BREWERS TRADE FOR BERGERON
The Milwaukee Brewers sent two prospects, outfielder JASON BELCHER and pitcher JASON CHILDERS to the Montreal Expos in exchange for speedy no-hit outfielder PETER BERGERON and a player to be named later.

Bergeron actually showed solid plate discipline in the Dodgers' organization with good gap power, but quickly regressed after being sent to Montreal. Bergeron had several chances to win the starting CF job in Montreal but failed each time. He had a solid spring training but it didn't carry over to the regular season. He has only played in 11 games and was on the DL all ready this season.

Bergeron definitely seems like a player who is in need of a change of scenery. I think he is a decent 24th man/backup CF. Keep in mind that he is 26 years old and has all ready accrued about 1200 MLB at-bats. He probably won't be a guy who has a Scott Podsednik type explosion, but as I said, will be a decent backup OF.

I liked Jason Belcher as a prospect, although he was rated as the club's 30th best prospect (a combination of under-rating Belcher and a deep farm system). Belcher was hitting .283 at AA Huntsville, but think about the options the Brewers have in the OF. COREY HART (who shouldn't play 3B), BRAD NELSON, DAVE KRYNZEL, TONY GWYNN, JR., and of course GEOFF JENKINS and SCOTT PODSEDNIK will be there for a few more years. The point of a deep farm system is to help make improvements at the MLB level, either by trading those prospects for proven talent or for developing the players in to MLB quality players.

Belcher put up huge numbers at A+ High Desert, but since the California League (especially High Desert's park) is an offensive dominated league, his numbers were probably inflated. This could be a trend that the Brewers could continue to capitalize on--have a hitter put up big numbers at High Desert and then ship him off while his stock is over-valued.

Jason Childers was throwing well in AAA this year as the Indianapolis Indians closer (1-0, 1.50 ERA, 15 saves). He had solid peripherals (24 IP, 21 H, 8 BB, 22 K, 0 HRA) and could become a decent reliever in the Bigs eventually.