Brewers Safe Extra Stability at First Base With Carlos Santana

This may sound acquainted, however Carlos Santana has been traded to a playoff contender. After signing a one-year take care of the Pirates within the offseason, he has been despatched to the Brewers to assist reinforce the second-worst offense within the National League (88 wRC+). In return, the Pirates will get again teenage shortstop Jhonny Severino, a world free agent who signed for $1.2 million final summer season and solely has 60 skilled video games below his belt.

At this late level in Santana’s profession, he has established himself as a dependable, common participant, taking part in in 94 video games, accumulating 393 plate appearances, and posting a 99 wRC+ this season after a 102 mark final season. The manufacturing comes by in a barely completely different approach, however he has a 99 wRC+ from the left aspect and a 100 wRC+ from the suitable aspect. Similarly, he’s a dependable defender; to this point, he sits at +2 OAA with a 0% success charge added. Across the board, that is a mean dude.

We know who Santana is. Santana is aware of who he’s. The Brewers know who he’s. That isn’t tremendous attractive, however the Brewers don’t want attractive at first base; competence is an efficient first step for them. In Jay Jaffe’s Replacement Level Killers sequence, they topped the checklist at first base; no group has gotten much less manufacturing on the place. Santana has collected 1.0 WAR on the yr, so it’s not as if he is a large distinction maker, however he can present a vital stability as Milwaukee tries to carry on to first place within the NL Central.

As for the Pirates’ aspect of issues: Severino doesn’t have a lot skilled expertise. This yr, he has solely performed 12 video games with 52 plate appearances within the complicated league because of a sprained left wrist. In phrases of his profile, he’s a giant, projectable infielder who most definitely suits at third base long-term however is presently at shortstop. Overall, he has a 40 Future Value and slots in at twenty third on the Pirates checklist in the identical tier as prospects like Dariel Lopez and main leaguers corresponding to Nick Gonzales.

There is upside in Severino’s energy, which seems like it’s going to work to all fields. At 18 years previous, he’s already displaying reliable pop. There can be draw back within the hit software, although. From the little that we’ve seen, he’s operating a 30-grade chase charge, and his 1% stroll charge is barely regarding. But that might enhance with extra time; for instance, he ran a 7% stroll charge in 198 plate appearances final yr.

To spherical this out, let’s look a few of Severino’s at-bats:

There are a number of decrease physique actions taking place, and a few stepping within the bucket. Maintaining connection to the bottom all through your swing is an important a part of the training technique of hitting. As you develop into energy, your effort ranges to supply energy develop into extra managed. That will catch the attention of Severino as he develops and finally strikes out of the complicated league. There are a number of swings right here the place his first transfer is his lead hip drifting towards third base. Sometimes he counters his stepping within the bucket with a scissor kick to even issues out, however by then he already misplaced his fingers. On the opposite hand, there are some swings right here with critical thump (2:15 is a superb instance). The rotational energy is clearly there; it’s going to simply be a balancing act for Severino as he ages and faces higher competitors.

Teams just like the Pirates carry on gamers like Santana for a couple of causes, however considered one of them is hoping he performs nicely sufficient to garner a return like this on the commerce deadline. There isn’t any assure that Severino will assist the following good Pirates membership, however in a deal like this, all you need is a chance to have one thing to work with, and that’s precisely what they acquired. For the Brewers, it shores up what has been a big gap as they make a playoff push.