Transaction Analysis: See You Latos

MINNESOTA TWINS Team Audit | Player Cards | Depth Chart

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Called up OF-L Max Kepler from Double-A Chattanooga. [9/22]

Kepler has gone from toolsy, raw prospect to being ready to contribute on a big-league roster in a relatively short time.

Kepler's swing is easy on the eyes, staying in the zone with very little wasted movement and with the natural plane and bat speed scouts/normal human beings love to see. His long limbs give him easy extension, and he'll spray line drives to both left and right field. The power is still developing, but his strong wrists and frame suggest he should have at least average pop, with above-average not out of the question.

While Kepler has answered some questions about his offensive upside, where he fits in the field is unclear. He's a below-average runner with a fringe-average arm, and his baseball instincts are still developing in the outfield, leading to inefficient routes and the occasional flub. He's also played his fair share of first base, and because of the lack of athleticism that might be where he profiles best.

Kepler is ready to contribute offensively now, and it wouldn't surprise me if he came up with a big hit or two down the stretch because of his keen approach. If he can stick in either corner, he's a potential regular, with second-division first baseman or bench bat being a solid, if somewhat underwhelming, floor. –Christopher Crawford

LOS ANGELES DODGERS Team Audit | Player Cards | Depth Chart

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Activated RHP Carlos Frias from the 60-day disabled list (lower back tightness); designated RHP Mat Latos for assignment. [9/17]

When the Dodgers acquired Latos at the deadline, the thinking was that he could shore up the back of their rotation. After all, he had pitched better in the lead-up to the deadline, lasting into the sixth in each of his final seven starts with the Marlins. So much for all that. Latos pitched into the sixth once with the Dodgers (in his first try) and was an unmitigated disaster otherwise. Factor in his reputation as a clubhouse nuisance and it's no wonder the Dodgers accepted the sunk cost as quickly as they did. Latos will now hit the open market as a 28-year-old who has missed time in consecutive seasons due to injury or ineffectiveness. His age and past success guarantees he'll land a big-league deal, but don't expect teams to spend much time or money on him heading forward unless his performance improves. –R.J. Anderson

MILWAUKEE BREWERS Team Audit | Player Cards | Depth Chart

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Recalled INF-R Yadiel Rivera and RHP Tyler Wagner from Triple-A Colorado Springs; purchased the contracts of RHPs Jorge Lopez, Adrian Houser, and Yhonathan Barrios, and OF-R Michael Reed; placed RHP Jimmy Nelson on the 60-day disabled list (head contusion); transferred RHP Michael Blazek to the 60-day disabled list (fractured hand). [9/22]

On Monday, David Stearns was introduced as the Brewers' general manager. On Tuesday, he played with his new toy. Here's a quick rundown of the newest Brewers:

• Rivera is an all-glove shortstop who posted a .570 OPS in the PCL. He saw action at other positions throughout the season, auguring that Milwaukee views him as a utility infielder. Based on his arm strength and athleticism, he should do just fine in that role.

• Wagner is a collegiate reliever turned professional starter. He's found success thanks to his fastball-slider combination and fondness for strikes and grounders. How he performs against left-handed hitters will determine whether he sticks at the back of a rotation or returns to the bullpen.

• Lopez spent the season in Double-A, where he improved upon his performance in various regards following a trying 2014 season. He has good size as well as a quality fastball and breaking ball, and his fringe-average changeup should allow him to remain in the rotation, possibly as a no. 4 starter.

• Houser was part of the Carlos Gomez payout. He fits with the other arms listed above, in that he throws a low-90s sinker and an above-average curveball. The lingering questions on Houser are whether he'll find enough consistency with his changeup and command to settle in as a back-end starter, or if he'll take his show to the bullpen.

• Barrios was another part of the Brewers' deadline haul, albeit as part of the Aramis Ramirez trade. He's a short righty who converted to pitching a few years back. These days Barrios sits in the mid-90s with his fastball, but he might top out as organizational depth because he doesn't have a consistently above-average secondary offering to his name.

• Then there's Reed, who is your stereotypical fourth-outfielder-slash-tweener type. He has wheels and ample experience across the outfield.

While each could contribute to the 2016 Brewers in various capacities, don't expect any of them to play huge roles over the next few weeks. –R.J. Anderson

PITTSBURGH PIRATES Team Audit | Player Cards | Depth Chart

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Purchased the contact of OF-R Keon Broxton from Triple-A Indianapolis; placed INF-R Jung-ho Kang on the 60-day disabled list (fractured tibia and torn lateral meniscus). [9/21]

Kang's season-ending (and -delaying, in the case of his 2016 debut) injury is a bummer for more reasons than one. But if there is a silver lining, it's that Broxton will enjoy his first cup of coffee.

Once a third-round pick of the Diamondbacks, Broxton was shipped to the Pirates prior to the 2014 season in exchange for cash considerations. Naturally, he'd go on to enjoy a brilliant season, showing off the power-speed combination that enticed Arizona in the first place. Although he went unprotected (and unpicked) in last winter's Rule 5 draft, he's since made it easy to envision him filling a reserve role as soon as next spring. The one hurdle standing between Broxton and realization of that potential is his tendency to strike out. His on-base skills, athleticism, and defensive versatility should be enough for him to stick on a bench anyway, but then, we probably would've said the same about Corey Brown. –R.J. Anderson

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS Team Audit | Player Cards | Depth Chart

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Purchased the contracts of OF-R Mac Williamson and C-R Trevor Brown from Triple-A Sacramento. [9/16]

You might remember that, back in August, the Giants bolstered their outfield depth by trading for Alejandro De Aza and Marlon Byrd. In doing so, the Giants twice elided Williamson, who was arguably the top candidate in the system. Roughly a month later, they've corrected that perceived injustice by bringing him to the majors.

Though he missed most of 2014 due to Tommy John surgery, Williamson has shown few ill effects in his return to action. He split the minor-league season between Double- and Triple-A, hitting .275/.368/.433 overall and showing more in-game power once he moved to the PCL. Williamson fits the typical right-field profile by having above-average pop and arm strength. The catch is that his long swing and shaky pitch-recognition skills could render his power relatively useless, or at least unused. Williamson celebrated his 25th birthday in July, so he's getting close to that awkward age for corner-outfield prospects, when they risk shedding their cuddliness in favor of the Quad-A label. Here's hoping the Giants give him a chance over the final few weeks to show what he's got.

Brown is decidedly less interesting than Williamson, and his recall is due to need rather than desire: The Giants have Hector Sanchez and Andrew Susac on the disabled list, with Buster Posey filling in at first base for the ailing Brandon Belt. Brown is around to start day games and sub in should Jackson Williams gets hurt. He's your standard piece of catching depth, which is to say he's all mitt, no hit. –R.J. Anderson