Lara signed a minor-league contract with the Orioles on Wednesday.
Lara spent all of last season at Double-A Harrisburg with the Nationals organization, slashing .217/.272/.321 through 312 plate appearances. Given his less-than-impressive minor-league resume, the 25-year-old infielder still needs plenty of seasoning before he's ready for the majors. It's safe to assume he'll serve as no more than an organizational-depth piece for the Orioles.
The Brewers traded Lara and KJ Harrison to the Nationals on Friday in exchange for Gio Gonzalez, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.
Lara hit a fine .249/.281/.353 across 115 games with Low-A Wisconsin before being traded. The 20-year-old split time between third base and shortstop in 2018, starting 64 games at the hot corner and 48 at short.
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Brewers' Gilbert Lara: Back in action
Rotowire
Lara (leg) is starting at third base and batting sixth in Sunday's minor-league spring training game.
Lara suffered a fractured right fibula and dislocated right ankle in late July last season but is back on the field and gearing up for the start of the 2018 campaign. The 20-year-old posted an abysmal .193/.226/.269 slash line with Low-A Wisconsin last season, so he's not a dynasty league consideration at this time.
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Brewers' Gilbert Lara: Suffers fractured fibula
Rotowire
Lara suffered a fractured right fibula and dislocated right ankle while playing for Helena in the Pioneer League, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
Lara, a top international signing for $3.2 million out of the Dominican Republic in 2014, had been demoted back to rookie ball after hitting just .193 a Low-A Wisconsin in 67 games. The injury will end his disappointing season and he'll try to bounce back next spring.
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Brewers' Gilbert Lara: Struggling in Pioneer League
Rotowire
Lara, 18, is slashing .209/.279/.273 with one home run, two steals and a 30:9 K:BB in 110 at-bats in the Pioneer League.
He isn't striking out at an alarming rate (24.8 percent) given his age and assignment, but he's just not driving the ball or getting on base with any regularity. This is pretty disappointing, considering other players from Lara's 2014 J-2 class have really started to emerge at rookie ball this year. Lara still has significant long-term upside, but he has done nothing to improve his stock in dynasty leagues this season.
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Brewers' Gilbert Lara: Will begin season at extended spring training
Rotowire
Lara will kick off his 2016 campaign at extended spring training, Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
The 18-year-old Lara is considered one of the Brewers' top prospects, but given his age and .606 OPS in the two rookie leagues last season, the Brewers do not feel he is ready for a full-season league just yet. Lara will eventually find his way to Low-A Wisconsin, but it remains to be seen if that will be this year or down the road.
