Blue Jays get Brad Lincoln from Pirates

[splitterpfj]

Reportedly for Travis Snider, waiting for details.

[torts]

yeah, kind of a weird trade, I can tell you that all the bandwagoners are calling in and saying that the buc's are finched... which is being a bit over-dramatic... but im not sure I see the point of Snider in the OF if only to move Jones to 1B and McGehee to the bench/3B platoon. OF is the one position the Pirates have a good bit of depth outside of the pen... so its kind of weird they'd trade from one strength to add to another strength..

[RockCoCougars]

Maybe I'm now overrating relievers in general after watching the Brewers, but this trade makes little sense to me. Lincoln has been very impressive out of the pen for the Pirates this season. Why mess up a good thing?

[crewcrazy]

I really like the deal for Pittsburgh. I'm not a huge believer in Brad Lincoln being for real in the bullpen, with a FIP nearly a run higher than his ERA. I'm not convinced he'll play well out of the bullpen in the AL East. Snider is a decent buy-low gamble. Hard to believe he's only 24. If he can figure it out, that's a pretty damn good (young) outfield in Pitt.

 

This is the kind of move the Pirates should be making this year, by the way. Guys with a bit of untapped potential/years of control beyond the next year or two.

[ninja33]

The Pirates bullpen is also really really deep. Between Hanrahan, Grilli, Hughes, and Juan Cruz coming back, they can get by without Lincoln. I know it's hard to say this as a brewer fan right now, but bullpen pieces are very replaceable. Whereas Travis Snider has struggled a lot at the major league level, but he debuted as the youngest player in the league (he's still just 24) and is a former top 10 prospect with some major power. He's been mashing (again) in AAA this year, and supposedly he's made some mechanical adjustments as well as fully recovered from a wrist injury. It's basically one GM hoping he's turned that corner (and only sacrificing a RP to do so), which isn't a ridiculous thought about a 24 year old player, vs. the other GM saying he hasn't and won't. I think its a great trade/gamble by the pirates. Gamble probably isn't even the right word, because middle relievers have such low value (again, very difficult to say as a brewer fan right now. but it's the truth)