[BirdWatcher]

As the annual Winter Meetings commence the Brewers announce a minor trade that could yield good results down the road. Tom O'Donnell, who just didn't fit into the Brewers plans but could turn into a useful piece of another team's outfield on the major league level, was sent to the Washington Night Train (along with a couple of veteran minor leaguers) for 22-year old relief pitcher Kelly McTavish and 21-year old minor league outfielder/infielder George Alexander. McTavish is young and intelligent and fairly talented and at least adds more depth to the Brewers bullpen corps (and will likely start the '68 season at AAA Chester.)
But Alexander was really the draw here. He was the #3 overall pick in the 1965 new player draft and has always intrigued the Brewers brain-trust. Although his stock has diminished the past few years, he still has good raw talent and is considered a very smart and hard-working player. There are those in the Brewers organization who believe that a change of scenery might be exactly what he needs to reclaim his status as a legitimate prospect. It was felt that this was a risk worth taking given that the Brewers didn't give up anyone they were planning on having a role on the club anyway.