The Milwaukee Brewers have acquired infielder Felipe Lopez from the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for outfielder Cole Gillespie and pitcher Roque Mercedes, this according to Jessie Sanchez of MLB.com
Lopez, 29, had more than respectable numbers for the Diamondbacks .301/.364/.412 to go along with six home runs and 25 RBIs.
Milwaukee has been without a second baseman since Rickie Weeks was placed on the disabled list in early May. Them team has tried to patch the position together with 39-year-old veteran Craig Counsell, and rookie Casey McGehee. Lopez is expected to immediately assume the role of the starting second baseman for the Brewers.
"It's exciting," Lopez said from St. Louis. "It's tough leaving the guys here. At the same time, I'm excited for the opportunity."
For the Diamondbacks this moves makes sense, here is what D-Backs GM Josh Byrnes said about the deal.
"With our place in the standings, we have to consider trades like this," Diamondbacks general manager Josh Byrnes said. "Felipe will be a free agent at the end of the year, and we acquired a couple of guys with long-term value."
John Sickels of Minor League Ball rates Gillespie as the Brewers eleventh best prospect in the organization. He graded him as a C+ saying " Jason Bay type, solid across the board performance, scouts aren't wild about tools but he has played well at every level." Gillespie hit .242 with seven home runs and 27 RBIs for Triple-A Nashville. Mercedes was 1-1 with six saves and a 1.08 ERA in 29 appearances for Class A Brevard County.