Gross traded to Tampa Bay

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SportsTicker: Brewers trade [Gabe] Gross to Rays
Published 4/22/2008 at BBTF's Baseball Primer Newsblog
... was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays. The Brewers acquired righthander Josh Butler, who will report to Class A Brevard County of the Florida State League. In his second year with the Brewers, the 28-year-old Gross batted just .209 (9-for-43) in 16 games this season. The Brewers needed to open a roster spot because outfielder Tony Gwynn has been recalled from his rehab assignment at Class AAA Nashville and will be activated from the 15-day disabled list on Wednesday. MIL J-S blog: Gross traded to Tampa Bay

Published 4/22/2008 by Robert R. at Al's Ramblings
Tuesday, April 22, 2008 (4/22/2008 06:26:00 PM) - Robert R. The Brewers trade Gabe Gross to Tampa Bay for pitching prospect Josh Butler . Josh Butler is, according to Baseball Prospectus, "a big righty with a heavy sinker that generates tons of groundballs". He's a 2nd round pick in 2006 and, on the surface, it's a decent talent for talent swap. That said, I strongly dislike the trade, unless there's something else in the works. IMO, Doug Melvin has just made the 2008 major league club worse, which is wrongheaded in a contending year. The team is short on lefthanded bats as it ...

Gross traded
Published 4/23/2008 by Jared at Right Field Bleachers
... Something had to give on the roster, as Gabe himself said. It hurts to lose a left-handed bat, especially one with power and the ability to take walks, on a team that is right-hand dominant, but in a way I'm happy for Gross. He never really took to the pinch-hitter off the bench role the Brewers used him in. He'd get hot when the Brewers gave him consistent at bats, but struggled otherwise. With the Rays, he should get a lot more playing time and may be a starter. I think he'll put up decent numbers too and it won't bother me at all. Gross only saw significant playing time this ...