Brewers deal Will Smith to Giants for Susac, Bickford
The NL West-leading San Francisco Giants acquired left-handed reliever Will Smith from the Brewers to bolster their bullpen for the stretch run, sending catcher Andrew Susac and pitching prospect Phil Bickford to Milwaukee on Monday.
The Giants have struggled mightily since the All-Star break and had been looking to upgrade a relief corps that has been so reliable in recent years, helping them win World Series championships in 2010, '12 and '14. San Francisco has won two straight games since losing 11 of 13 following the All-Star Game.
The 27-year-old Smith is 1-3 with a 3.68 ERA this season in 27 games and 22 innings. He had been with the Brewers since they got him in a trade with Kansas City in December 2013. Smith was 9-8 with a 3.28 ERA and one save in 181 relief appearances overall for the Brewers.
Susac spent parts of the 2014 and '15 season in the majors. He is batting .273 with eight home runs 36 RBIs and 12 doubles in 58 games this season for Triple-A Sacramento.
Bickford, who had been a top prospect in the Giants' farm system, is a combined 5-6 with a 2.71 ERA in 17 starts between Class-A Augusta and Class-A San Jose. San Francisco selected him 18th overall in the 2015 draft.
Milwaukee also recalled right-hander David Goforth from Triple-A Colorado Springs and purchased the contract of catcher Manny Pina from Triple-A.
