Derek Jeter’s dismantling of the Marlins roster continued Thursday.
The best player left on the roster after a series of trades earlier in the offseason has also now been traded. Christian Yelich, who requested a trade recently, is heading to the Brewers, the teams announced.
Yelich slashed .282/.369/.807 with 18 home runs and 16 stolen bases last season for the Marlins. The 26-year-old outfielder signed a seven-year, $49 million contract that runs through 2021 with a $15 million team option for 2022. When the team was sold to a group that includes Jeter and it became clear the Marlins were going to tear the roster down again for a full rebuild, Yelich made it clear he didn’t want to be part of it.
Outfielder Lewis Brinson, who began the 2017 season ranked as the Brewers’ top prospect by several outlets, middle infielder Isan Diaz, outfielder Monte Harrison and pitcher Jordan Yamamoto are the players going to the Marlins for Yelich.
The Marlins already had traded National League MVP Giancarlo Stanton to the Yankees, outfielder Marcell Ozuna to the Cardinals and second baseman Dee Gordon to the Mariners.
The Brewers also made a big free-agent splash Thursday, adding outfielder Lorenzo Cain on a five-year, $80 million contract.