According to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel via Twitter:

Brewers are putting finishing touches on trade for Toronto RHP Shaun Marcum. I hear they are sending prospects to the Blue Jays.

Marcum went 13-8 with a 3.64 ERA last season for Toronto while working 195.1 innings. Over the course of his five-year career he’s 37-25 with a 3.85 ERA and peripherals that seem to be getting progressively better.

In Marcum, the Brewers would be getting an improving, young pitcher on a career path that would suggest he could find himself near the top of the rotation. By adding a starting pitcher via trade, the Brewers have avoided the picked-over and over-valued free agent market to improve their starting pitching.

Word is the Brewers will be sending minor league pitching in return for Marcum. More on compensation as information becomes available.

UPDATE 9:30 P.M.: Haudricourt confirmed that Brewers’ 2009 first-round draft choice and Canadian-born Brett Lawrie is part of the deal.

On Marcum’s injury history, the righthander had Tommy John surgery near the end of the 2008 season and missed the entirety of 2009 minus a handful of minor league starts.

While concerning, working nearly 2oo innings in 2010 was a step in the right direction.

 

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4 Comments

  1. BigSnakeMan says:

    Yawn. Marcum’s a 29 year old pitcher with a history of arm problems. Sounds like he’ll fit perfectly in the Brewers’ rotation.

  2. Brian Carriveau says:

    Yawn? This is not a bad trade considering the other options available to them, i.e. not Cliff Lee.

  3. Brandon says:

    I thought giving up LaPorta was a big deal (big long-term loss for big short-term gain) so I’m trusting that Melvin knows what he’s doing, and that the organization can afford to let Lawrie go. You have to give up something to get something.

    Marcum’s health is a concern, but the same can be said for so many pitchers. Marcum was pretty good last year, and his stats should be much better in the NL Central vs. AL East.

  4. BigSnakeMan says:

    Since I don’t believe that the Brewers are close to contending for the playoffs, his age is a concern for me, and that’s assuming he remains healthy.

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