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In a trade initiated by the G.M. of the San Francisco Velocity, the Brewers sent 25-year old C/1B Franklin Jimenez and 25-year old minor league secondbaseman Rogelio Espinal to the Velocity for 31-year old lefthanded starting pitcher Daniel Torres. It would appear that with Torres being eligible for free agency at the end of the 1967 season the Velocity were looking to free up some salary space and add some younger players. While Jimenez is not likely to ever be a star in this league (his overall and potential ratings were both actually higher pre-trade than they are now), with a dearth of quality catchers in the WPK and Jimenez having the ability to not only be solid behind the plate but also at firstbase, his value seems to have been inflated somewhat this off-season (his name came up in several trades offers floated our way).
This trade does mean that Tony Silmon will continue to be the back-up to Sam Rogers. While Silmon is a somewhat better defensive catcher than Jimenez (and Rogers, for that matter) his bat is completely insufficient against major league pitching. The loss of Jimenez also leaves the Brewers with less depth at firstbase, which could be an issue with fragile (though, so far, thankfully not yet often injured) and aging A.J. White learning that position and unproven Erik Shelton as the only other viable option. Plus, this trade leaves the Brewers basically tapped out in terms of player salary budget space.
On the other hand, adding the solid Torres to the starting rotation will take some pressure off youngster Abel Pennington, who will now be a sixth starter/swingman. It also give the Brewers three lefthanded starters on a team that plays home games in a park that slightly favors lefthanded hitters. Torres, like the two relievers the Brewers picked up in the off-season, is far less prone to giving up the long ball, which was a distinct problem for the Brewers pitching staff in 1966. And while Torres is probably just a one-season loaner, it is hoped that his addition will give the Brewers a very competitive pitching staff and a good chance at respectability in the standings this upcoming season.
(While all teams will profess, this time of the pre-season, that their goal is to win the championship, in private conversations it becomes clear the the Brewers management would consider 1967 a success if the team finishes anywhere between 3rd and 5th in the MGL. The very real goal is to at least finish at .500, and hopefully a bit above.)
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