American Association Daily provides insights, features, and recaps of the action from around the American Association of Professional Baseball League, as well as player and coaching profiles and transactions. In today’s edition, Robert Pannier evaluates the trade that sent catcher Dylan Kelly to the Sioux City Explorers in exchange for a player to be named later.

Sioux City Explorers Acquire Dylan Kelly from Milwaukee Milkmen

Last Saturday, the Sioux City Explorers acquired catcher Dylan Kelly from the Milwaukee Milkmen and exchange for a player to be named later.

How Dylan Kelly Affects the Sioux City Explorers

This is a reunion for the Sioux City Explorers, as Dylan Kelly spent three of his six American Association seasons with the club. Kelly is a premier bat, hitting .318 in 61 games with Milwaukee. In fact, he has always proven himself to be one of the top hitting catchers in the league, hitting .304 in independent ball, including .313 last year for the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks.

Two weeks ago, when the club traded away infielder Nick Franklin, it was expected that they would make a move to improve their catching situation. Kelly not only provides an outstanding bat that makes this Sioux City lineup far more formidable, but he understands what Manager Steve Montgomery wants from his pitching staff. The challenge the Explorers staff has had the season is that they have not gone after opposing hitters in the way that Montgomery expects. Kelly not only understands his Manager’s philosophy, but is not afraid to get in the face of pitchers when they are not following the game plan.

This is a move that helps both the offense and the defense and is one that was essential if this club is going to make the playoffs.

How the Trade Affects the Milwaukee Milkmen

When Kelly refused the trade Milwaukee made to the Lake Country DockHounds, he was essentially in limbo. He could not return to the team and was not headed for Wisconsin. That also put the Milkmen in limbo, as they had the rights to Kelly and no need for him after acquiring Hector Sanchez from the Cleburne Railroaders.

Sanchez had been acquired from Cleburne the day before for a player to be named later. So, this deal is now essentially Kelly being traded for Sanchez. The player to be named later that Milwaukee will receive can be sent to Cleburne, so there is nothing lost to Milwaukee in making this deal. They have the catcher they want at a price that works more within their range.

Who Wins This Trade?

The trade benefits both clubs, but this was a move that Montgomery had to make. He has made several moves to improve the club offensively around the rest of the diamond, but the catching position has not been an area where he has hit on some of his recent acquisitions. Kelly changes all that. Expect him to have a monster season over the final three weeks and lead this club into the postseason.

By Robert Pannier