The Brewers acquired RHP Matt Bush from the Rangers in exchange for INF Mark Mathias and LHP Antoine Kelly.
The former #1 overall pick in the 2004 draft, Matt Bush has had a fantastic season with the Rangers this year. In 36.2 innings pitched he boasts a 2.95 ERA and 3.18 xFIP with a 30% K rate. He also posted a miniscule .186 xBAA with the Rangers. He ranks in the top 8th percentile for barrel%, top 7th percentile for xSLG, and top 5th percentile for xERA. Bush has had a career rejuvenating year after only throwing 4 innings since the 2018 season.
In exchange for Bush the Rangers acquired INF Mark Mathias, a former 3rd round pick in the 2015 draft. Mathias made his MLB debut in the 2020 covid season, posting a .639 OPS and a 68 wRC+. He then missed the entire 2021 season due to an injury to his throwing shoulder suffered during spring training. Coming back from his shoulder injury, he has posted a .939 OPS and a 151 wRC+ this year at the Triple A level across 50 games. Mathias has shown his offensive ability at the Triple A level, his big league potential depends on how well he can translate his ability to the big league level.
The Rangers also acquired LHP Antoine Kelly in the deal, Kelly was a second round pick in the 2019 draft. The lefty has a plus fastball and projects to have a plus-plus slider, command has been Kelly’s biggest struggle. He has walked 13.4% of the hitters he has faced across his 91 innings pitched at the High A level this season. In spite of his high walk totals he has posted a 3.86 ERA and a 3.95 xFIP this season. The stuff is not an issue when it comes to Antoine Kelly, it is just a matter of whether or not he can find the zone enough to be effective.
The Brewers acquired a hard-throwing right-handed reliever that could definitely pitch in some high leverage situations for them down the line. While the Rangers flip a 36 year old for a 28 year old utility infielder and a 22 year old pitching prospect with some electric stuff.