Brewers Acquire Omar Narvaez To Fill Catching Void

Image credit: Omar Narvaez (Photo by Justin K. Aller)

The Brewers on Thursday found their replacement for the departed Yasmani Grandal when they acquired Omar Narvaez from Seattle in exchange for a low-level minor leaguer and the Brewers’ supplemental second-round pick in the 2020 draft. Narvaez spent one season with the Mariners after making a name for himself with the White Sox.

Narvaez likely moves into the starter’s role with the Brewers, who also have David Freitas, Manny Pina and Jacob Nottingham on their 40-man roster and prospects Mario Feliciano and Payton Henry waiting in the minor leagues. 

It’s the second trade between the Mariners and Brewers in roughly a year. Milwaukee also sent Domingo Santana to Seattle last December in exchange for Ben Gamel and Noah Zavolas. 

BREWERS ACQUIRE

Omar Narvaez, C
Age: 27

Narvaez started his pro career with the Rays before moving over to the White Sox as a shrewd pick in the minor league portion of the Rule 5 draft. He’d earned a reputation as a suitable backup who can provide a bit of power in a pinch. He broke out with the Mariners in 2019, when he socked a career-best 22 homers and produced an .813 OPS, which ranked third among big league backstops. He allowed just three passed balls all year and threw out 27 percent of attempted basestealers.

MARINERS ACQUIRE

Adam Hill, RHP
Age: 22

Hill has been traded twice since the Mets selected him in the fourth round of the 2018 draft. The South Carolina alum was moved to Milwaukee in the 2019 deal that sent outfielder Keon Broxton to New York. He works with a low-90s fastball that is accentuated by the downward plane created by Hill’s 6-foot-6 frame. He backs it up with a low-to-mid-80s slider with late snap and a decent changeup as a third pitch. He needs to continue to refine his secondary pitches and overall command if he is to remain a candidate to pitch in a big league rotation.