas had six career postseason home runs for the Royals. Only George Brett hit more, with 10. With Moustakas’ departure, Alcides Escobar, Salvador Perez and Alex Gordon are the only starters for the Royals from the clinching Game 5 of the 2015 World Series still left on the team.

Moustakas was first named an All-Star in 2015. After a right knee injury cut short his 2016 season, he bounced back in 2017 for his second All-Star appearance and was named AL Comeback Player of the Year.

Phillips is the 10th-ranked prospect in the Brewers system, according to MLB Pipeline. He is hitting .240 with six home runs and 25 RBIs for Triple-A Colorado Springs this season, and he saw action in 15 games for the Brewers.

Lopez also has been playing for Colorado Springs, going 3-3 with a 5.65 ERA in 24 relief appearances. The right-hander has appeared in 13 major league games, including 10 this season for Milwaukee.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/24214390/milwaukee-brewers-acquire-mike-moustakas-kansas-city-royals

Brewers acquire reliever Soria from White Sox

By Blake Froling

The Milwaukee Brewers traded for Chicago White Sox reliever Joakim Soria this afternoon, according to both teams.

Soria, 34, is off to a strong start as the Sox closer with a 2.56 ERA in 38 2/3 innings with 49 strikeouts and 16 saves. He’ll join an already stingy Brewers bullpen that sports the third-best ERA in the National League.

In exchange for Soria and cash considerations, the White Sox received left-hander Kodi Medeiros and right-hander Wilber Perez. Medieros, 22, is currently in double-A with an ERA of 3.14 and Perez, 20, is in the Dominican Summer League with a 2.41 ERA.

According to general manager David Stearns, this might not be the last move Milwaukee makes.

With starting pitcher Brent Suter on the shelf with Tommy John surgery and Zach Davies and Jimmy Nelson on the DL, starting pitching would be the next logical target for Milwaukee. They’re currently 2.5 games behind the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central and one game ahead in the wild card standings.

(Photo by Allen Kee / ESPN Images)

Report: Brewers pitcher Brent Suter likely needs Tommy John surgery

Milwaukee Brewers left-hander Brent Suter has a torn UCL in his pitching elbow and likely will need Tommy John surgery, according to a report Monday by The Athletic.

Brewers manager Craig Counsell announced Sunday that Suter would be placed on the disabled list after the southpaw experienced forearm tightness in his start against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Suter allowed six runs in just three innings Sunday and is 8-7 with a 4.80 ERA this season. He is the latest Brewers starter to be sidelined with an injury, joining Junior Guerra, Zach Davies and Jimmy Nelson.

Guerra is expected to be activated from the DL for Tuesday’s start against the Washington Nationals, but a long-term injury for Suter could prompt the Brewers to trade for a starting pitcher before the July 31 non-waiver deadline.

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/24176018/brent-suter-milwaukee-brewers-torn-ligament-pitching-elbow-likely-needs-tommy-john-surgery

Photo: AP Photo/Morry Gash

Keep an eye on these starting pitchers as deadline nears

Buster Olney, ESPN Senior Writer

Small sample size carries weight in July in a way it does not the rest of the baseball season, as teams get inspired — or spooked — by a couple of really good or really bad games leading up to the trade deadline.

An evaluator told a story recently about how one of his players in the midst of a good season struggled one day, and the phone calls from other teams with expressions of trade interest stopped. As if someone had turned off a light switch.

Everybody is looking to land the right player at the exact right time, and there could be no better example of this than in the market for starting pitching, which is generally regarded by executives as thin, lacking in high-end options.

Six weeks ago, Toronto’s J.A. Happ might have been the ranked near the top of this crop, but he has a 9.75 ERA in his past three starts, allowing 19 hits, eight walks and four homers in 12 innings, and scouts’ enthusiasm for him has waned — particularly as they try to project how he might do against playoff teams down the stretch or in October. On the other hand, the power stuff of the Rays’ Nathan Eovaldi and his three great performances from June 26 to July 8 — in which he allowed two earned runs and punched out 23 hitters in 19 innings — probably guarantees a small army of scouts will follow him for the rest of this month, in case he turns out to be the best option available. Matt Harvey was awful in 2017 and at the outset of 2018, and in 12 starts with the Reds, he has thrown much better, with only 15 walks in 64⅓ innings and a 3.64 ERA.

The Red Sox, Brewers, Yankees, Cubs, Mariners, Braves and Phillies are among the contenders who could be sifting through the high volume of rotation trade options, and unless the Mets decide to earnestly dangle Jacob deGrom, there may not be an elite starting pitcher available. They are all sifting through the same alternatives.

J.A. Happ, Blue Jays: He’ll get two more opportunities against bad teams to boost his trade value — on Sunday against the Baltimore Orioles, and five days later against the White Sox.

Marco Estrada, Blue Jays: Because of hip trouble, he has pitched one-third of an inning this month, but he’ll return to the mound against the Twins on Monday and have a couple of starts before the trade deadline. Estrada, 35, has a 4.72 ERA. He’s making $13 million this season.

Nathan Eovaldi, Rays: His average fastball velocity is 97.3 mph this season, and he’s getting a ton of missed swings — 10.6 percent for the year is a career high for the right-hander. He has the kind of raw stuff that might enable him to beat a good lineup on a good day. But Eovaldi is in his first summer after Tommy John surgery, and rival evaluators know acquiring him might carry risk because of the health unknowns — how he’ll hold up through the summer. The Minnesota Twins whacked him around for nine hits and eight runs in 2⅔ innings in his last start July 13, and he is lined up to make two more starts before the deadline — Friday against the Marlins, and Wednesday versus the Yankees. Solid outings could really boost interest in him.

If he doesn’t pitch well and fuels the perception he might simply need more time to rebuild, the Rays could consider the option of extending a one-year qualifying offer this fall, for about $18 million, to set themselves up either for draft pick compensation or holding Eovaldi on a low-risk deal.

James Shields, White Sox: The right-hander is 4-10 with a 4.43 ERA, with unusual home/road splits — a 3.51 ERA in 13 home starts, and a 6.14 ERA on the road. In two starts against the Astros, he allowed 18 hits and 15 runs in 11 innings.

Lance Lynn, Twins: Minnesota opens the second half 7 ½ games behind the Indians in the AL Central, and with one bad week, they could become sellers. Lynn has had an inconsistent season, as his ERA month-to-month demonstrates:

April: 8.37

May: 3.76

June: 2.83

July: 7.82

The 31-year-old Lynn is owed $4 million over the last two months of the season, and he could be an option for some team looking for an experienced starter for depth.

Matt Harvey, Reds: He has pitched effectively against contenders since joining Cincinnati, beating the Cubs, Braves, Brewers and Cardinals, and in his past five starts, he has a 1.86 ERA, while generating more ground balls.

Kyle Gibson, Twins: He has a 3.42 ERA in 19 starts, and while other clubs say he’s not being pushed in the trade market by Minnesota, rival executives are watching him as a possible option if the Twins become sellers. Gibson will be eligible for free agency after 2019.

Jake Odorizzi, Twins: He’s making $6.3 million this season, and has a 4.54 ERA.

Francisco Liriano, Tigers: The 34-year-old lefty has a 4.67 ERA, and it may be that some teams will have more interest in him as bullpen depth, because he has held left-handed hitters to five hits in 57 at-bats (.088). Liriano is making $4 million this season.

Zack Wheeler, Mets: He’s eligible for free agency after the 2019 season, and this year has a 4.44 ERA in 107⅓ innings.

Mike Fiers, Tigers: Over his past nine starts, he has pitched well, with a 2.75 ERA, including 5⅔ good innings against the Yankees and decent outings against the Astros and Indians. With a salary of $6 million, and under team control in 2019, he is likely one of the most attractive trade alternatives right now.

Tyson Ross, Padres: The right-hander has a daunting injury history, and has had two rough starts this month, surrendering 15 runs in seven innings against the Pirates and Diamondbacks. However, he pitched well against the Dodgers on July 12, allowing two runs in 6⅓ innings, and there’s another reason he might be really attractive to contenders — he’s making a base salary of only $1.75 million.

Chris Archer, Rays: His velocity has been down, and his overall numbers have been down. But his contract is so team friendly — $6.4 million this year, $7.7 million for next year, with team options for 2020 ($9 million) and 2021 ($11 million) — a contender might be inspired to make a bid for the former All-Star. But it still seems unlikely another team would meet Tampa Bay’s high asking price.

Ivan Nova, Pirates: He has a 4.38 ERA in 18 starts and 102⅔ innings. He’s making $9.167 million this year, and will make $9.167 million next year, which might make him less attractive than some of the other names on this list.

Photo: Abbie Parr/Getty Images

http://www.espn.com/blog/buster-olney/insider/post/_/id/18744/olney-keep-an-eye-on-these-starting-pitchers-as-deadline-nears

Hader remorseful for offensive tweets

Eddie Matz, ESPN Senior Writer

WASHINGTON — Josh Hader’s All-Star experience went from bad to worse.

After a bumpy outing in his first All-Star appearance, the Milwaukee Brewers reliever suddenly found himself caught up in a Twitter firestorm. Late during Tuesday night’s All-Star Game, some racist and anti-gay tweets that Hader sent when he was a teenager surfaced.

After the game, Hader apologized for his actions.

“You know, it was something that happened when I was 17 years old,” he said. “As a child, I was immature, and I obviously said some things that were inexcusable. That doesn’t reflect on who I am as a person today, and that’s just what it is.”

Hader, 24, said that his old messages do not reflect his current beliefs.

“Obviously, when you’re a kid, you just tweet what’s on your mind, and you know, that’s what’s on,” he said

The reliever, who appeared in the eighth inning and gave up three runs and four hits, including a three-run homer to Mariners shortstop Jean Segura, said he wasn’t aware of the controversy until after the game.

“Just came in, and my phone was blowing up,” he said. “You can’t, there’s no excuse for what was said. I’m deeply sorry for what I’ve said and what’s been going on, and like I said, it doesn’t reflect any of my beliefs going on now.”

Although he had yet to address the issue with any of his Milwaukee teammates, he said he planned to do so.

“Yeah, for sure. It’s something that they shouldn’t be involved in,” he said. “Being 17 years old, you know, you make stupid decisions and mistakes.”

The second-year player also said he was prepared for any discipline that might be handed down as a result of his actions.

“I’m ready for any consequences that happen for what happened seven years ago,” he said.

Deputy commissioner Dan Halem, speaking outside the NL clubhouse, said he had spoken to Hader. He said Major League Baseball would not have any comment before Wednesday.

As Hader’s tweets were going viral, some of Hader’s friends and family in attendance were given blank gear while sitting in the stands. They were wearing blank National League gear outside the clubhouse toward the end of the game.

Fellow Brewers All-Star Lorenzo Cain addressed reporters postgame and revealed that, by that time, he had spoken with Hader.

“We just talked a little bit. I was just trying to understand the situation,” Cain said. “He was young. We all say some crazy stuff when we’re young. That’s one reason why I don’t have social media — for things like this. You always in trouble for things you said when you’re younger. So we move on from it. The situation is what it is. I know Hader, I know he’s a great guy, he’s a great teammate. So I’m fine. Everybody will be OK. We’ll move on from it, for sure.”

The Brewers entered the All-Star break with a record of 55-43 and are 2½ games behind the Chicago Cubs in the National League Central.

Buoyed by Hader’s standout relief pitching and the offseason signing of Cain and fellow free agent Christian Yelich, Milwaukee was in first place for much of the first half but lost its last six games heading into the All-Star break to fall behind Chicago.

A 19th-round pick of the Baltimore Orioles in 2012, the left-handed Hader was traded to the Houston Astros in July 2013. Two years later, he was dealt to the Brewers before the 2015 trade deadline. This season, in 31 games with Milwaukee, Hader is 2-0 with seven saves and a 1.50 ERA. In 48 innings, he has recorded 89 strikeouts, most among relievers.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/24126018/josh-hader-milwaukee-brewers-apologizes-old-inappropriate-tweets

Photo by Jeff Curry/Getty Images

Orioles have deal in place for Manny Machado, working through trade specifics

ESPN News Services

The Baltimore Orioles have the structure of a deal in place for Manny Machado and are working through specific aspects of a trade, sources told ESPN’s Buster Olney.

As Machado prepares for Tuesday night’s All-Star Game in what could be his final appearance in a Baltimore uniform, the Orioles were going through medical records and other paperwork involved in the transaction, sources told Olney.

It is not yet known which team Machado will be traded to, but the Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies have been invested in their pursuit of the All-Star shortstop.

Fancred reported earlier Tuesday that the Dodgers had emerged as the leading contender to acquire Machado but also noted that the talks were fluid and identified the Phillies, Milwaukee Brewers and Arizona Diamondbacks as contenders with an “outside chance” to land the four-time All-Star.

MLB.com reported Monday night, however, that Philadelphia was the “most likely destination” for Machado because of the Phillies’ willingness to include pitching prospect Adonis Medina. MASN Sports was first to report Monday that the Orioles were very close to a Machado trade.

As rumors swirled about his imminent departure from the Orioles, Machado addressed the media Monday, acknowledging it would feel different to play for another team.

“The only thing I’ve ever known has been the Orioles organization,” he said. “They drafted me, I came up with them, played with them. So I don’t know anything different.”

Olney reported Sunday that even if the Phillies do not trade for Machado this summer, they would ardently pursue him as a free agent after the season. Philadelphia’s front office is loaded with former Orioles officials who were involved in the drafting and developing of Machado — including president Andy MacPhail, general manager Matt Klentak and assistant GM Ned Rice.

According to Olney, the Phillies prospects being evaluated by the Orioles were Medina, pitcher Franklyn Kilome, outfielder Jhailyn Ortiz and infielder Arquimedes Gamboa.

Machado, 26, was drafted by the Orioles with the No. 3 pick in 2010 and has been a starter in Baltimore since 2012. His contract expires after this season, and the Orioles aren’t in a position to match the offers the four-time All-Star is expected to receive on the open market.

Machado insists he’s not thinking about whether Tuesday night might be his last in Orioles attire.

“No, no. I’m putting it on and I’m going to represent the organization in the right way,” he said Monday. “If it is, it is. If not, I’ll be there on Friday [in Toronto], back with my teammates.”

Machado would be a solid addition to any contender. He converted from third base to shortstop this season and has played the position well enough to easily win the All-Star fan vote at the position.

“People didn’t think I should have made the move in my walk year, but I did. I’m going to the All-Star Game as an Oriole and as a shortstop,” Machado said.

By far the best performer on a last-place team, Machado leads the Orioles in batting average (.315), home runs (24), RBIs (65) and walks (45).

“We’ll see where he ends up in the next week or two,” Milwaukee outfielder Christian Yelich said. “I know we’re one of the teams rumored to be in to get him.”

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Photo: John Minchillo/AP Photo

Milwaukee’s Aguilar wins NL All-Star Final Vote

ESPN News Services

Jean Segura and Jesus Aguilar are headed to the All-Star Game.

The Seattle Mariners shortstop and Milwaukee Brewers first baseman won the online fan votes for the 32nd and final roster spots on the American League and National League teams, respectively.

“It was unbelievable,” Segura said. “I can’t believe all those people around the world, the fans, the marketing, the organization, the people in Seattle, my teammates, even Felix [Hernandez] yesterday going around the city trying to get some votes for me. It just feels amazing. It feels special. You come from another country and you see how the people support you around the world, it makes it even more special.”

Aguilar, 28, drew 20.2 million votes to secure his first All-Star selection. His total was the second-highest in the history of the All-Star Final Vote, trailing only Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Justin Turner’s 20.8 million votes last year.

The Venezuelan was tied for the National League lead with 23 home runs and becomes the fourth Milwaukee player headed to the game.

“The campaign was unbelievable — the people in Wisconsin and around the world really supported me,” Aguilar said. “It’s a great thing.”

Brewers outfielders Lorenzo Cain and Christian Yelich had already been chosen, along with reliever Josh Hader.

Aguilar has 67 RBIs, including 12 in his past seven games, and is batting .307.

“I’m swinging really good right now,” he said.

San Francisco Giants first baseman Brandon Belt finished second in the NL balloting, followed by Max Muncy of the Dodgers, Trea Turner of the Washington Nationals and Matt Carpenter of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Belt thanked the fans, his teammates and San Francisco’s social media crew for the efforts to get him in the All-Star Game.

“I was told Russia actually interfered with this election,” Belt quipped.

Segura, 28, snagged the last AL spot with 13.6 million votes. He was followed by Boston Red Sox outfielder Andrew Benintendi, New York Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton, Minnesota Twins outfielder Eddie Rosario and Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons.

The Seattle shortstop was batting .329 and ranked second in the majors with 116 hits. He will join Mariners teammates Nelson Cruz, Edwin Diaz and Mitch Haniger at the All-Star Game. Segura, who made the NL All-Star squad in 2013 with Milwaukee, is the first Seattle player to win the fan voting for the final spot.

The 89th All-Star Game will be held Tuesday at Nationals Park in Washington.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Photo: Jeff Hanisch/USA TODAY Sports

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/24071912/2018-all-star-final-vote-winners-jesus-aguilar-milwaukee-brewers-jean-segura-seattle-mariners

Real or not? The Brewers need to trade for Jacob deGrom

David Schoenfield
ESPN Senior Writer

The Milwaukee Brewers should go all-in and trade for Jacob deGrom.

The Brewers have made the playoffs four times in their history. It’s interesting to note that in each of those years, they made a big trade for a pitcher:

• In 2011, they acquired Zack Greinke before the season for Lorenzo Cain, Alcides Escobar, Jake Odorizzi and Jeremy Jeffress. Greinke went 16-6 as the Brewers won 96 games and the NL Central.

• In 2008, they acquired CC Sabathia on July 7. He went 11-2 with a 1.65 ERA in 17 starts, threw seven complete games and memorably carried the Brewers to the wild card by starting three times on three days’ rest the final nine days of the season.

• In 1982, they acquired Don Sutton on Aug. 30 and he went 4-1 in seven starts, including beating the Orioles on the final day of the season as the Brewers won the AL East by one game over Baltimore.

• In 1981, they acquired Rollie Fingers in the offseason, and he went on to win Cy Young and MVP honors as the team’s closer.

In those rare seasons when the Brewers have chased a playoff spot, seizing the moment has been their defining characteristic. The Brewers lead the Cubs in the NL Central. The Cubs are still the division favorites, but the Brewers are a good team. They have a dominant bullpen led by the unhittable Josh Hader. The lineup has a couple of holes and is only middle of the pack in the NL, but the Brewers lead the majors in defensive runs saved. The rotation is solid but unspectacular, ranking 13th in the majors in ERA. What the rotation needs is an ace. It needs Jacob deGrom.

Todd Kirkland/AP Photo

The Mets’ season is over. They’re 13 games under .500, and their lineup on Tuesday included an LOL defense of Jose Reyes at short, Asdrubal Cabrera at second, Dominic Smith in left and Jose Bautista in right. It isn’t certain that the Mets should trade deGrom, let alone that they will, especially given that he’s under team control through 2020. The announcement Tuesday that GM Sandy Alderson is taking a leave of absence for cancer treatment and that his tenure as GM is probably over only complicates the direction of the club.

Do the Brewers have the young talent to acquire deGrom? It probably would take a package that exceeds even what they gave up for Greinke, who had two seasons of team control. Their top prospect is bat-first second baseman Keston Hiura, who is hitting .331/.389/.537 in the minors, including .358 in 21 games at Double-A. Corbin Burnes is the team’s top pitching prospect, and he has a 4.93 ERA at Triple-A Colorado Springs, with more K’s than innings, and I’d look at that more than a high ERA at Colorado Springs.

You start with those two. The Brewers have a glut of outfielders. Domingo Santana hit 30 home runs last year and has been sent back to Triple-A to find his stroke and get some playing time. The Mets have their own glut of outfielders, but you can sort all that out later. Maybe you throw in Freddy Peralta, the undersized right-hander with the big numbers at Triple-A and a couple of impressive outings in the majors, including seven scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts and one hit on Tuesday against the Royals (though he probably faced better lineups at Colorado Springs). Is that enough? Hiura, Burnes, Santana and Peralta for deGrom? Maybe you get the Mets to include Cabrera, who would provide an offensive upgrade at second base.

The Cubs are vulnerable. The Brewers can win this thing. It isn’t likely that they can ever sign an ace, since they’ll lose every bidding war. They have to trade for one.

More: http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/23919537/real-not-brewers-need-trade-jacob-degrom

Brewers recall Brad Miller, send down struggling Domingo Santana

Associated Press

MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Brewers recalled veteran infielder Brad Miller from Triple-A Colorado Springs on Saturday and optioned struggling outfielder Domingo Santana there in an exchange of former 30-homer players.

Miller, acquired from Tampa Bay on June 10 for first baseman-outfielder Ji-Man Choi, was in the Brewers’ starting lineup at second base and batting sixth Saturday against St. Louis.

Jeff Roberson/AP Photo

“That first day, no matter how much sleep you have, no matter the travel, it doesn’t really matter, you’re running on adrenaline,” Miller said before the game. “Excited to get in there right away and get to work.”

Santana hit .278 last season for Milwaukee with 30 homers and 85 RBI, but never got going this season. He hit .249 and just three homers and 17 RBI in 189 at-bats.

“At some point, we’re going to need Domingo and we’d prefer that he was kind of rolling and clicking when that times comes,” manager Craig Counsell said.

“It’s tough to do it when you’re not playing that much. It’s not something that you want to have to do, and he was a big part of our success last year. But, we just need to get him going and the best way to do that is have him playing,” he said.

With Jesus Aguilar and his team-best 16 homers earning more time at first base, recently activated Eric Thames has been playing more outfield, reducing Santana’s role.

The 28-year-old Miller batted .256 with five homers and 21 RBI in 48 games this season with Tampa Bay. Miller hit .243 with 30 homers and 81 RBI for the Rays in 2016, but dipped to .201 with nine homers and 40 RBI last season.

“Each year is different and you kind of go with the ebbs and flows — but I think just being in this environment and in this culture they’ve created here, it seems pretty positive for everybody involved,” Miller said.

Miller has started at seven different positions in the majors. He played 105 games at shortstop with Tampa Bay in 2016, then 98 games at second base with the Rays last season. This year, he played 35 games at first and six at second with Tampa Bay.

“What we may ask of him is to move around the field more regularly at different positions on a daily basis, whether it be double switches late in the game or in a starting role,” Counsell said. “But, he is versatile, he’s a pretty good athlete. He has done this all before, it’s just kind of getting him comfortable with doing it again.”

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/23887041/milwaukee-brewers-recall-brad-miller-send-struggling-domingo-santana

Brewers pitcher vomits twice, finishes inning

ESPN News Services

Milwaukee Brewers reliever Adrian Houser made it through the top of the eighth inning of a 10-9 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday despite vomiting twice during the inning.

The right-hander, who was called on to pitch in the inning with the Brewers trailing 8-5, first vomited behind the mound after finishing his warm-up tosses. Manager Craig Counsell came out to the mound and gave the pitcher a bottle of water while the grounds crew came on to clean up the spot. He then threw a few more warm-up tosses and remained in the game. He allowed a double to Phillies catcher Jorge Alfaro to open the inning and then got pinch hitter Jesmuel Valentin to ground out before vomiting a second time.

Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Counsell came back out of the dugout to check on Houser again, but the pitcher was able to remain in the game. He allowed a run-scoring double by shortstop Scott Kingery but then got second baseman Cesar Hernandez to fly out and left fielder Rhys Hoskins to ground out.

The Brewers were not charged with mound visits when Counsell checked on his pitcher, umpire Laz Diaz indicated on the field.

“For Adrian today, it was just kind of a combination of a bunch of factors. He wasn’t under the weather at all, but it was an early wake-up call, not enough food, heat, probably a little nerves from getting to the big leagues today,” Counsell said.

“There wasn’t very much coming out. It wasn’t a food thing,” he said with a chuckle.

Counsell, who played 16 seasons in the majors and has been the Brewers’ manager since 2015, said this was the first time he saw a pitcher vomit while on the mound. He said he wasn’t worried about Houser’s safety.

“Adrian was completely fine,” Counsell said. “It was like he was just trying to get that part over with. There was no panic in his eyes, not in any way. He was talking and he wasn’t struggling at all. Like I said, it was just a kind of combination of all those factors. He was fine, kind of after he sat down and everything was good.”

This was just Houser’s fifth major league appearance. He had made two appearances for the Brewers in 2015 and two this season before Sunday.

“I think it was a combination of traveling this morning and not having a lot of food in me. I was trying to stay hydrated in the bullpen. It’s pretty hot here compared to Colorado Springs. All combined, it got me,” Houser said.

Houser’s willingness to stay in the game impressed Phillies manager Gabe Kapler.

“I have a lot of respect for anybody who would step behind the mound and throw up and step back on the mound and pitch,” he said.

Houser was recalled from Triple-A Colorado Springs earlier Sunday. The Brewers optioned right-hander Jorge Lopez to Colorado Springs in a corresponding move.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/23824206/adrian-houser-milwaukee-brewers-vomits-twice-finishes-inning