The Stink has been dealt!!

[DirtyKash]

LINEBRINK DEALT TO BREWERS!!! Padres pick up three pitching prospects in return!
Kevin Towers has finally had enough and shipped his worthless butt out of town! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwww yeah!

[jacs]

In 24 relief appearances this season with Triple-A Nashville, the 25-year-old Thatcher is 2-1 with one save and a 2.08 ERA in 21.2 innings, with seven walks and 33 strikeouts. He began the 2007 season at Double-A Huntsville, posting a 1-0 record and 0.55 ERA in 14 games with two walks and 20 strikeouts in 16 innings.

Inman, 20, is 1-5 with a 5.45 ERA with 16 walks and 42 strikeouts over eight starts with Hunstville. He began the season at Single-A Brevard County, where he was 4-3 with a 1.72 ERA in 13 starts.

Garrison, 20, is 8-4 with a 3.44 ERA with 28 walks and 74 strikeouts in 20 starts at Brevard County. The Brewers selected Garrison in the 10th round of the 2005 draft.

SignOnSanDiego.com > San Diego Padres -- Padres deal Linebrink for 3 Brewers minor-league pitchers

Would have been nice if they could have gotten Jr too.

[DirtyKash]

All three prospects seem like they have good potential. The last two are only 20 years old too. Kind of shocking that the Brewers would give up this much.

[padrefanforever]

I laughed my ass off at 2:55pm when it came across the wire...........granted his value isn't great anymore, but I think we'll look back on this in a couple years and laugh about what a great deal we made, even though it wasn't for a bat...........

[FmrFresnan]

I agree PFF, I think this is the right deal for the Padres and it gives them more young pitching depth. Especially with the kid joining the team in time for tomorrow's game @ Houston. He's supposed to make his debut somewhere around the 7th inning. Also, there was an interesting idea about Hensley being called up. Apparently, he's going to be part of a deal going to Houston and the Padres want to showcase him as a reliever during this series. Don't look for any deals to come down until Sunday afternoon or Monday morning.

[Fishercat]

So, the Manny for Linebrink deal is off?

[FmrFresnan]

According to MLB.com, the Brewers have acquired setup man Scott Linebrink for prospects Will Inman, Joe Thatcher, and Steve Garrison. Let's take a look at this deal.
Linebrink turns 31 in early August. Trade rumors swirled around him this offseason, especially involving the Phillies. His strikeout and walk numbers over the past three seasons have been consistent. However, in 2006 his less controllable numbers like hits allowed and home runs spiked somewhat. He was still worth a good 3-4 wins last year according to Baseball Prospectus.
However, Linebrink fell off a cliff this year. From Day 1 his strikeout rate has been way down; he's allowed a ton of home runs. You almost have to wonder whether he's healthy. He got by for the first two months with the reduced strikeout rate, but it caught up to him in June and especially July. Even as a seventh inning guy his value is very questionable. The Crew should recoup a draft pick or two when he leaves after the season, so that's something.
My trusty Baseball America Handbook tells me that 20 year-old righty Inman is clearly the jewel of the trade. He's a tough competitor; his 1.71 ERA in Low A ball last year was ridiculous. He does not offer dazzling stuff or projectability, however. He succeeds on the strength of his command and breaking stuff rather than velocity. He breezed through High A this year, posting a 1.72 ERA in 13 starts.
However, Baseball Prospectus' Kevin Goldstein questioned how his "below-average stuff and elite-level command" would play at Double A. The results in his first eight starts at that level have been mixed at best. He's taken a couple of shellackings, but has looked solid in his last three efforts. Goldstein wonders whether he may be a Yusmeiro Petit type, a guy who used deception to post some great minor league numbers despite mediocre stuff. Petit fooled the Marlins enough for the Mets to snag Carlos Delgado, at least.
Inman is very young for Double A; put him in PETCO in 2009 and I don't see why he can't keep his ERA under 5. Doesn't blow you away but innings eaters are fetching $8MM annually these days. Great move by Kevin Towers, because he won't miss Linebrink. He can't lose.
Didn't know much about the other two prospects. Thatcher is a 25 year-old southpaw reliever, another guy with average stuff. The results have been excellent through Triple A though. He's got a cut fastball, sweeping slider, and fine control. He was ranked 23rd among Brewers prospects by Baseball America.
Garrison is a 21 year-old southpaw starter, ranked 27th on the Brewers' list. He's working in High A currently. He too has average stuff without great velocity, another command guy. See a theme here? The pitchers plucked by Kevin Towers don't light up radar guns or make scouts drool, but still look like big league contributors.
You have to give this one to Towers, who traded from a position of strength to snag three pitchers known less for projection than probability.

[browntown653]

No my friend...the Brewers have a master plan...mwahahahahah *cough*

[HollywoodLeo]

Sweet, now the Padres will win a World Series!!!

[love_that_reefer]

Not if the Brewers and Linebrink knock the Pads out of the first round...again. Great deal for both teams. Padres got more young arms and the Brewers got an experienced reliever to go along side Turnbow and Wise.

[HollywoodLeo]

LTR, did the sarcasm go over your head? Or was that just a lame excuse to post about the Padres falling out in the first round the past two years?

[brewersfan19]

you guys are NOT picking onmy lovable losers (Brewers) are you??


j/k... I can take if you are, and they deserve. Hope this trade works out for both teams. And FYI, and I just not ready to let Gywnn, Jr go yet, but if I do, I would like the Padres to get first crack!!!!


Good luck the rest of the season guys. Hope to see you in the playoffs!!! I know you still have a trip to Milwaukee yet.

[padrefanforever]

Hell no we're not picking on you..........right now we LOVE you guys

[brewersfan19]

thanks, but I dont love the Brewers right now. We just lost 2 of 3 to SF and 3 of 4 to Cincincy.

[padrefanforever]

I'll edit it by saying

We love your FO