The Brewers “traded” Triple-A outfielder Jason Tyner to the Tigers’ top affiliate on Wednesday to clear a spot for prospect Cole Gillespie, who was slowed by a sore right elbow to start the season but was ready to report to Nashville on Thursday.
Tyner was sent to Toledo for future considerations, but don’t hold your breath. It was really about finding him a job because opportunities were thin in Nashville and, with Gillespie joining the fray, about to become even thinner.
“We didn’t know what the situation was going to be at the end of Spring Training when [Tyner] became available,” Brewers assistant GM Gord Ash said. “We didn’t think [Tony] Gwynn would get to Nashville, so we were planning for him not being there.”
But Gwynn did clear waivers and was assigned to Nashville. The Sounds also have Jason Bourgeois, another player similar to both Gwynn and Tyner.
“So with Tyner, we were able to accommodate him with a trade rather than release him,” Ash said.
Gillespie started the year at Class A Brevard County to test his elbow. He went 2-for-2 on Wednesday night with a pair of walks and batted .349 during his stay there.
In another move, Ash said the Sounds were poised to place left-hander Sam Narron on the seven-day disabled list with a sore elbow. Ash spoke Thursday morning with Triple-A trainer Jeff Paxson, who expects Narron to miss only a week or so. To fill the spot, Double-A closer Juan Sandoval was promoted to Nashville.
