Jays prepared to send Marcum to Brewers

    LAKE BUNEA VISTA, Fla. - According to the Milwaukee Journal, the Jays are ready to send righthander Shaun Marcum to the Brewers for a package of minor leaguers headed by Canadian second baseman Brett Lawrie. Brewers'  GM Doug Melvin would not confirm or deny the story for Journal writer Tom Haudricourt. Jays' GM Alex Anthopoulos had not yet checked in to the headquarter hotel and was expected later in the evening.

    Marcum, 29, the Jays' opening day starter, was 13-8, with a 3.64 ERA in 31 starts after missing the entire 2009 season recovering from Tommy John elbow surgery. He became the Jays' clubhouse leader in the absence of long-time ace Roy Halladay. During the season, the Jays signed Ricky Romero to a contract extension, committing to the young lefthander far into the future. Without Marcum, the Jays' rotation would likely include Romero, Brandon Morrow, Brett Cecil, touted rookie Kyle Drabek and lefthander Marc Rzepczynski, who showed well in a stint in the Arizona Fall League.

    The Jays have long coveted Lawrie, a 20-year-old second baseman from Langley, B.C. The converted catcher was selected 16th overall in the 2008 June draft of amateur players. He was the youngest member of Team Canada at the World Baseball Classic and is rated the Top prospect in the Brewers organization for 2011. Lawrie batted .285 with eight homers and 63 RBIs at AA-Huntsville in 2010, with a .797 OPS.

    A source had indicated that a second Canadian prospect might also be included, 20-year-old righthander Nick Bucci, from Sarnia, Ontario. Late last week, the Brewers had sent reliever Carlos Villanueva to the Jays for a player to be named later.

    As of 10:00 p.m. on Sunday, the deal had not been announced. 

 

 

Comments

[Jamie]

i do not mind the idea of trading marcum but for prospects is a little shocking. i know the talk of grienke will start but giving up drabek would be a mistake. the jays should try to parlay these prospects and some of their pitching for gonzo from the padres. having him and bautista in the middle of the jays line up would be unreal.

[Andy Frank]

puzzled beyond words unless another chip falls here, marcum struck me as a real leader for the young pitchers, and a very competent one himself. zep is not a MLB pitcher, and unless one of the other high draft studs is ready like jackson or jenkins, this thing just leaves me wondering what the hell AA is drinking.

[Ray]

Meh. Marcum was who we thought he was. This kid's got potential, he's Canadian and he makes Snider expendable. AA has more moves in him this year, and as Mr Griffin has pointed out, he's building for 2012. Marcum will probably clean up in the NL, but here in the East he was a .500 pitcher with a 3.5 ERA. No more, no less. Plus, apparently Marcum refused an extension this fall; best to be proactive. Love the move and loving the AA era.

[Reilly]

wow the brewers have done a good job sending the canadian sbrett lwarie back home and to the most talented young and up and coming team to the bluejays i also hear that the jays have signed infielder and milwaukee native Montaous walton as a non drafted free agent Deal, this is great forthem because theyounger their system is the more these guys can move up into the majors!