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July 31, 2012

Transaction Analysis

Snider and Lincoln Change Scenery, LA Adds League, and Thames Joins the M's

by Ben Lindbergh and Kevin Goldstein

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Acquired OF-L Leon Landry and RHP Logan Bawcom from the Los Angeles Dodgers for RHP Brandon League. [7/31]
Acquired OF-L Eric Thames from the Toronto Blue Jays for RHP Steve Delabar. [7/31]

Landry, who was featured in Monday's Ten Pack, has had a nice bounce-back year in the California League, but part of that is a product of the offensive environment. A third-round pick in 2010 out of LSU, Landry has a floor of a fourth outfielder; he's a plus runner who can play all three outfield positions. He has a short, simple swing from the left side and makes consistent contact, but he has merely gap power and is a free swinger who rarely walks or strikes out. There's not the projection for an everyday player at this time, but he should get to the majors.

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8 comments have been left for this article.

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SGreenwell

(18235)

I love this "buy low" trade by the Pirates. Maybe Snider never does pan out, but if the cost to acquire him is only a non-closer quality relief pitcher, why not give it a try?

For the Jays, much like the Red Sox and Youkilis situation from a couple months ago, this strikes me as a bit of a sell-low. The other teams involved managed to get intriguing players because the Jays and the Red Sox didn't really have any negotiating power.

Jul 31, 2012 04:17 AM

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rating: 6

nschneider

(20893)

Good move for the Pirates, questionable for the Jays. I appreciate that Snider's career has a wide spectrum of possible outcomes going forward, but there's still a decent chance that he's at least an average major league corner outfielder. Why you would trade that for a middle reliever is baffling. I'm not sure why you say the Jays didn't have any leverage--they didn't need to trade Snider at this point. Gose certainly isn't ready to push him out of a job yet. Why not let Snider play out the season as the regular left fielder? If he finally hits as expected, they either have a long-term player, or a more valuable trading chip. If he struggles again, there will still be teams willing to take a chance on him as a change-of-scenery guy. Sell-low definitely, but there was no reason to do it now.

Jul 31, 2012 06:16 AM

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rating: 2

Mr. Cthulhu

(47348)

Snider will be out of options after this season. If they waited until the offseason and Snider had struggled, they would have to expose him to waivers to send him back to Triple A. That would cost the Jays a lot of leverage in any trade negotiations.

Jul 31, 2012 07:36 AM

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rating: 4

Greg Ioannou

(51725)

The Jays are getting rid of players who don't fit into their long-term plans -- getting as much as they can for each of them. I'm guessing that the next two to go will be Lind and Cecil.

Jul 31, 2012 08:30 AM

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rating: 1

mrdannyg

(56518)

Re: Delabar. Can someone explain why not having a breaking ball would leave him more prone to same-handed batters, relative to opposite-handed?

Jul 31, 2012 10:24 AM

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rating: 1

Richard Bergstrom

(36532)

I believe the theory goes like this:

Breaking balls tend to break away from same-handed hitters. Thus, for an outside pitch, it'll look like a strike but dip away from the strike zone. Thus, more likely to result in a swing and miss. A breaking ball can also appear inside to a same-handed hitter but tail back into the strike zone, resulting in a called strike. However, an outside breaking ball to an opposing-handed hitter will tail right into their swing instead of away from it. An inside breaking ball to an opposing-handed hitter is still a hittable pitch and/or will look too inside to swing at, thus being a ball.

In other words, it's harder to judge a pitch breaking away from you than it is to judge a pitch breaking towards you.

Jul 31, 2012 11:15 AM

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rating: 3

amazin_mess

(9525)

Good move for both the Pirates and Jays, but I really like it for Pittsburgh. Snider should be a perfect fit there.

Jul 31, 2012 10:28 AM

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rating: 0

jhardman

(1817)

Travis Snider has been freed. Pittsburgh is going to make out like a bandit on this deal.

Aug 01, 2012 06:51 AM

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rating: 0

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