Hunter Renfroe traded to Brewers for JBJ and 2 prospects

E5 Yaz

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I like JBJ as much as the next poster, but he really fell off the planet offensively this year ... and now we're without a legit right-fielder
 

beezer

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Was just reading about Binelas and the power looks impressive.

“19 home runs in 195 at-bats for Louisville, before putting on a show during MLB’s first pre-Draft Combine. MLB.com’s Jim Callis reported that, according to the Rapsodo data available, Binelas led all hitters in terms of maximum distance (446 feet), as well as both average and maximum exit velocity (98.244 mph and 109.3 mph, respectively).”
 

Jody Reeds Well

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Alex Binelas is MLB.com's 65th ranked prospect (3B). Pretty good season in A ball last year. He had a 314/379/636 slash line including 9 homers in 132 plate appearances.

Sox eating some cash led to a better prospect it looks like.
 

PrometheusWakefield

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Fangraphs on Hamilton (from last July).

In high school (he and Lutz were on the same Area Codes team), Hamilton was a terrific defensive shortstop with some feel to hit, but some teams didn’t think his narrow frame would fill out in a way that would generate relevant power, so he ended up matriculating to Texas. He had a rough freshman year, then rebounded as a sophomore and was in the third to fifth round mix following his summer on the Cape. Then Hamilton tore his Achilles tendon and missed not only his junior year at Texas, but the entire summer as well. His first pro at-bats came during 2020 big league spring training and he wasn’t able to suit up at an affiliate until 2021 as a 23-year-old at High-A. And while Hamilton’s performance demands scrutiny because he’s old for the level, he is off to an amazing start. He stole 31 bases in his first 43 games at an 86% success rate. At one point he hit homers in three consecutive games but pop isn’t really part of the driving tools here. Instead it’s speed, defense, and feel for contact (Hamilton is among the minor league leaders in SwingingStrike% at about 6%). Like Zamora behind him, he’s more likely to be a utility type because of the lack of power, but might have a good enough hit tool to overcome that.

Binelas was a second round pick as recently as last year and then hit .314/.379/.636 in his first taste of A ball.

These are quality prospects - pretty obvious JBJ is negative value in this trade.
 

StuckOnYouk

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Renfroe had some great moments but his bat was exposed big time in the playoffs and had some bad blunders in the OF as well (although his arm was incredible)
 

nattysez

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I'm a fan of this deal, as I think JBJ is young enough to get his hitting mojo back and I'd had it with Renfroe's "what's a cutoff man" defensive approach.
 

Max Power

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Verdugo plays a pretty good right field. Maybe it opens up a spot for Schwarber or some other thumper in left.
 

Cesar Crespo

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Dec 22, 2002
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This is a really good return for Renfroe. Hamilton has shown some power, can defend and has plus speed. He had a really good AFL too. Binelas has intriguing power. Really surprised they traded Renfroe and even more surprised by the return.
 

Joe D Reid

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Verdugo plays a pretty good right field. Maybe it opens up a spot for Schwarber or some other thumper in left.
Yeah, I think this is it. If you can acquire a legit corner OF, JBJ is depth. If not, he’s how you manage to pull off an OF with a Schwarber/JD type in LF.
 

chawson

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To me, we bought prospects by taking on Bradley. At worst, he’s a 4th OF/defensive replacement and at best he’s your starting CF. It’s a pretty good job selling high on Renfroe.
It really is, and kinda heartwarming. I felt bad for him out there!

JBJ is also decent insurance on a 2023 center fielder if we don’t keep Kiké around. His heavy buyout means the decision for us would essentially a 1-year, $4m club option, which is a no-brainer to exercise if he somehow finds his way back to 2019-20 levels.
 

E5 Yaz

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On the other hand, JBJ's the best arm they've acquired in the past week
 

E5 Yaz

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Five days away from the 45th anniversary of the reacquisition from the Milwaukee Brewers of another Gold Glove defender
 

Unin10D

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Verdugo plays a pretty good right field. Maybe it opens up a spot for Schwarber or some other thumper in left.
In my heart of hearts, this was my first thought. Duggie in RF, JDM in LF, Kike/JBJ in CF, and Kyle from Waltham DHing.

Nothing about what Chaim has done has led me to think this will actually happen, but it's a nice thought
 

Ale Xander

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Holy crap JBJ is back!!!

Love this. Not even sure it helps the team, but love it regardless.
 

scottyno

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As long as JBJ is the 4th OF then I love that the Sox are flexing their finanacial muscle to improve the farm system. Renfroe was nice, but he also shouldn't be too difficult to replace, even if they have to spend a little more than he would have gotten.