MLB Weekly Digest July 30th Edition

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The prior week in MLB was about a team in the American League making moves to improve their pitching staff, an incredible will be sidelined for several weeks, and a third baseman gets moved to a contender.

New York Yankees Strengthen Pitching Staff by Acquiring Zach Britton And J.A. Happ

The New York made a pair of moves last week to fortify their pitching staff as they acquired reliever Zach Britton from the Baltimore Orioles and starting pitcher J.A. Happ from the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Yankees sent right-handed pitchers Dillon Tate and Cody Carroll and left-handed pitcher Josh Rogers to complete the deal for Britton, per a team announcement.

The Orioles have acquired RHP Dillon Tate, LHP Josh Rogers, and RHP Cody Carroll from the New York Yankees in exchange for LHP Zach Britton. #Birdland

— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) July 25, 2018

Britton posted a 3.45 ERA in 16 games (15 2/3 innings) for the Orioles with 13 strikeouts, 10 walks and one home run yielded.

The Yankees already had a strong bullpen before adding Britton, and this will make it better. He joins a loaded bullpen that already includes, Aroldis Chapman, Dellin Betances, Adam Warren, David Robertson, Chad Green, and Jonathan Holden.

The pen has four arms in Britton, Chapman, Robertson, and Betances who each have experience closing games. Robertson and Britton are the only members in the bullpen that have an ERA over three.

It will be challenging for opposing teams to score runs against the Yankees once the starter exits as each member of their pen are very effective.

This move was also great for the Orioles as they received three solid pitchers and centerpiece was Tate. He was ranked as the ninth-best prospect in the Yankees farm system and compiled a 3.38 ERA in 15 starts this season in the minors.

The Orioles desperately need pitching to be competitive in the future, and this deal accomplished that goal.

The Yankees sent outfielder Billy McKinney and infielder Brandon Drury to the Blue Jays to acquire Happ, per the Yankees.

OFFICIAL: The Yankees have acquired LHP J.A. Happ from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for INF Brandon Drury and OF Billy McKinney.

— Yankees PR Dept. (@YankeesPR) July 26, 2018

This move addressed a significant weakness for the Yankees, which was their rotation. Happ pitched well for the Blue Jays this year as indicated by his 4.18 ERA in 114 innings (20 games) with 130 strikeouts, 35 walks, and a 3.85 FIP.

He was great in his debut for the Yankees yesterday as he surrendered just one run on three hits in six innings against the Kansas City Royals.

This is what the Yankees were expecting when they made a move for Happ.

The team fixed a significant weakness and strengthened their bullpen with the acquisitions of Happ and Britton.

New York Yankees Outfielder Aaron Judge Sidelined Three Weeks with Wrist Injury

The New York Yankees will be without impact outfielder Aaron Judge for several weeks. Judge sustained a chip fracture of the ulnar styloid bone in his right wrist, and he’s expected to be out for three weeks, per an announcement by the Yankees.

Tonight OF Aaron Judge sustained a chip fracture of the right wrist (ulnar styloid bone). No surgery has been recommended. The Yankees approximate a 3-week time period before Judge can swing a bat in a game situation.

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) July 27, 2018

He was hit by a pitch a couple days ago against the Kansas City Royals, and the good news is that he won’t need surgery.

The loss of Judge is monumental for the Yankees as he’s been one of the most productive members in their lineup.

The slugging outfielder has a .285 batting average and .947 OPS in 99 games with 20 doubles, 26 home runs, 61 RBIs, six stolen bases and a 153 OPS+.

The Yankees do have a stacked lineup that can score runs at a stable rate, but losing Judge still hurts.

Hopefully, Judge can return in three weeks, and the wrist injury won’t impact him moving forward.

Milwaukee Brewers Acquire Third Baseman Mike Moustakas from Kansas City Royals for Two Prospects

The Milwaukee Brewers made a move to improve their lineup over the weekend as they acquired third baseman Mike Moustakas from the Kansas City Royals.

3B Mike Moustakas has been acquired from Kansas City in exchange for OF Brett Phillips and RHP Jorge López. pic.twitter.com/whyCdXBEVb

— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) July 28, 2018

They sent outfielder Brett Phillips and right-handed pitcher Jorge Lopez to the Royals to complete the deal.

Moustakas was a having a decent year at the plate for the Royals, as indicated by his .249 average and .778 OPS in 98 games with 21 doubles, 20 home runs, and 62 RBIs.

This was a sweet deal for the Brewers as they acquire a good hitter in Moustakas, who adds power to their lineup.

The only negative aspect of the move for the Brewers is that Travis Shaw will have to shift over to second base, which is a position he has zero experience playing.

It’s a risky move by the team, but it could have a huge payoff if the Brewers qualify for the postseason.

About Post Author

Chris Lacey

Chris is a New Jersey native whose favorite sports team is the Arizona Diamondbacks. He previously attended Western New England College to study Sports Management. Chris has been following the Diamondbacks since he was 12. You can find him on Twitter at @aecanada12.

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