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The Toronto Blue Jays have acquired RHP Brad Lincoln from the Pittsburgh Pirates for OF Travis Snider. Lincoln, 27, was the Pirates' 4th overall pick in the 2006 amateur draft. Snider, 24, was the 14th overall pick in the same draft.
Lincoln has split the last three years between the Pirates and AAA Indianapolis. He had started exclusively in the minor leagues, but has been used mostly from the bullpen in the big leagues this year, except for a stretch of 4 unimpressive starts in the middle of June.
Lincoln had Tommy John surgery back in 2007. John Sickels of Minor League Ball gave him a grade of B-/borderline C+ for 2010, thinking he is looks like more of an inning-eater type than a true ace, with a risk of being a AAAA-type guy. Kevin Goldstein called him "Pittsburgh's Travis Snider" on Blue Jays Talk with Mike Wilner.
This trade has been very hard to swallow for me. I suspected something was going on when John Farrell called Yan Gomes in from the bullpen (where he was catching) to replace Travis Snider. Soon after, we saw Snider come back into the dugout shaking hands and giving hugs to his now-former teammates and coaches. In the gamethread, people were suggesting various names of possible players coming back, including Matt Garza, but no one guessed Brad Lincoln.
Snider was a very popular player in Toronto, despite spending extended amount of time in AAA Las Vegas this season. It is unfair to him, but I suspect that Lincoln will have a heck of a lot of pressure placed on him to do well, especially since this is a one-for-one trade. Like many of Alex Anthopoulos' trades, this one came out of nowhere, but unlike many of them, I did not come out feeling that great about it.
Perhaps the Blue Jays' front office knows something about Travis Snider that we don't. Perhaps they know something about Brad Lincoln that we don't, and that the Pirates couldn't see. Perhaps there are more moves that could explain this one. Perhaps it's just time for Snider to have an opportunity somewhere else. I wish Snider nothing but the best in his career.
Perhaps it's time for me to grab a drink then go to bed, careful not to wet my pillow with tears.
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BLUE JAYS ACQUIRE BRAD LINCOLN FROM PIRATES
The TORONTO BLUE JAYS have acquired RHP BRAD LINCOLN from the PITTSBURGH PIRATES in exchange for outfielder TRAVIS SNIDER.
LINCOLN, 27, is 4-2 this season with one save and a 2.73 ERA in 28 games with five starts for the Pirates. The 6-0, 200 lb. right-handed pitcher has allowed 51 hits in 59.1 innings with 14 walks and 60 strikeouts. He also made two starts with the Indianapolis Indians of the International League (AAA) posting a 1-0 record with a 2.25 ERA. In parts of three seasons with the Pirates, the Lake Jackson, Texas native has a career record of 7-9 with a 4.62 ERA in 51 games, 22 starts. Lincoln was the Pirates first round selection in the 2006 first year player draft, fourth overall.
SINDER, 24, entered tonight’s game batting .235 in nine games with three home runs and eight RBI. The 6-0, 230 lb. left handed hitter spent most of the season with Las Vegas of the Pacific Coast League (AAA) where he hit .335 in 61 games with 17 doubles, 13 home runs and 57 RBI. |