The Brewers have designated left-hander Ethan Small for assignment, tweets Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. That’s the corresponding 40-man roster move for the two players acquired from Baltimore in the Corbin Burnes trade.
Small was Milwaukee’s first-round pick in 2019 after an excellent college career at Mississippi State. He was initially regarded as one or the better prospects in the organization, but his stock had dipped as he reached the upper minors. Small posted a 4.46 ERA in Double-A in 2022. Milwaukee moved him to the bullpen last year.
The 26-year-old (27 this month) posted decent numbers in relief for Triple-A Nashville. He worked to a 3.18 ERA through 51 innings, striking out 28.5% of opposing hitters. Small also walked 11.2% of batters faced and the Brewers didn’t give him much of an opportunity at the big league level. He pitched twice in the majors last season and has four MLB appearances for his career.
Small doesn’t throw especially hard, averaging 92 MPH on his fastball in his limited MLB work. Prospect evaluators credited him with a plus changeup and his atypical, over-the-top delivery makes him an unconventional look for opposing hitters.
The Brewers will have one week to trade Small or place him on outright waivers. It’s likely he’ll draw interest from another team given his draft pedigree and decent Triple-A résumé. Small has one minor league option remaining. If another team is willing to give him a spot on the 40-man roster, they could keep him in Triple-A for another season.
Elias should claim him. Lol. I think he has a good future as a lefty out of the pen.
Lol Kinda surprised he didn’t ask to throw him in the trade w/ an open 40 man slot. Worst case scenario you just DFA him when you need the space.
Was my same exact thought
Maybe the crew thinks they’ll get something back for him though. He has some pedigree and decent minor league #’s.
He’s just not big enough for the majors yet
Honestly hilarious, ha
On top of the light return they received for Burnes, the Brewers are losing Small now too. I’m a bit surprised they’re giving up on him, as he was a former first round pick who was their top pitching prospect for a couple of years, and had a solid season at AAA last year as a reliever. He couldn’t cut it as a starter, but still looks to have some solid potential out of the bullpen going forward. I really don’t love this Burnes trade all around for Milwaukee.
Light return? They got two very good young players and the #34 draft pick for Burnes. That’s a terrific deal for a player who is a free agent after the season.
Agreed, for a one year rental I think they did well
I feel as though Milwaukee should have really been blown away by an offer to agree to trade Burnes, as they were set to be a legitimate contender with him in 2024, and are now clearly weaker. I don’t feel that the return was good enough for them to punt on next season. Hall is talented but looks more likely to become a reliever than a starter at this point, and Ortiz is great defensively, but not a sure thing with the bat. Neither were true cream of the crop prospects for the Orioles, and I feel the Brewers should have snagged at least one of the Orioles blue chip guys (such as Cowser or Basallo) in this deal, or at least received a couple more mid tier prospects in addition to Ortiz/Hall, such as Cade Povich or Jud Fabian. Then it may have been worth it for the Brewers, but as the deal stands now I just don’t feel that it is.
I agree the Brewers were clear contenders in the NL Central, so pivoting from signing Hoskins to making this trade doesn’t make sense.
I don’t think one year of any player brings the type of return it did 20-30 years ago. Look at what Boston got for Mookie: not
much.
HBan – Os fan here. No way Elias is trading Basallo, or Holliday/Mayo for that matter. Those three are untouchable, unless you’re trading prime Nolan Ryan or Koufax to BAL.
skinsfandfw – I totally agree that the Orioles shouldn’t trade any of those guys. My point was that unless the Brewers got an offer they couldn’t refuse (such as the inclusion of a Basallo type of prospect), that they should have held on to Burnes in my opinion. I don’t think the package they got was worth weakening the team for 2024, when they were built to be a legitimate contender.
Awful lot of your feelings in that comment. You feel this, don’t feel that, feel this…..
Should I have said “I think” instead? Do you like thinking better than feeling?
Well now the local casino has the Brewers at 76.5 wins. They are the 4th longest odds to win the division at +650. The odds to make the playoffs pays +300. Lets face it the starting rotation was scary, even if Burnes was on the team. Miley is good every other year over the past 5-6 years. Peralta as a no 1, he only pitched 78 innings in 2022. Lets hope and pray he repeats 2023. The back end of the rotation a lot of hope. Rookie pitchers take time typically.
gbs – MKE was going to get draft pick compensation for Burnes anyway, assuming he walked. Now the Orioles control that pick, if he doesn’t sign an extension with BAL. So that’s a wash.
It’s a great trade for BAL. Clear winners, filling a need without giving up the farm.
Losing Hall weakens this years bullpen though. I would’ve preferred we used an actual prospect instead. But if that’s what it took to get it done so be it.
Its a SMALL setback
Tigers should claim him, he’d be good lefty bullpen depth, Chris Fetter could turn him into a weapon.
Sounds like Tyler Holton 2.0. Miguel Diaz is out of options and is a longshot to make the club. I can see DFAing him and giving Small a shot.
Great move by the Orioles. Exactly what they needed.
The Brewers will add a veteran pitcher like Dylan Cease. They may even sign re-sign Woody to a club/player friendly deal while he rehabs for 2025.
Hoping!
Great thinking, fingers crossed!
I bet he’ll get claimed, still pretty young and not far from a time where he was one of the brewers top prospects. He’ll probably end up in a random spot like Cleveland or Cinci
That’d be ironic if he went to the Giants
Too bad. With a wind-up like that, he looks like a winner.
Former 1st round pick who the brewers over rated
What a surprise. Yet another in a long line of 1st round draft busts for the Brewers.
Twins should claim him, we always need leftys
I’m sure the Brewers hope he isn’t claimed and can be sent back to AAA. Sometimes you just have to admit that he was a poor draft choice.
Over the years, the Brewers have a terrible record on pitchers drafted in the first round. On the other hand, both Burnes and Woodruff were lower round picks.
Drew Rasmussen as well.
Red Sox should be all over Small. If they’re playing small-market ball this is the kind of guy you roll the dice on.