4:53PM: Minor league outfielder Tristan Peters is being dealt to the Giants in exchange for Rosenthal, MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy reports (Twitter link).
4:13PM: The Brewers have acquired right-hander Trevor Rosenthal from the Giants, Jon Heyman of The New York Post reports (Twitter link). It makes for a very short stint for Rosenthal in San Francisco, as the Giants only just signed the veteran to a one-year, $4.5MM deal back on July 21.
It remains to be seen when Rosenthal will actually be able to take the mound for Milwaukee, as he hasn’t pitched since the end of the 2020 season due to a groin strain, thoracic outlet syndrome surgery, and then a hamstring strain that only surfaced within the last couple of weeks. Rosenthal wasn’t expected to be ready to pitch for at least a few more weeks, so early September could be the best-case scenario for his Brewers debut.
When healthy, Rosenthal will be another arm in a Brewers bullpen that has been rather unexpectedly reshaped over the last two days. Taylor Rogers and Matt Bush were added, while All-Star closer Josh Hader was dealt to San Diego in the blockbuster deal that brought Rogers into the fold. Devin Williams now projects as Milwaukee’s closer, with Rogers, Bush, and incumbent setup men Trevor Gott, Brad Boxberger, Hoby Milner, and Brent Suter providing additional support in high-leverage innings.
How Rosenthal will look when he is able to pitch is another question, given the long layoff. After missing all of 2018 due to Tommy John surgery, Rosenthal had a 13.50 ERA over 15 1/3 innings in 2019, but then rebounded for a 1.90 ERA in 23 2/3 frames with the Royals and Padres last season. This glimmer of his old All-Star form was enough to intrigue the A’s into signing Rosenthal a one-year, $11MM deal prior to the 2021 campaign that unfortunately backfired completely on Oakland, as Rosenthal never threw so much as a pitch for the organization.
The Giants’ return in the deal isn’t yet known, though the trade reflects the team’s sudden change of direction just within the last few days. Flipping Rosenthal probably wasn’t on the Giants’ mind on July 21, but that was also the day the team began a seven-game losing streak. With San Francisco now under the .500 mark, the focus has now turned to selling, with Rosenthal joining Darin Ruf, Curt Casali, Matthew Boyd heading out of town, though many of the Giants’ bigger-name trade chips remain.