Trade proposals for the Milwaukee Brewers and Toronto Blue Jays One Power Hitting Infielder, Willy Adames
The Milwaukee Brewers and Toronto Blue Jays were recently involved in a mock trade from Bleacher Report Walk-Off. This proposed trade was a one for one swap that involved Willy Adames and power hitting infielder Orelvis Martinez. Is this a fair trade for both sides?
Brewers shortstop Willy Adames is entering his final year of team control and is projected to make $12.4 million in 2024. He has been a staple in Milwaukee’s lineup since joining the team in the middle of the 2021 season and he has slugged 80 home runs over the past three seasons. Defensively he has exceptional range and a strong throwing arm to go with it.
In the Blue Jays farm system 22 year old third baseman/shortstop Orelvis Martinez slots in as the organization’s second ranked prospect. The right-hander has exceptional power that includes hitting 86 long balls over the past three seasons. He was added to the 40-man roster in November of 2022 in order to be protected from the Rule-5 draft but he has not yet made his MLB debut.
Throughout his minor league career Martinez has seen his batting average and on-base percentage fluctuate. He hit just three points over the mendoza line in 2022 and had an on-base percentage less than .300. His patience at the plate played a factor in this in which during the 2022 Double-A season his strikeout rate rose to 28.5% and his walk rate lowered to 8%. Those statistics improved a season ago in which he had a .242 batting average, 23.4% strikeout rate, and 12.4% walk rate.
Martinez’s power has the potential to be special, but his pitch selection and patience will determine how far that carries him. He’ll continue to split time between shortstop and third base, and while third is the likelier outcome, he’s earned a longer look at short and has the arm to handle any throws from the left side.”
Blue Jays write up on Orelvis Martinez
If the Brewers received this trade proposal they likely would be thrilled to have an offer that includes a controllable MLB ready prospect who is in his pre-arbitration years and has two minor league options remaining. Orelvis Martinez could slot in as their starting third baseman. Brice Turang would most likely shift over to shortstop in order to replace Adames, but Martinez could play there when needed.
One thing Milwaukee would look closely at with this deal is the risk associated with not receiving a high quantity of players in return. Receiving more prospects gives the organization a higher chance of the deal working out in their favor whereas a one for one swap could quickly become a boom or bust trade. Matt Arnold would have to determine if the star potential of Martinez negates that risk.
On the Blue Jays side this deal would be made with the idea of having Willy Adames play shortstop. Bo Bichette is the superior hitter, but defensively Adames trumps him. Toronto would have one year of Adames at shortstop and Bichette playing elsewhere to make a playoff run and the cost would be a talented prospect who could play a role on their big league team this year and beyond.
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