Brewers Trade McGehee

**KevinWI** · 12-12-2011, 10:31 PM

Brewers trade 3B Casey McGehee (who had a breakout 2009 and great 2010, but struggled badly in 2011) to Pittsburgh for right-handed reliever Jose Veras.

http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/new...s_mil&c_id=mil

The Brewers made room for Aramis Ramirez on Monday by dealing third baseman Casey McGehee to the Pirates in exchange for right-handed reliever Jose Veras.

McGehee, 29, is coming off a disappointing season in which he batted .223 with 13 homers and 67 RBIs, a dropoff after his 2010 campaign when he was named team MVP for hitting .285 with 23 homers and 104 RBIs. His role with the Brewers obviously changed with the reported signing of Ramirez.

Ramirez, a free agent, has reportedly agreed to a three-year contract with the Brewers, pending a physical.

Veras, 31, was 2-4 with one save in 79 games last season with the Pirates. He set career highs with 79 strikeouts over 71 innings in 79 games. Opposing batters hit .206 off Veras.

The right-hander began his career with the Yankees in 2006, and has also pitched for the Indians (2009) and Marlins (2010).

McGehee joined the Brewers after the 2008 season when he was purchased off waivers from the Cubs. In three seasons with Milwaukee, he batted .267 with 52 homers and 237 RBIs. This past season, he went 1-for-5 in the postseason.

Both Veras and McGehee are arbitration-eligible.

Doug Melvin must of started shopping McGehee as soon as they got Ramirez. I assume that unless they trade for or get a first baseman, Mat Gamel will play 1B.

As for Veras, he has a 4.11 career ERA, so not exactly anything to get excited about, but the Crew wasn't going to get anything for Casey anyway. Plus, an extra arm in the bullpen can't hurt.