After designating Brad Miller for assignment earlier this week, the Tampa Bay Rays have traded the utility infielder along with cash considerations to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for the recently-demoted first baseman Ji-Man Choi.
The 28-year-old Miller was designated for assignment on Thursday to make room on the roster for first-base prospect Jake Bauers. Owed $4.5 million in 2018, Miller is still under team control through 2019 heading into his final season of arbitration.
While Miller has historically moved around the diamond, Tampa Bay had stationed the utility man at first base for nearly all of 2018. Over 48 games, Miller was posting a .256/.322/.429 slash line with five home runs.
Miller was promptly optioned to Triple-A Colorado Springs for the Brewers. While Milwaukee finds itself in first place, Miller joins a Brewers club that ranks 30th in offensive production from shortstop and 26th at second base; both positions Miller is able to patrol.
Choi, who hit a grand slam during Saturday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies, was optioned to the minors prior to Sunday's game. Heading over to the Rays, the first baseman will begin his tenure with Triple-A Durham.
Over 12 games this season, the 27-year-old owns a .233/.281/.500 slash line with a pair of home runs. During three seasons in the majors, the natural first baseman has played a total of 114 innings in left field as well.