Brewers land former All-Star player in last-minute trade

The Milwaukee Brewers have a new power option in the infield after a last-minute trade deal with the Baltimore Orioles.

Multiple media sources including ESPN and MLB.com are reporting the Brewers have acquired second baseman Jonathan Schoop. In return, Baltimore acquired veteran second baseman Jonathan Villar, as well as right-hander Luis Ortiz and shortstop Jean Carmona, who are both minor leaguers.

An All-Star in 2017, Schoop, 26, was hitting .244 with 17 home runs and 40 RBIs for the Orioles this season. He missed some early games with an oblique strain but he’s heated up since the All-Star break. His nine home runs in July are tied for the second-most in the majors behind Matt Carpenter of the St. Louis Cardinals (10).

The trade is the second the Brewers have made for an infielder in recent days, following Friday’s deal for Mike Moustakas of the Kansas City Royals. The trade also gives them a surplus of infielders, with third baseman Travis Shaw also on the team.

Notably, Schoop has played two major league games at shortstop. He is arbitration eligible in 2019 and can hit free agency after that season.

Milwaukee (62-47) entered Tuesday’s action one game behind the first-place Chicago Cubs in the NL Central.

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