[BirdWatcher]

With a growing surplus of pitchers and with the struggles of Diego Ramirez to remain healthy, the Brewers today shipped him to Pittsburgh in exchange for 30-year old catcher Carlos Rivera. Rivera has limited offensive skills but is an extremely gifted defensive catcher who has won 4 straight Gold Gloves. Rivera is under contract through the 1973 season and management felt that he will provide a nice bridge and mentor to the younger catcher coming up through the system, including Kevin Curtis, who will likely be his back-up during the 1970 season.
Perhaps even more importantly, the Brewers get 19-year old Zacarias Martell who has the potential to become a star catcher himself in a few years. Martell projects to possibly become as fine a defensive catcher as Rivera, but with potentially quite a bit more offensive upside.
The move also opens up a bit more salary space should the Brewers decide to sign a front-line free agent this off-season.