{"id":41285,"date":"2020-12-02T22:31:32","date_gmt":"2020-12-03T03:31:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=41285"},"modified":"2020-12-02T22:31:32","modified_gmt":"2020-12-03T03:31:32","slug":"milwaukee-brewers-trade-corey-knebel-to-los-angeles-dodgers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2020\/12\/02\/milwaukee-brewers-trade-corey-knebel-to-los-angeles-dodgers\/","title":{"rendered":"Milwaukee Brewers Trade Corey Knebel to Los Angeles Dodgers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Former All-Star closer Corey Knebel<\/strong><\/a> was traded Wednesday by the Milwaukee Brewers<\/a> to the Los Angeles Dodgers<\/a> for a player to be named or cash.<\/span><\/p>\n

The move came as the Brewers non-tendered three players <\/span>Wednesday. Knebel had been a non-tender candidate by the Brewers.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The #Brewers<\/a> have traded RHP Corey Knebel to the Dodgers in exchange for a player to be named or cash. pic.twitter.com\/p7Nqufv3jd<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) December 3, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Teams from across Major League Baseball had until 8 p.m. ET Wednesday to tender contracts to all players with less than six years of major-league experience. That includes any players with enough service time who are eligible for arbitration, which often brings a significant increase in salary for players.<\/span><\/p>\n

Off to L.A.<\/h2>\n

Knebel\u2019s base salary for 2020 was $5.125 million and likely would have earned a similar paycheck<\/a> for 2021 through arbitration. The right-hander injured his elbow in spring training of 2019 and missed the entire season following Tommy John<\/strong><\/a> surgery.<\/span><\/p>\n

The 29-year-old was an All-Star closer in 2017 when he converted 39 of 45 save opportunities and posted a 1.75 ERA. Knebel struck out 126 and walked 40 in 76 innings.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rough Road Back<\/h2>\n

With the minor leagues shut down due to COVID-19, Knebel did not have the chance to go on rehab outings and <\/span>work his way back<\/span><\/a> to the majors. He appeared in 15 of the Brewers\u2019 60 regular-season games, striking out 15 and walking eight in 13.1 innings. Knebel had an ERA of 6.08.<\/span><\/p>\n

This was his last time being eligible for arbitration and his contract is palatable for the big-market Dodgers, who are coming off winning the World Series. The Dodgers did tender a contract to Knebel.<\/span><\/p>\n

Gamel, Claudio Nontendered<\/h2>\n

Backup outfielder Ben<\/strong> Gamel<\/strong><\/a>, reliever Alex Claudio<\/a>,<\/strong> and reserve infielder Jace Peterson<\/strong><\/a> were non-tendered by the Brewers. Those three players are now free agents and can sign with any team, including back with the Brewers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Shortstop Orlando Arcia<\/strong><\/a>,<\/strong> catcher Omar Narvaez<\/strong><\/a>,<\/strong> catcher Manny Pina<\/strong><\/a> and first baseman Daniel Vogelbach<\/strong><\/a> agreed to new contracts. Reliever Josh Hader<\/strong><\/a> and starter Brandon Woodruff<\/strong><\/a> were tendered contracts for the 2021 season. Those two can continue to negotiate a deal with the Brewers or wait for the arbitration process to play out.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hader a No-Brainer<\/h2>\n

Hader was the easiest decision to tender a contract. After back-to-back All-Star selections in 2018 and 2019, the hard-throwing left-hander led the National League with 13 saves (in 15 opportunities) in 2020.<\/span><\/p>\n

His base salary for 2020 was $4.1 million after his first trip through salary arbitration. Hader was a <\/span>Super 2 player<\/span><\/a>, meaning he became eligible for salary arbitration after two-plus seasons in the majors instead of the typical three.<\/span><\/p>\n

Protecting the Ace<\/h2>\n

Like Hader, there wasn’t any doubt Woodruff would be tendered. The right-hander has developed into the Brewers’ top starter while posting a 19-11 record with a 3.66 ERA in 62 career appearances, including 47 starts.<\/p>\n

Woodruff is also a candidate to sign an extension that would buy out his remaining arbitration years.<\/p>\n

Staying Put<\/h2>\n

Arcia, who signed a one-year, $2.2 million contract in his first arbitration season, reportedly agreed to a one-year, $2 million deal for 2021. Narvaez took a pay cut after a brutal offensive showing in his first season with the Brewers. He will reportedly make $2.5 million in 2021.<\/span><\/p>\n

Pina reportedly agreed to a one-year, $1.65 million deal. Keeping Narvaez and Pina, along with Tuesday’s acquisition<\/a> of Luke Maile<\/strong><\/a>,<\/strong> gives the Brewers six catchers on their 40-man roster.<\/p>\n

Vogelbach was a late-season waiver pickup from the Toronto Blue Jays<\/a> and injected life into a moribund offense. He reportedly agreed to a one-year, $1.4 million deal in his first year of being arbitration-eligible. Vogelbach is more of a designated hitter, so the Brewers are gambling a bit that the DH will return to the NL for 2021.<\/p>\n

On the Market<\/h2>\n

Gamel was a dependable backup who could play all three outfield spots. But the left-handed hitter was spotty offensively, making him expendable. The Brewers recently declined a $2.5 million option on Gamel for 2021 after his base salary for 2020 was $1.4 million.<\/p>\n

Claudio has been a durable left-hander who appeared in an NL-high 83 games in 2019, then 20 more in 2020. He had been more of a lefty specialist, but the implementation of the three-batter minimum in 2020 limited his usage.<\/p>\n

Peterson had just 61 plate appearances in 2020 after being signed as a free agent from the Baltimore Orioles<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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