Brewers Reportedly Sign Infielder Andres Blanco to Minor-League Deal
By Adam Weinrib
The Milwaukee Brewers are making bargain moves to shore up their middle infield behind Keston Hiura and Orlando Arcia.
The MKE inked a deal with versatile veteran Andres Blanco on Friday, complete with an invite to big league spring training.
INF Andrés Blanco has been signed to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Major League camp. pic.twitter.com/n78S8nSBr8
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) January 31, 2020
If Blanco impresses, the Brewers will be the fifth major league team he's toiled for, following an extended stay in Philadelphia that ended in 2017.
Now 35, Blanco's best season came in 2015, when he hit .292 with seven homers in Philadelphia.
Of course, the Crew is relatively set at second and short, particularly expecting a big second-year boost out of Hiura, whose peripherals would seem to indicate the breakout potential is real.
Let’s play a little game of, “Are we sure he’s better than _____?” for 2020 Fantasy Baseball.
— Chris Towers (@CTowersCBS) January 30, 2020
First up: Fernando Tatis (ADP: 19) vs. Keston Hiura (ADP: 52)
372 PA for Tatis, 348 for Hiura, so basically the same. pic.twitter.com/S8TBSK5oHc
The Venezuelan infielder was a Brewer once before, signing a similar deal with the team prior to the 2018 season, but ultimately spending the year hitting .271 in Triple-A Colorado Springs before moving on to Atlanta's system the next season. Last year, Blanco rocked 19 Triple-A home runs, and might've found some extra power stroke in his swing at this advanced age.