Brewers trade for Linebrink (1 Viewer)

[Dusty Rhodes]

Linebrink to Milwaukee

The Padres Wednesday traded right-handed reliever Scott Linebrink for three minor-league pitchers in the Milwaukee Brewers system.

Acquired for Linebrink were left-handed pitchers Joe Thatcher and Steve Garrison and right-hander Will Inman.

Thatcher is expected to join the Padres on Thursday when the club begins a four-game series at Houston. Inman will report to Double-A San Antonio, Garrison to Single-A Lake Elsinore.

Linebrink, the subject of numerous trade rumors, is 3-3 with a 3.80 ERA in 44 appearances with the Padres this season. Normally the eighth-inning set-up man for Trevor Hoffman, Linebrink had struggled lately with his control and appeared to have lost his role to Health Bell.

Linebrink, who turns 31 Aug. 4, has a career record of 28-13 with four saves a 3.19 ERA in 357 games with San Francisco (2000), Houston (2000-2003) and San Diego (2003-2007). Linebrink was drafted by the Giants in the second round of the 1997 draft.

Since being claimed off waivers by the Padres from Houston on May 29, 2003, Linebrink is 27-12 with a 2.73 ERA and four saves in 306 games. He stuck out 297 while walking 107 with the Padres.

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.

 

[Wrigley]

Linebrink is not going to like the move to MIL.....he's a flyball pitcher in a ground ball park.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

Wow. I just mentioned today that he was probably going onto the block after being demoted. Good pick-up for the Brewers who can re-sign him cheaper than they can Cordero in the offseason and a great bullpen bump right now.

 

[Ed4252]

The Padres won this trade.

Inman is going to be VERY good if they decide to keep him and not just waste it on a cheap veteran bat.

 

[SeveredHorseHeads]

Terrible trade, long-term, for the Crew. Short term it could help them out.

 

[MrPhoenix]

FWIW, in the Baseball America Prospect Handbook 2007, the Brewers pitchers were given the following organizational ranks:

Imman: #3

Thatcher: #23

Garrison: #27

 

[Doctor Detroit]

FWIW, in the Baseball America Prospect Handbook 2007, the Brewers pitchers were given the following organizational ranks:Imman: #3Thatcher: #23Garrison: #27

Nice info.

 

[Dusty Rhodes]

Does this mean the Brewers are going to deal Turnbow?

 

[MrPhoenix]

FWIW, in the Baseball America Prospect Handbook 2007, the Brewers pitchers were given the following organizational ranks:Imman: #3Thatcher: #23Garrison: #27

Nice info.

Well, it's an even better deal when you consider that these rankings are the rankings in an organization that was ranked my Baseball America as the #5 organization in baseball, gaging talent from the minors on up to the majors. Outside of his first 8 starts in AA, Inman has been downright filthy in the minors:2005 Rookie League Helena (Park factor: .979-Slight pitchers park): 13 G, 5 GS, 45 IP, 58/11 (5.3/1) K/BB, 29 hits, 5.8 H/9, 11.6 K/9, 2.00 ERA2006 A League West Virginia (Park factor: 1.027-Slight hitters park): 23 G, 20 GS, 111 IP, 134/24 (5.6/1) K/BB, 75 hits, 6.1 H/9, 10.9 K/9, 1.71 ERA2007 High-A League Brevard County (Park factor: .981-Slight pitchers park): 13 G, 13 GS, 78.6 IP, 98/23 (4.2/1) K/BB, 56 hits, 6.5 H/9, 11.2 K/9, 1.72 ERA2007 Double-A League Huntsville (Park factor: 1.019-Slight hitters park): 8 G, 8 GS, 39.6 IP, 42/16 (2.6/1) K/BB, 38 hits, 8.6 H/9, 9.69 K/9, 5.45 ERALooking at the stats, it seems that Inman has had some downswing in his stats in 2007. One warning sign was that his walk rate went up at High-A Brevard County this season, while his other stats stayed solid. But when he went to Huntsville, his K rate went down, his hit rate went up, his walk rate continued to climb, and of course, his ERA goes up. He played in a slight hitters park, but then again, he played ALL of 2006 in a similar, if not slightly bigger, hitters park. He does go to a system where the Land of Cannan is Petco Park, where homers go to die. With minor league pitchers, it's almost expected of them to go through speed bumps, and maybe 8 games is pretty small sample size.

 

[tommyGunZ]

FWIW, in the Baseball America Prospect Handbook 2007, the Brewers pitchers were given the following organizational ranks:Imman: #3Thatcher: #23Garrison: #27

Nice info.

Well, it's an even better deal when you consider that these rankings are the rankings in an organization that was ranked my Baseball America as the #5 organization in baseball, gaging talent from the minors on up to the majors. Outside of his first 8 starts in AA, Inman has been downright filthy in the minors:2005 Rookie League Helena (Park factor: .979-Slight pitchers park): 13 G, 5 GS, 45 IP, 58/11 (5.3/1) K/BB, 29 hits, 5.8 H/9, 11.6 K/9, 2.00 ERA2006 A League West Virginia (Park factor: 1.027-Slight hitters park): 23 G, 20 GS, 111 IP, 134/24 (5.6/1) K/BB, 75 hits, 6.1 H/9, 10.9 K/9, 1.71 ERA2007 High-A League Brevard County (Park factor: .981-Slight pitchers park): 13 G, 13 GS, 78.6 IP, 98/23 (4.2/1) K/BB, 56 hits, 6.5 H/9, 11.2 K/9, 1.72 ERA2007 Double-A League Huntsville (Park factor: 1.019-Slight hitters park): 8 G, 8 GS, 39.6 IP, 42/16 (2.6/1) K/BB, 38 hits, 8.6 H/9, 9.69 K/9, 5.45 ERALooking at the stats, it seems that Inman has had some downswing in his stats in 2007. One warning sign was that his walk rate went up at High-A Brevard County this season, while his other stats stayed solid. But when he went to Huntsville, his K rate went down, his hit rate went up, his walk rate continued to climb, and of course, his ERA goes up. He played in a slight hitters park, but then again, he played ALL of 2006 in a similar, if not slightly bigger, hitters park. He does go to a system where the Land of Cannan is Petco Park, where homers go to die. With minor league pitchers, it's almost expected of them to go through speed bumps, and maybe 8 games is pretty small sample size.

Great post Mr. Phoenix. Looking deeper into Inman's 2007 starts, he's been very good his last 3 starts, giving up 4 ERs in ~ 18 innings, with a K per inning and a WHIP ~ 1. Looks like he had a rough 5 start stretch to start the season, but he's turned it around.I'm very, VERY excited about this kid. He went to a rival HS and grew up 15-20 minutes from me in rural VA.

 

[Ike Turner]

Kind of a panic move by the Brewers in my opinion. Linebrink is a nice edition, but he's exactly the type of pitcher they already have in bunches.

For the pitchers they gave up, they could have acquired some of the things they really need, like a real leadoff hitter or a veteran lefty out of the pen.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

FWIW, in the Baseball America Prospect Handbook 2007, the Brewers pitchers were given the following organizational ranks:Imman: #3Thatcher: #23Garrison: #27

Nice info.

Well, it's an even better deal when you consider that these rankings are the rankings in an organization that was ranked my Baseball America as the #5 organization in baseball, gaging talent from the minors on up to the majors. Outside of his first 8 starts in AA, Inman has been downright filthy in the minors:2005 Rookie League Helena (Park factor: .979-Slight pitchers park): 13 G, 5 GS, 45 IP, 58/11 (5.3/1) K/BB, 29 hits, 5.8 H/9, 11.6 K/9, 2.00 ERA2006 A League West Virginia (Park factor: 1.027-Slight hitters park): 23 G, 20 GS, 111 IP, 134/24 (5.6/1) K/BB, 75 hits, 6.1 H/9, 10.9 K/9, 1.71 ERA2007 High-A League Brevard County (Park factor: .981-Slight pitchers park): 13 G, 13 GS, 78.6 IP, 98/23 (4.2/1) K/BB, 56 hits, 6.5 H/9, 11.2 K/9, 1.72 ERA2007 Double-A League Huntsville (Park factor: 1.019-Slight hitters park): 8 G, 8 GS, 39.6 IP, 42/16 (2.6/1) K/BB, 38 hits, 8.6 H/9, 9.69 K/9, 5.45 ERALooking at the stats, it seems that Inman has had some downswing in his stats in 2007. One warning sign was that his walk rate went up at High-A Brevard County this season, while his other stats stayed solid. But when he went to Huntsville, his K rate went down, his hit rate went up, his walk rate continued to climb, and of course, his ERA goes up. He played in a slight hitters park, but then again, he played ALL of 2006 in a similar, if not slightly bigger, hitters park. He does go to a system where the Land of Cannan is Petco Park, where homers go to die. With minor league pitchers, it's almost expected of them to go through speed bumps, and maybe 8 games is pretty small sample size.

Well looking at that I'd say the Tigers paid just slightly more for Gary Sheffield but it really could be debated. Whelan is going to be a nice bupplen guy and Sanchez was supposed to be a nice middle of the rotation starter. Anthony Claggett is probably a borderline prospect. Interesting, very interesting.

 

[deep vacuum]

Kind of a panic move by the Brewers in my opinion. Linebrink is a nice edition, but he's exactly the type of pitcher they already have in bunches.For the pitchers they gave up, they could have acquired some of the things they really need, like a real leadoff hitter or a veteran lefty out of the pen.

Cordero is a free agent after this year and most likely will walk. The Brewers would be rewarded with 2 high draft picks if he does leave. The Brewers can resign Linebrink for less money and still have a decent setup guy/closer for next year depending on the Brewers plans for Turnbow/Linebrink for next year.I don't like the deal because it does nothing to address their starting pitching & lead off hitter problems that they have been having.

 

[MrPhoenix]

FWIW, in the Baseball America Prospect Handbook 2007, the Brewers pitchers were given the following organizational ranks:Imman: #3Thatcher: #23Garrison: #27

Nice info.

Well, it's an even better deal when you consider that these rankings are the rankings in an organization that was ranked my Baseball America as the #5 organization in baseball, gaging talent from the minors on up to the majors. Outside of his first 8 starts in AA, Inman has been downright filthy in the minors:2005 Rookie League Helena (Park factor: .979-Slight pitchers park): 13 G, 5 GS, 45 IP, 58/11 (5.3/1) K/BB, 29 hits, 5.8 H/9, 11.6 K/9, 2.00 ERA2006 A League West Virginia (Park factor: 1.027-Slight hitters park): 23 G, 20 GS, 111 IP, 134/24 (5.6/1) K/BB, 75 hits, 6.1 H/9, 10.9 K/9, 1.71 ERA2007 High-A League Brevard County (Park factor: .981-Slight pitchers park): 13 G, 13 GS, 78.6 IP, 98/23 (4.2/1) K/BB, 56 hits, 6.5 H/9, 11.2 K/9, 1.72 ERA2007 Double-A League Huntsville (Park factor: 1.019-Slight hitters park): 8 G, 8 GS, 39.6 IP, 42/16 (2.6/1) K/BB, 38 hits, 8.6 H/9, 9.69 K/9, 5.45 ERALooking at the stats, it seems that Inman has had some downswing in his stats in 2007. One warning sign was that his walk rate went up at High-A Brevard County this season, while his other stats stayed solid. But when he went to Huntsville, his K rate went down, his hit rate went up, his walk rate continued to climb, and of course, his ERA goes up. He played in a slight hitters park, but then again, he played ALL of 2006 in a similar, if not slightly bigger, hitters park. He does go to a system where the Land of Cannan is Petco Park, where homers go to die. With minor league pitchers, it's almost expected of them to go through speed bumps, and maybe 8 games is pretty small sample size.

Well looking at that I'd say the Tigers paid just slightly more for Gary Sheffield but it really could be debated. Whelan is going to be a nice bupplen guy and Sanchez was supposed to be a nice middle of the rotation starter. Anthony Claggett is probably a borderline prospect. Interesting, very interesting.

Actually, wasn't Sanchez supposed to be the prize of that trade? I remember when it was done, some were predicting Sanchez to be a top-flight starter still. I just tried looking for his stats for the 2007 season and I couldn't find them. Has his stock fallen that much?

 

[schlesinj]

FWIW, in the Baseball America Prospect Handbook 2007, the Brewers pitchers were given the following organizational ranks:Imman: #3Thatcher: #23Garrison: #27

Nice info.

Well, it's an even better deal when you consider that these rankings are the rankings in an organization that was ranked my Baseball America as the #5 organization in baseball, gaging talent from the minors on up to the majors. Outside of his first 8 starts in AA, Inman has been downright filthy in the minors:2005 Rookie League Helena (Park factor: .979-Slight pitchers park): 13 G, 5 GS, 45 IP, 58/11 (5.3/1) K/BB, 29 hits, 5.8 H/9, 11.6 K/9, 2.00 ERA2006 A League West Virginia (Park factor: 1.027-Slight hitters park): 23 G, 20 GS, 111 IP, 134/24 (5.6/1) K/BB, 75 hits, 6.1 H/9, 10.9 K/9, 1.71 ERA2007 High-A League Brevard County (Park factor: .981-Slight pitchers park): 13 G, 13 GS, 78.6 IP, 98/23 (4.2/1) K/BB, 56 hits, 6.5 H/9, 11.2 K/9, 1.72 ERA2007 Double-A League Huntsville (Park factor: 1.019-Slight hitters park): 8 G, 8 GS, 39.6 IP, 42/16 (2.6/1) K/BB, 38 hits, 8.6 H/9, 9.69 K/9, 5.45 ERALooking at the stats, it seems that Inman has had some downswing in his stats in 2007. One warning sign was that his walk rate went up at High-A Brevard County this season, while his other stats stayed solid. But when he went to Huntsville, his K rate went down, his hit rate went up, his walk rate continued to climb, and of course, his ERA goes up. He played in a slight hitters park, but then again, he played ALL of 2006 in a similar, if not slightly bigger, hitters park. He does go to a system where the Land of Cannan is Petco Park, where homers go to die. With minor league pitchers, it's almost expected of them to go through speed bumps, and maybe 8 games is pretty small sample size.

Well looking at that I'd say the Tigers paid just slightly more for Gary Sheffield but it really could be debated. Whelan is going to be a nice bupplen guy and Sanchez was supposed to be a nice middle of the rotation starter. Anthony Claggett is probably a borderline prospect. Interesting, very interesting.

Actually, wasn't Sanchez supposed to be the prize of that trade? I remember when it was done, some were predicting Sanchez to be a top-flight starter still. I just tried looking for his stats for the 2007 season and I couldn't find them. Has his stock fallen that much?

Yes he was/is the prize. He started the Futures game last year so he is was touted enough to be place on that team. He had surgery at some point this year, so I am not even sure he has pitched in 2007.

 

[Tremendous Upside]

FWIW, in the Baseball America Prospect Handbook 2007, the Brewers pitchers were given the following organizational ranks:Imman: #3Thatcher: #23Garrison: #27

Nice info.

Well, it's an even better deal when you consider that these rankings are the rankings in an organization that was ranked my Baseball America as the #5 organization in baseball, gaging talent from the minors on up to the majors. Outside of his first 8 starts in AA, Inman has been downright filthy in the minors:2005 Rookie League Helena (Park factor: .979-Slight pitchers park): 13 G, 5 GS, 45 IP, 58/11 (5.3/1) K/BB, 29 hits, 5.8 H/9, 11.6 K/9, 2.00 ERA2006 A League West Virginia (Park factor: 1.027-Slight hitters park): 23 G, 20 GS, 111 IP, 134/24 (5.6/1) K/BB, 75 hits, 6.1 H/9, 10.9 K/9, 1.71 ERA2007 High-A League Brevard County (Park factor: .981-Slight pitchers park): 13 G, 13 GS, 78.6 IP, 98/23 (4.2/1) K/BB, 56 hits, 6.5 H/9, 11.2 K/9, 1.72 ERA2007 Double-A League Huntsville (Park factor: 1.019-Slight hitters park): 8 G, 8 GS, 39.6 IP, 42/16 (2.6/1) K/BB, 38 hits, 8.6 H/9, 9.69 K/9, 5.45 ERALooking at the stats, it seems that Inman has had some downswing in his stats in 2007. One warning sign was that his walk rate went up at High-A Brevard County this season, while his other stats stayed solid. But when he went to Huntsville, his K rate went down, his hit rate went up, his walk rate continued to climb, and of course, his ERA goes up. He played in a slight hitters park, but then again, he played ALL of 2006 in a similar, if not slightly bigger, hitters park. He does go to a system where the Land of Cannan is Petco Park, where homers go to die. With minor league pitchers, it's almost expected of them to go through speed bumps, and maybe 8 games is pretty small sample size.

Well looking at that I'd say the Tigers paid just slightly more for Gary Sheffield but it really could be debated. Whelan is going to be a nice bupplen guy and Sanchez was supposed to be a nice middle of the rotation starter. Anthony Claggett is probably a borderline prospect. Interesting, very interesting.

Actually, wasn't Sanchez supposed to be the prize of that trade? I remember when it was done, some were predicting Sanchez to be a top-flight starter still. I just tried looking for his stats for the 2007 season and I couldn't find them. Has his stock fallen that much?

Sanchez has missed the whole year with TJ surgery

 

[MrPhoenix]

FWIW, in the Baseball America Prospect Handbook 2007, the Brewers pitchers were given the following organizational ranks:Imman: #3Thatcher: #23Garrison: #27

Nice info.

Well, it's an even better deal when you consider that these rankings are the rankings in an organization that was ranked my Baseball America as the #5 organization in baseball, gaging talent from the minors on up to the majors. Outside of his first 8 starts in AA, Inman has been downright filthy in the minors:2005 Rookie League Helena (Park factor: .979-Slight pitchers park): 13 G, 5 GS, 45 IP, 58/11 (5.3/1) K/BB, 29 hits, 5.8 H/9, 11.6 K/9, 2.00 ERA2006 A League West Virginia (Park factor: 1.027-Slight hitters park): 23 G, 20 GS, 111 IP, 134/24 (5.6/1) K/BB, 75 hits, 6.1 H/9, 10.9 K/9, 1.71 ERA2007 High-A League Brevard County (Park factor: .981-Slight pitchers park): 13 G, 13 GS, 78.6 IP, 98/23 (4.2/1) K/BB, 56 hits, 6.5 H/9, 11.2 K/9, 1.72 ERA2007 Double-A League Huntsville (Park factor: 1.019-Slight hitters park): 8 G, 8 GS, 39.6 IP, 42/16 (2.6/1) K/BB, 38 hits, 8.6 H/9, 9.69 K/9, 5.45 ERALooking at the stats, it seems that Inman has had some downswing in his stats in 2007. One warning sign was that his walk rate went up at High-A Brevard County this season, while his other stats stayed solid. But when he went to Huntsville, his K rate went down, his hit rate went up, his walk rate continued to climb, and of course, his ERA goes up. He played in a slight hitters park, but then again, he played ALL of 2006 in a similar, if not slightly bigger, hitters park. He does go to a system where the Land of Cannan is Petco Park, where homers go to die. With minor league pitchers, it's almost expected of them to go through speed bumps, and maybe 8 games is pretty small sample size.

Well looking at that I'd say the Tigers paid just slightly more for Gary Sheffield but it really could be debated. Whelan is going to be a nice bupplen guy and Sanchez was supposed to be a nice middle of the rotation starter. Anthony Claggett is probably a borderline prospect. Interesting, very interesting.

Actually, wasn't Sanchez supposed to be the prize of that trade? I remember when it was done, some were predicting Sanchez to be a top-flight starter still. I just tried looking for his stats for the 2007 season and I couldn't find them. Has his stock fallen that much?

Sanchez has missed the whole year with TJ surgery

Not good.

 

[Tremendous Upside]

FWIW, in the Baseball America Prospect Handbook 2007, the Brewers pitchers were given the following organizational ranks:Imman: #3Thatcher: #23Garrison: #27

Nice info.

Well, it's an even better deal when you consider that these rankings are the rankings in an organization that was ranked my Baseball America as the #5 organization in baseball, gaging talent from the minors on up to the majors. Outside of his first 8 starts in AA, Inman has been downright filthy in the minors:2005 Rookie League Helena (Park factor: .979-Slight pitchers park): 13 G, 5 GS, 45 IP, 58/11 (5.3/1) K/BB, 29 hits, 5.8 H/9, 11.6 K/9, 2.00 ERA2006 A League West Virginia (Park factor: 1.027-Slight hitters park): 23 G, 20 GS, 111 IP, 134/24 (5.6/1) K/BB, 75 hits, 6.1 H/9, 10.9 K/9, 1.71 ERA2007 High-A League Brevard County (Park factor: .981-Slight pitchers park): 13 G, 13 GS, 78.6 IP, 98/23 (4.2/1) K/BB, 56 hits, 6.5 H/9, 11.2 K/9, 1.72 ERA2007 Double-A League Huntsville (Park factor: 1.019-Slight hitters park): 8 G, 8 GS, 39.6 IP, 42/16 (2.6/1) K/BB, 38 hits, 8.6 H/9, 9.69 K/9, 5.45 ERALooking at the stats, it seems that Inman has had some downswing in his stats in 2007. One warning sign was that his walk rate went up at High-A Brevard County this season, while his other stats stayed solid. But when he went to Huntsville, his K rate went down, his hit rate went up, his walk rate continued to climb, and of course, his ERA goes up. He played in a slight hitters park, but then again, he played ALL of 2006 in a similar, if not slightly bigger, hitters park. He does go to a system where the Land of Cannan is Petco Park, where homers go to die. With minor league pitchers, it's almost expected of them to go through speed bumps, and maybe 8 games is pretty small sample size.

Well looking at that I'd say the Tigers paid just slightly more for Gary Sheffield but it really could be debated. Whelan is going to be a nice bupplen guy and Sanchez was supposed to be a nice middle of the rotation starter. Anthony Claggett is probably a borderline prospect. Interesting, very interesting.

Actually, wasn't Sanchez supposed to be the prize of that trade? I remember when it was done, some were predicting Sanchez to be a top-flight starter still. I just tried looking for his stats for the 2007 season and I couldn't find them. Has his stock fallen that much?

Sanchez has missed the whole year with TJ surgery

Not good.

At this point I don't even worry about TJ surgery anymore...

 

[MrPhoenix]

FWIW, in the Baseball America Prospect Handbook 2007, the Brewers pitchers were given the following organizational ranks:Imman: #3Thatcher: #23Garrison: #27

Nice info.

Well, it's an even better deal when you consider that these rankings are the rankings in an organization that was ranked my Baseball America as the #5 organization in baseball, gaging talent from the minors on up to the majors. Outside of his first 8 starts in AA, Inman has been downright filthy in the minors:2005 Rookie League Helena (Park factor: .979-Slight pitchers park): 13 G, 5 GS, 45 IP, 58/11 (5.3/1) K/BB, 29 hits, 5.8 H/9, 11.6 K/9, 2.00 ERA2006 A League West Virginia (Park factor: 1.027-Slight hitters park): 23 G, 20 GS, 111 IP, 134/24 (5.6/1) K/BB, 75 hits, 6.1 H/9, 10.9 K/9, 1.71 ERA2007 High-A League Brevard County (Park factor: .981-Slight pitchers park): 13 G, 13 GS, 78.6 IP, 98/23 (4.2/1) K/BB, 56 hits, 6.5 H/9, 11.2 K/9, 1.72 ERA2007 Double-A League Huntsville (Park factor: 1.019-Slight hitters park): 8 G, 8 GS, 39.6 IP, 42/16 (2.6/1) K/BB, 38 hits, 8.6 H/9, 9.69 K/9, 5.45 ERALooking at the stats, it seems that Inman has had some downswing in his stats in 2007. One warning sign was that his walk rate went up at High-A Brevard County this season, while his other stats stayed solid. But when he went to Huntsville, his K rate went down, his hit rate went up, his walk rate continued to climb, and of course, his ERA goes up. He played in a slight hitters park, but then again, he played ALL of 2006 in a similar, if not slightly bigger, hitters park. He does go to a system where the Land of Cannan is Petco Park, where homers go to die. With minor league pitchers, it's almost expected of them to go through speed bumps, and maybe 8 games is pretty small sample size.

Well looking at that I'd say the Tigers paid just slightly more for Gary Sheffield but it really could be debated. Whelan is going to be a nice bupplen guy and Sanchez was supposed to be a nice middle of the rotation starter. Anthony Claggett is probably a borderline prospect. Interesting, very interesting.

Actually, wasn't Sanchez supposed to be the prize of that trade? I remember when it was done, some were predicting Sanchez to be a top-flight starter still. I just tried looking for his stats for the 2007 season and I couldn't find them. Has his stock fallen that much?

Sanchez has missed the whole year with TJ surgery

Not good.

At this point I don't even worry about TJ surgery anymore...

You could be right, but a combo of being overweight and going under major (depending on your perspective) surgery before he reaches the majors does not a good prospect make.