Bauman: Trade primes Crew for future success

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — There can be no half measures in a full-scale rebuilding project. This is why the Brewers continue to trade established talent for the promise of a brighter future.

Milwaukee announced Tuesday that it had traded reliever Tyler Thornburg to the Red Sox for third baseman/first baseman Travis Shaw, and two prospects, shortstop Mauricio Dubon and pitcher Josh Pennington. The Brewers will also receive a player to be named later or cash.

The trade looks like a long-term plus for the Brewers. The left-handed-hitting Shaw should bring them at least a platoon third baseman, with Jonathan Villar likely moving to second base. Dubon, 22, is a talented infielder, with speed and the ability to make very consistent contact. He will start the season at Double-A or Triple-A. Pennington, 21, is further away, but he has thrown in the high 90s and has considerable potential.

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Thornburg will give the Red Sox late-innings depth. His worth is reinforced by this trade, with a contending team giving up substantial talent to get him. But for the Brewers, that is the whole point.

“This is a trade where a team that is anticipating contending next year had a need, and they were very aggressive on a series of players that they wanted to acquire,” general manager David Stearns said Tuesday. “We were able to add to our Major League team and add to our farm system. And so it was a deal we couldn’t pass up. But this is one of those deals that has a chance to be a …

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