Mack’- Addison Reed to Milwaukee for...

Milwaukee Prospects –

            It was reported last week that the Brewers were most interested in securing the services of RP Addison Reed.

            Here’s five chips we might want to target –

                        Who are we not going to get:  OF Lewis Brinson

OF Corey Ray - With a quick left-handed bat and a knack for making hard contact, Ray projects to hit for both power and average from the left side of the plate. There's 20-homer potential in his bat, perhaps even more if he can become more comfortable driving the ball the other way. Ray did a better job of managing the strike zone last spring and then during his pro debut, but he still struggles at times to recognize spin, resulting in some swing-and-miss tendencies. Ray's plus speed makes him a consistent threat on the basepaths and also serves him well in center field, where he spent his entire pro debut after manning right field exclusively at Louisville. Ray suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee during instructional league and underwent subsequent surgery in October. After recovering, Ray's combination of power and speed could help him to jump on the fast track to the big leagues in his first full season. ETA: 2018

RHP Luis Ortiz - Ortiz combines stuff and feel better than most young pitchers. His strong build allows him to maintain his 92-97 mph fastball deep into ballgames, and his low-80s slider gives him a plus second pitch. Ortiz threw his changeup sparingly as an amateur, but has developed it enough as a pro to where scouts view it as a potentially average pitch. Meanwhile, a clean and repeatable delivery has helped to make Ortiz an accomplished strike-thrower early in his career. Much like Brinson, Ortiz impressed last summer in his brief Brewers debut, posting a 1.93 ERA over six starts at Double-A Biloxi. He lacks projection in his physical 6-foot-3 frame and needs to stay healthy, but Ortiz has both the stuff and command profile to develop into a No. 2 starter. ETA: 2018

2B/SS Isan Diaz - Diaz's plus bat speed and strong bat-to-ball skills from the left side enable him to make hard contact and drive the ball with authority across the whole field. The leverage he's added to his swing since signing has allowed him to tap into his impressive raw power in games with greater consistency. Diaz's aggressive approach yields quite a few whiffs, but is still advanced for his age, as he paced the Midwest League with 72 walks last season. A fringy runner with good instincts on both sides of the ball, Diaz profiles as more of a second baseman than shortstop at the highest level, where his range, speed and arm strength are a cleaner fit. Diaz's ceiling as a power-hitting middle-infielder is tantalizing, but he's likely few years away from making an impact at the highest level. Once developed, he could form one of the top double-play combos in baseball alongside slick-fielding Orlando Arcia in Milwaukee. ETA: 2018

3B Lucas Erceg - Erceg has impact potential from the left side of the plate, with natural feel to hit, a solid approach and plus raw power that could make him a middle-of-the-order bat at maturity. Defensively, Erceg's athleticism should help him stick at third base, where he has a strong arm -- one that fired 93-94 mph fastballs as Menlo's closer -- that's ideal for the position. He also received positive reviews as a shortstop during the fall instructional league, highlighting Erceg's overall athleticism and versatility. The Brewers have long been trying to develop a homegrown third baseman, and while it's early in his career, Erceg, with his high offensive ceiling, could be the team's long-term answer. ETA: 2018