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On August 1st, the Milwaukee Brewers sent Jonathan Lucroy and Jeremy Jeffress to the Texas Rangers for two prospects, Luis Ortiz and Lewis Brinson, along with a player to be named later that wouldn’t be announced until the completion of the minor league season. With the final minor league games wrapping up today, it’s being reported that Ryan Cordell will head from Texas to Milwaukee to complete the deal.
Confirmed: Milwaukee will receive INF-OF Ryan Cordell as player to be named later in Jonathan Lucroy, Jeffress deal. Post coming soon
— Evan Grant (@Evan_P_Grant) September 5, 2016
The Brewers have also announced the trade.
OF Ryan Cordell acquired from Texas as the player to be named to complete the August 1 trade involving Jonathan Lucroy and Jeremy Jeffress.
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) September 5, 2016
Newly-acquired OF Ryan Cordell #6 by @MLBPipeline among #Rangers prospects. Entered 2016 #11 by @BaseballAmerica in Rangers organization.
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) September 5, 2016
Cordell, 24, was the Rangers’ 11th-round draft pick back in 2013 out of Liberty University. He has spent time at all three outfield positions during his minor league career as well as third base, though he spent this past season strictly in the outfield (42 starts in CF, 34 in LF, 22 in RF). He’s was ranked as the Rangers’ 6th-best prospect according to MLB Pipeline.
According to their scouting report, Cordell could have four average-or-better tools: power (50), arm (50), fielding (55), and speed (60). Pipeline’s scouts feel he’ll have a below-average hit tool (45), but feel the overall package could be an average everyday starter at the big league level (50 grade overall).
This season, Cordell spent the entire year with AA Frisco while hitting .264/.319/.484 with 19 home runs and 12 steals (127 wRC+). He was slightly old for his level, for what that’s worth. 2016 marked the third straight 10+ home run, 10+ stolen base season fro Cordell, who is a .275/.337/.461 hitter with 55 home runs and 72 steals in 384 minor league games.
With the return of Cordell, that means Milwaukee received the Rangers’ second, third, and sixth best prospects in exchange for one and a half seasons of Lucroy and three-plus seasons of Jeremy Jeffress. Not a bad haul overall, if you ask me.
Statistics courtesy of Fangraphs