Linebrink acquired for Inman/Garrison/Thatcher

[Bruce Ciskie]

This baby had better be important.

[Team Canada]

We just got one of the premier releivers on the market for some great young talent who weren't going to pitch in Milwaukee this year.

 

Inman, Garrison, and Thatcher all project as probable major leaguers and San Diego might think they've won this trade in 2 or 3 years but we are about the present.

 

Well, you can be about both winning now and winning later, it doesn't have to be all or nothing.

[twobrewers]

HOLY COW!

 

I can't believe we traded Inman. I am shocked. I spent the first few minutes really upset.

 

But I have calmed down. In Doug I trust.

 

I have to remind myself that even though Inman was probably our #1 prospect - that doesn't mean he was any where near Braun or Gallardo.

 

Most saw him topping out as a #3 starter. And he has struggled a lot in AA. He isn't a flame thrower. And he is short as well. He just doesn't project to the majors.

 

My guess, the Brewers soured on him and the rest of that bunch. I think we basically just traded Inman for 2 comp picks. (And apparently we feel those two comp picks have a better chance of helping us than Inman)

[Bruce Ciskie]

Does anyone else think we may have just bolstered the staff to make a run at Dunn?

 

I mean, he would make the offense more dangerous. Windier, too, but more dangerous.

[mannyduke]

Now we're not even getting him for two days? This just gets better.

 

Um, as opposed to getting here tomorrow? It's not THAT big of a deal even if his wife wasn't going to have a baby some time in the next 24 hours.

 

My first thought about the trade was why a contender like the Padres would be dealing bullpen arms in exchange for minor leaguers. Maybe they know something about Linebrink that the Brewers don't or they really like the guys they got back much more than what the Brewers do. My second thought was the compensation picks the team would receive if Linebrink does walk as a free agent would help offset the prospects given up to get him in the first place. Overall then, I think this is a good (not necessarily great) move.

[SeriesFinale]

I think I'll just withhold judgement on this one until October...of 2010.

[Tedaldtada]

So when do we find out how many picks this guy will be worth next year? I hope two first round sandwich picks. Could the Brewers even afford that? This is going to be fun to watch. Its kind of sad this is all I can think about during all this.

[bretsky07]

seems steep. Inman for Linebrink straight up would have seemed steep to me, but definitely more palatable.

 

...I'm still waiting for a new report that says "Brewers get Linebrink and..." insert moderate prospect here.

[homer]

I really think that Garrison is going to be a good pitcher some day. He's been really good lately at BC and is only 20 years old.

[rluzinski]

I'm not so worried about the HRs Linebrink has given up but his K rate is WAY down. But Melvin said his scouts checked the guy out and he looks sound, so I can only hope so. He's only had 45 IP this year, so the evidence isn't very strong to the contrary.

 

Still, add everything up and I'm just not very excited about this trade. You are upgrading 25 IP of maybe a 4.5 ERA pitcher for a 3.5 ERA pitcher. That works out to something like 4 runs saved. Now, those 4 runs are going to probably come in higher leverage situations but still. One win, maybe?

 

Melvin said the compensatory picks weighted heavily in his decision, so I have to think he was not very high on Inman at all. I hope he's right.

[dpapo]

With Linebrink not being with the team till Friday, he'll be well rested. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[TracyThom]

Quote:

---

I can't get over how in love with minor league baseball some of you are.

---

 

Yeah there is no reason for Brewers fans to be excited about our minor leagues. Good thing we traded to acquire Sheets, Hall, Prince, Rickie, JJ, Braun, Yo, Corey, and Gwynn.

[UeckerAddict]

I've seen the "change of scenery brings back the success of the past" theory work many times before. I'm not saying it's definite, but Doug wants to get to the dang playoffs. I don't blame him.

[WisconsinSportsRule]

My first reaction to this trade was "unbelieveable". I totally trust in what Doug has done here in Milwaukee and hopefully he made the right decision here. I really thought Inman had the chance to be the next big thing according to many here.

 

Sure, we could get some picks from the deal, but we are giving back some great talent, for perhaps, a solid reliever. I just hope this is not a rental!

[igor67]

Based on his track record I can trust that Doug's scouting said Inman was a reasonable risk to let go. But considering the volume of interesting pitchers we gave up I'm concerned. It they were going to offer that much why not throw in another really good position prospect like Gamel and see what Texas had to say about Texeria?

[JohnBriggs12]

What bothers me about Linebrink is that the Padres are right in the middle of the race and they don't seem to think he's worth keeping around. It also bothers me that we gave up Inman. Now the Brewer system is pretty devoid of right handed pitching prospects. Plus of all the many lefthanders, Garrison may be near the top.

[bullox]

I'm slitting my e-wrists.

[Dragonbait]

Nothing about how Maddux might help him regain form?

 

As for this trade..... I'm a wait and see guy....

[danzig6767]

I've been intrigued by Thatcher,with the Padres calling him up,i'm very curious to see how he does.

 

The thing is Thatcher has a great story and i want to cheer for the guy to do well,but if he pitches great,then i'll feel even worse about this trade.

[JJHardy7]

And Parra.

[SeriesFinale]

Sure, we could get some picks from the deal, but we are giving back some great talent, for perhaps, a solid reliever. I just hope this is not a rental!

 

Well, it's either the rental or the picks

 

I'll take rental, personally, but maybe Linebrink can get some old Maddux Magic and turn it around

[RockCoCougars]

I don't like the trade. Not because of the players they gave up, but for the fact that Linebrink just isn't very good. To justify the trade, they are going to run him out all the time though.

[ajgodson]

To clear up the draft picks: Linebrink will be a Type A so the Brewers will get.

 

1. A sandwich pick between the first and second round. It's likely this will be high. (Last year there were 34 sandwich picks, 16 of which were type A's, which go first.)

 

2. A compensatory pick from the team that signs Linebrink. It will be a first rounder unless the pick would be a top 15 pick (which are protected). Then it would be a second-round pick. Given the economics of baseball, top relievers are usually signed by high-payroll teams that finish well.

 

A good guess would be the picks being somewhere around what the Dodgers got for Julio Lugo, #20 & #39.

 

Just an FYI since there were some questions about the picks. The Crew could sign Linebrink long term, too.

[UeckerAddict]

What bothers me about Linebrink is that the Padres are right in the middle of the race and they don't seem to think he's worth keeping around.

 

This is the same organization that thought the acquisitions of Marcus Giles, Michael Barrett, Kevin Kouzmanoff, and Russell Branyan (maybe add Milton Bradley) would bolster their offense.

[dvoiss]

Seems like a lot to pay for a reliever who is having a down year but maybe Melvin knows something we don't. He seems to be a guy who trusts his scouts and there haven't been a whole lot of times in the past when his scouts have been wrong.

 

Having said that this looks an awful lot to me like a preliminary move to picking up a bat for one of our current pitchers.