MLB Trade Rumors: Milwaukee Brewers, San Diego Padres Swap Luis Urias, Zach Davies and Others

The MLB offseason is always dominated by trade talk and free agent signings and the San Diego Padres have done both just before Thanksgiving. The Friars have reportedly swapped players with the Milwaukee Brewers in a two-for-two trade before signing a free agent pitcher.

According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the Brewers are sending Zach Davies and Trent Grisham to the Padres in exchange for Luis Urias and Eric Lauer. Meanwhile, San Diego has also reportedly agreed to terms with free agent left-handed reliever Drew Pomeranz.

With Urias, Milwaukee has acquired a young middle infielder with loads of potential. He entered the 2019 season as the #16 prospect in all of baseball entering the 2019 season after batting .308 in parts of six minor league seasons.

Lauer, meanwhile, is a 24-year-old southpaw who has already started 52 games at the major league level. He doesn’t have the same high ceiling as Urias but should develop into a steady arm at the major league level.

The Padres are set to acquire veteran starter Zach Davies as part of the swap. Davies owns a career 3.91 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and a 43-32 record and is still 26 years old, so he is a blend of experience and youth who should excel in San Diego.

23-year-old outfielder Grisham completes the deal. Grisham bats and throws left-handed and made his MLB debut in 2019 for the Brew Crew and hit a modest .231 but owned an OBP of .328. He became the Brewers’ main right fielder in late 2019 after Christian Yelich went down injured.

The trade has an upside for both teams as they both get solid prospects who are ready to contribute to a limited extent at the major league level. Milwaukee will likely move Urias from second base to shortstop to Orlando Arcia who has underperformed for the Brewers.

San Diego, meanwhile, gets Davies who will go some way to solving their starting pitching problems without splashing major money in free agency. The Padres are also set to add reliever Pomeranz via free agency in a four-year deal, filling a gap in their bullpen.

Pomeranz played 46 games for the Brewers and San Francisco Giants in 2019 and can be used as a starter if necessary. As a reliever, he posted a 2.39 ERA with 45 strikeouts spread over just 26 1/3 innings with Milwaukee this past season.