LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA. (AP) - The Milwaukee Brewers boosted their rotation Monday, reaching a deal to get right-hander Shaun Marcum from the Toronto Blue Jays for infield prospect Brett Lawrie.
A person familiar with the trade told The Associated Press on Monday that the deal was set. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because it had not been officially announced at baseball’s winter meetings.
Marcum started for the Blue Jays on opening day last season and went 13-8 with a 3.64 ERA. The pitcher turns 29 next week and missed the entire 2009 season after having Tommy John surgery.
Marcum was especially attractive to the Brewers because he comes with a relatively low salary _ he made $850,000 last season _ and isn’t eligible for free agency for two more years.
The Blue Jays have been stockpiling young talent in recent years, and there was talk they might try to put together a trade package to go after former Cy Young winner Zack Greinke of Kansas City.
Lawrie is a 20-year-old second baseman from Canada and was rated among Milwaukee’s top minor leaguers. He hit .285 with eight home runs, 63 RBIs and 30 stolen bases in Double-A last season.
Lawrie made the Canadian Olympic team in 2008 as a teenager and the country’s 2009 club for the World Baseball Classic. His path to the majors with Milwaukee, at least at second base, was blocked by Rickie Weeks.
This was the second trade between Toronto and Milwaukee in a matter of days. The Brewers sent reliever Carlos Villanueva to the Blue Jays last Friday.
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