ESPN’s Keith Law broke the news, which has since been confirmed: the Brewers have sent shortstop Jean Segura and pitcher Tyler Wagner to the Diamondbacks in exchange for pitcher Chase Anderson, second baseman Aaron Hill, and young minor league infielder Isan Diaz.
Brewers GM David Stearns said of the trade, “In Chase Anderson and Aaron Hill, we are adding two proven Major League contributors who will impact our team this year.”
The rebuilding Brewers cut ties with Jean Segura, who will earn $2.6 million in his first year of arbitration eligibility. The 25-year-old shortstop was an All-Star in 2013, but has posted underwhelming numbers since, batting an aggregate .252/.285/.331 over 1,141 plate appearances since the beginning of the 2014 season. Jonathan Villar will take over shortstop with Segura out of the picture. Per Tom Haudicourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Stearns confirmed that shortstop prospect Orlando Arcia will start the season with Triple-A Colorado Springs.
Wagner, 25, made his major league debut last season, putting up a 7.24 ERA with five strikeouts and seven walks in 13 2/3 innings spanning three starts. However, his numbers at Double-A Biloxi -- where he spent most of his 2015 campaign -- were impressive, as he had a 2.25 ERA with 120 strikeouts and 45 walks over 152 1/3 innings.
Anderson, 28, joins the Brewers with the ability to provide some rotation stability for a while, as he won’t be eligible for free agency until after the 2020 season. The right-hander has a career 4.18 ERA in his first two seasons as a big leaguer. While Anderson’s numbers aren’t impressive, he is a decent bet to hit six innings most of the time he starts.
Hill, 33, finally gets a new address as the Diamondbacks had been trying to move him throughout the offseason. The veteran second baseman has battled injuries in his 30’s, limiting him to a meager .238/.290/.359 batting line with 16 home runs and 99 RBI in 894 plate appearances over the last two seasons. He’ll earn $12 million this season before hitting free agency, some of which will be covered by the D-Backs. Hill will likely platoon at second base with Scooter Gennett.
Diaz, 19, was selected by the Diamondbacks in the second round of the 2014 draft out of Springfield Central High School in Massachusetts. In 312 plate appearances in rookie ball last season, he hit .360/.436/.640. Diaz is a long way from the majors, but he makes for a nice lottery ticket for the Brewers.
