The Rays and Brewers announced a trade sending catcher Danny Jansen from Tampa Bay to Milwaukee in exchange for infield prospect Jadher Areinamo. The Rays are including some cash to help pay down the remaining $2.667MM on Jansen’s one-year, $8MM contract. It’s a homecoming for Jansen, who’s a native of Appleton, Wisconsin. The Rays’ changes behind the plate don’t stop there, as they’re reportedly in agreement to acquire Marlins catcher Nick Fortes in a separate trade (full breakdown on that swap available here).
Catching wasn’t a prominent need for the Brewers entering the season. William Contreras has emerged as one of the best backstops in the sport, slashing .283/.363/.472 from 2022-24. His once-panned defense has improved to premium levels in Milwaukee. However, Contreras has been playing through a fracture in his left middle finger and struggled considerably at the dish this season, slashing just .242/.342/.340 this season. Backup catcher Eric Haase hasn’t picked up the slack with the bat. Over the past month, Contreras and Haase have combined to hit .228/.294/.289.
As the Brewers’ catchers have struggled to increasing levels, Jansen has picked up the pace. He’s hitting just .204/.314/.389 on the season overall, but that’s dragged down by a brutal start to the year. Since May 11, he’s batting .232/.321/.486 in 163 trips to the plate.
Notably, while Jansen is hitting only .197 against lefties, he’s still getting on base against them at a big .356 clip and slugging .465 versus southpaws. Contreras is hitting .223/.373/.266 against lefties on the season. Haase is batting only .160/.192/.280 in his 26 plate appearances against left-handers. Jansen struggled against lefties mightily early in his career but has above-average on-base and power numbers against them each year since 2022. In that time, he’s slashing .216/.344/.442 when holding the platoon advantage
Jansen has graded as a plus defender in the past, but his framing and throwing grades have dwindled in recent years. Milwaukee has a knack for vastly improving catcher defense — framing in particular — which could bode well for a Jansen rebound in that regard. He’ll presumably move into a timeshare behind the plate with Contreras, who is penciled into tonight’s Brewers lineup. That could spell the end of Haase’s time on the roster, but it’s certainly possible the Brewers will carry three catchers or that they’ll give Contreras some extended downtime to allow his ailing left hand to heal.
Areinamo, 21, was an amateur signee out of Venezuela during the 2021-22 international signing period. Baseball America ranked him 10th among Milwaukee prospects on their latest midseason update of the system. He sat 17th at FanGraphs in mid-May and is currently 24th at MLB.com.
Though he’s primarily been a shortstop in High-A this season, Areinamo has more experience at second base than at short. He’s also dabbled at the hot corner. He’s turned in a .297/.355/.463 batting line in 415 plate appearances and popped 11 home runs on the year. Areinamo also has 24 doubles, a pair of triples and 15 stolen bases — albeit in 23 tries (65.2% success rate).
Scouting reports on Areinamo tout his plus hit tool but question an overaggressive approach that could be exposed as he moves up the ladder and faces more advanced pitching. Accordingly, he’s fanned in just 11.6% of his plate appearances in what is his second run through the High-A level. Listed at just 5’8″ and 160 pounds, Areinamo unsurprisingly possesses what scouts feel is below-average power. He has a chance to develop into an everyday option at second base, where his average arm profiles better than it does on the left side of the infield. He could also wind up being a contact-oriented utilityman who bounces between several positions.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan first reported that the Rays and Brewers were finalizing a Jansen trade. Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reported that the deal was done and that the Rays were in the process of adding another catcher. MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand reported that Areinamo was the prospect return for the Rays and that Tampa Bay was including some cash in the swap.
BRING HIM BACK HOME TO WISCONSIN
Maybe they can send him to their High A team in his hometown of Appleton
He’s from Elmhurst, Illinois. 45 mins from Chicago.
He was born in Elmhurst, but grew up in Appleton. Went to Appleton West High School. Google is your friend, but you can’t just use the first thing that pops up on AI.
He was still born in Illinois. So there’s where he’s from.
lol
My wife was born and raised in Illinois. If you ask her where she’s from, she happily will tell you Wisconsin, not Illinois.
I said hometown buddy. He has no connection to Elmhurst. Hometown is where you grew up.
You double down on that dude! 🤣👍🏼
You’re both right. I grew up in CT but have lived in Long Island for the last 35 years. If I’m asked if I’m from CT I say yes yet everyone outside my area just equates I’m from Long Island (which I now am)…
Seems you’ve got the problem LICT.
dewey – The Islanders used to be really, really good. Remember Bossy, Potvin and Billy Smith to name a few? I saw a few games in Nassau.
If he was stiil born he wouldn’t have played baseball anywhere.
These two teams always add and subtract even when they’re in the hunt.
Contreras is playing through a fracture in his glove hand, the middle finger according to the article… thats one tough SOB right there. Adding Jansen will give him some time to heal perhaps? Be better for the days in October
Rays are always looking to add for the next 4-6 years. Constant recycling of players
Tampa is up to something. Ok, today is getting fun.
they are tanking it because MLB doesnt want playoff games at Steinbrenner Field.
Well, I’ll take a little entertainment the last couple of hours in my workday.
@Halo Hey slacker get back to work !!! Lol
I’d get written up by the boss if I wasn’t self employed ha ha.
Good for you, it must be awesome being your own boss. Goals!!!!
It has pros and cons but it works for me.
🙄
They were getting Fortes so they at least still have a decent defensive Catcher that is not necessary good offensively
Maybe O’Hoppe for Taj? If they’re looking for another Catcher. Angels could use a young arm.
Doubt that. The Rays would do that as a one to one deal.
Who’s catching for the Angels after they deal O’Hoppe?
D’Arnaud and Wallach but I highly doubt this crazy hypothetical even comes true lol
Is it just me or is the Stove on FIRE! Yee Ha! REFRESH REFRESH REFRESH
I was thinking Yankees would trade Ecarra, but it looks like Cashman has some time
Someone get a fire extinguisher!!!
Just kidding.
Don’t forget to PASS! Lol
Pull
Aim
Squeeze
Sweep
Thanks Homer
Harry Ford to Tampa for Fairbanks plus more. Dipoto and Neander are always on speed dial
Could see Yandy for Ford plus.
Yazzzzz! Let’s see where would Yandy play though, DH?
The Extreme Slow Paying Network said Yandy was going to the Reds.
Well I’m rooting for the Reds too, I would be happy if they got Yandy. The fans deserve some players this deadline.
Hey did the Reds add at the deadline last time they made the playoffs?? Memory check time.
Ok this is getting frustrating, and it’s probably because I haven’t slept in 36 hours.
I keep reading the name as Henry Ford. Directly after that my mind asks “wait, did Henry Ford play baseball?”. Followed directly by “You idiot, Henry Ford is dead”. After a brief chuckle at my own expense my mind asks “Who is Harry Ford?”.
I would sleep, but it’s almost time for work. I apologize in advance for my posts over the next 12 hours.
Henry Ford only made it to A level.
But he could hit off a T.
And his bats were interchangeable.
Actually he made it to AA he was truckin to get there all the while drinking his V-8
Prediction
Tampa Bay will send a top starting pitcher and reluever to the Dodgers for Dalton Rushing
Fairbanks for Escarra make it happen, Cashman
Tampa already traded for another catcher
fan – You don’t want Fairbanks, he’s got the crazy eyes.
I was wondering if the Crew could bring in a catcher. Contreras has been struggling with that hand. Virtually no power. Jansen is a good pickup. Could MKE let WC get the surgery he needs?
Despite the weak offense the handling of the pitching staff is strong. Not seeing how Jansen is an upgrade.
He does not need surgery. All medical reports were made public mate. Hairline fracture.
WC and DJ will time share and WC will get more DH and off days to heal over the next 2 months and be ready for playoffs.
I’d like to see them let him DH for 2 weeks. Maybe that’ll let the finger heal & get his swing back. Keep three catchers for that time.
Unless Collins can catch? 🤔🤣🤭
Why on earth are the Brewers allowing Contreras to play thru this fracture? Obviously it’s affecting his hitting substantially. It sounds kinda weird to me.
They must have thought it could heal but the damage of catching frequently appears to prove otherwise.
How’s the pitching been?
Related.
Nick Fortes from the Marlins replaces Jansen per Rosenthal
Areinamo is one of my favorites, since I first saw him last year. Tiny little guy with one of the weirdest, most aggro pre-pitch bat actions I’ve ever seen. Can hit a little too.
Will never be an MLB hitter with those mechanics.
Fair
the man who once played for both teams in the same game
I hate losing Areinamo, but hes rule 5 eligible in Dec. and won’t be protected.
If only there were a suspended game between the Rays and Brewers to be played later this season, so a thousand articles could be written on Jansen playing for both teams in the same game.
Baseball’s version of time travel.
Why trade a semi-decent prospect for a rental backup catcher??
One shall not doubt Matt Arnold. Priester trade was another example of so many second guesses. Granted, Sox could still turn that deal into a push but worse case scenario that head scratcher is a push for the Brewers. Brewers get one of the worst WAR regulars for Civale. That’s worked out well. Not worth doubting Arnold. He gets way more correct than incorrect.
Because he fits the typical Brewer player profile. One WS appearance in 55 years!
3 minutes ago, my arse! 6 hours!
Didn’t see that the Brewers needed to make changes at catcher. I dont see that this is an improvement for them. I think you were better off with Haase. I expect that Eric will be quickly signed by either Baltimore or maybe the Mets. I think this move could quite frankly be a very poor decision.
Jansen is a better player than Hasse, so there’s the improvent, especially with Contreras playing through injury this year.
Rays seem to have helped him become elite in the knee(s) down metric. He’s in the 95th percentile. But he’s not really great at preventing runs. Guy looks like he’s done. Maybe the Brewer catching lab can fix him.
This is why the Brewers end up winning the division every year. They get what the deadline is all about.