Blue Jays Trade Adam Lind to Brewers for Marco Estrada

According to Sportsnet.ca, the Toronto Blue Jays have traded Adam Lind to the Milwaukee Brewers. This deal coming on the heals of the Blue Jays picking up Lind’s $7.5M option today.

The Brewers are getting a left handed batter who struggles mightily against same handed pitching, but is among the league leaders against righties.

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Lind saw a dip in homeruns in 2014, but slashed an impressive .321/.381/.479/.860 Going to the National League, there will be precious few opportunities for Lind to DH, so he is going to have to figure out his fielding. His 2014 UZR of -3.9 will certainly become an issue. So too will the back issues that will inevitably arise from playing everyday at first base.

Year G H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS OPS+ 2013 143 134 26 1 23 67 51 103 .288 .357 .497 .854 132 2014 96 93 24 2 6 40 28 48 .321 .381 .479 .860 141 162 Game Avg. 162 158 33 2 25 88 46 121 .273 .327 .466 .794 112

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/1/2014.

In return, the Blue Jays will get a RHP who went 7-6, 4.36 last season. In 150 innings, Estrada gave up a league leading 29 home runs, which will certainly become a factor in the launching pad that is Rogers Centre. His nearly 3-1 strike out to walk ratio is nice. His WHIP of 1.201 is not Earth shattering. Fans may be questioning how this deal makes sense for the Blue Jays. Perhaps, the major reason for this deal has to do with shedding salary and picking up a serviceable arm in return. But they aren’t saving that much. Estrada made $3.3M last season.

Year Age W L ERA G GS IP H R ER HR BB SO ERA+ FIP WHIP 2013 29 7 4 3.87 21 21 128.0 109 56 55 19 29 118 100 3.86 1.078 2014 30 7 6 4.36 39 18 150.2 137 77 73 29 44 127 87 4.88 1.201

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/1/2014.

Whatever the motivation for this deal, one thing is for certain. The Blue Jays are off to an interesting start to the off season. The hot stove is turned up!