Trade has domino effect for Gennett, Brewers

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — Are Scooter Gennett’s days numbered as the Brewers’ starting second baseman?

It appeared so Tuesday after the Brewers began Day Two of the Winter Meetings by trading reliever Tyler Thornburg to the Red Sox in a swap that had a domino effect on the rest of the roster.

• Hot Stove Tracker

Besides the two and perhaps three prospects headed to Milwaukee in the deal — there is a player to be named later or cash — the Brewers received infielder Travis Shaw, a left-handed hitter expected to make a majority of starts at third base.

That pushes Major League stolen base leader Jonathan Villar to a more natural fit at second base, and leaves Gennett, a starter for the past three-plus seasons, in a state of limbo.

• Brewers get Shaw, two prospects from Red Sox

Meanwhile, Thornburg’s departure marked the fourth closer-type that general manager David Stearns has traded for prospects in 12 months, putting the Brewers in the market for late-inning relief. Stearns said he was equally open to filling that need via free agency or future trades, and had discussions Tuesday afternoon on both fronts.

Beyond that, Stearns & Co. continued discussions with other teams on left fielder Ryan Braun — there’s been no progress or slippage on that front since the Winter Meetings convened, Stearns said — and on the Brewers’ available starting pitchers.

“There are no defined, set-in-stone roles on this team right now,” Stearns said. “We are going to have a lot of competition.”

Though he wasn’t involved in Tuesday’s trade, Gennett stands to be impacted by it, as he appears to be the odd man out, …

continue reading in source mlb.mlb.com