BREWERS GET GREINKE FROM KC
The Milwaukee Brewers acquired pitcher Zack Greinke, infielder Yuniesky Betancourt and cash from the Kansas City Royals for infielder Alcides Escobar, outfielder Lorenzo Cain and pitchers Jeremy Jeffress and Jake Odorizzi.
What does it give the Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers are clearly trying to win now, and adding Greinke is the biggest proof of their move in that direction. He's a true ace (as the AL's 2009 Cy Young winner) and brings the top-end pitching depth the Brewers have needed for a few years now. Along with also-recently-acquired Shawn Marcum, Greinke will join Yovanni Gallardo and Randy Wolf as a formidable foursome starting on the mound for Milwaukee. Betancourt is a good offensive shortstop who's also an underrated glove man, and should give Milwaukee an immediate overall upgrade over the still-talented (but erratic) Escobar. Milwaukee still has Carlos Gomez and Chris Dickerson around to play center with Cain gone, so this is a great move all-round by the Brew Crew.
What does it give the Kansas City Royals
Above all the Royals save money here, and while the package of young players they receive is solid, Greinke was by far their best player--and still young at 27. Escobar may yet prove to be a very good shortstop, but he struggled both at the plate and in the field in 2010 (his first full major league season). Expect him to start every day for the Royals, and possibly to show solid improvement with less pressure on him now that he's in KC. Cain is a talented leadoff type who should push for the Royals' starting center field job in 2011, and Odorizzi may prove to be the gem of the deal for the Royals down the road, as he was dominant last season in A-ball. Meanwhile Jeffress has one of the best arms on the planet and could eventually be a top-tier reliever (after last season showing signs of getting his career back on track following some major drug-related problems).
Fantasy impact
