Brewers Acquire David Freitas From Mariners For Pitching Prospect

Image credit: David Freitas (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

The Brewers added to their catching depth on Sunday, acquiring veteran backstop David Freitas from the Mariners in exchange for minor league righthander Sal Biasi.

Freitas, 30, was immediately optioned to Triple-A San Antonio. He joins Yasmani Grandal, Manny Pina and Jacob Nottingham as catchers on the Brewers’ 40-man roster. He became expendable to the Mariners after they picked up Tom Murphy on waivers to back up Omar Narvaez.

Biasi, 23, joins his third organization in three seasons since being drafted out of Penn State.

MARINERS ACQUIRE:

Sal Biasi, RHP
Age: 23

The Royals drafted Biasi in the 11th round in 2017 out of Penn State and traded him to the Brewers a year later for fellow minor league righthander Jon Perrin. A stout 5-foot-11, 205 pounds, Biasi works in the low 90s with sink and has been clocked as high as 94-95 mph. He backs his fastball up with a 79-83 mph slider evaluators view as below-average. Biasi’s appeal is in his arm strength out of the bullpen, and there is potential for adjustments to improve his breaking ball. He began this season at low Class A Wisconsin and will start his Mariners career in the Class A levels.

BREWERS ACQUIRE:

David Freitas, C
Age: 30

A 15th-round pick out of Hawaii in 2010, Freitas made his major league debut with the Braves in 2017 and spent the last two seasons as an up-and-down catcher with the Mariners. He is a contact hitter who rarely strikes out and has enough defensive attributes to play in the majors on a part-time basis, although both his throwing and blocking were below-average in his first extended stint last season. He provides the Brewers with an emergency option to call up if injuries hit.