Lincoln Acquired from Jays for Kratz, Rasmussen

2014 Chachi Transactions #8

On Tuesday night, the Phillies pulled off their first trade of the 2013-2014 offseason.  Popular back-up catcher Erik Kratz and pitching prospect Rob Rasmussen were traded to the Toronto Blue Jays for right-handed pitcher Brad Lincoln.  The bullpen struggled mightily last season, and one of the major to-do's of the off-season was to bolster the young bullpen with some more dependable arms.  Hopefully part of that need has been filled with Lincoln.

Lincoln appeared in 22 games last season for the Blue Jays and he spent the bulk of the summer pitching for Triple-A Buffalo as a result of command issues at the big league level.  In 31 2/3 innings with the Blue Jays, Lincoln walked 22 and struck out 25 while putting together a 1-2 record and a 3.98 ERA.  For his career, which began in Pittsburgh in 2010, Lincoln is 9-11 with a 4.66 ERA in 97 games.  Lincoln wore #49 for the Blue Jays, which is currently occupied by Phillies pitcher Ethan Martin.

2014 Chachi Transactions #7

The righty didn't appear on any mainstream baseball cards in 2013, and his last major baseball card appearance came within the 2012 Topps Update set.

Kratz spent parts of three seasons with the Phillies, filling in as the team's starting catcher at the outset of 2013 due to the suspension of Carlos Ruiz.  In 120 games with the Phils, Kratz hit .220 with 18 home runs and 53 RBIs.  He appeared in the team's postcard sets in 2012 and 2013, and he earned a Phillies card in series two of the 2013 Topps set.  Kratz's departure seemed imminent once it was reported on Tuesday afternoon that the Phillies had reached a deal with back-up catcher Wil Nieves.  (That deal isn't official yet.)

Rasmussen joined the organization in August in the Michael Young trade with the Dodgers.  He leaves the organization with no cardboard proof of his time as Phillies property.

Moving On

Steven Lerud (10/1/13) - Elected free agency.  (Signed as a minor league free agent with the Atlanta Braves, 11/23/13)

Raul Valdes (10/2/13) - Claimed off waivers by the Houston Astros.

Tyler Cloyd (10/2/13) - Claimed off waivers by the Cleveland Indians.

Michael Martinez (10/7/13) - Outrighted off the 40-man roster and elected free agency.

Zach Miner (10/7/13) - Outrighted off the 40-man roster and elected free agency.

Pete Orr (10/7/13) - Outrighted off the 40-man roster and elected free agency.

Roger Bernadina (10/17/13) - Outrighted off the 40-man roster and elected free agency.

J.C. Ramirez (10/17/13) - Outrighted off the 40-man roster and elected free agency.  (Signed as a minor league free agent with the Cleveland Indians, 11/1/13)

Casper Wells (10/17/13) - Outrighted off the 40-man roster and elected free agency.  (Signed as a minor league free agent with the Chicago Cubs, 11/23/13)

John Lannan (10/17/13) - Outrighted off the 40-man roster and elected free agency.

Roy Halladay (10/31/13) - Elected free agency.

Mauricio Robles (11/5/13) - Outrighted off the 40-man roster and became a minor league free agent.
Erik Kratz (12/3/13) - Traded with Rob Rasmussen to the Toronto Blue Jays for Brad Lincoln.

Coming Back

Cesar Jimenez (11/15/13) - Signed to a minor league contract and invited to spring training.

Carlos Ruiz (11/21/13) - Resigned by the Phillies to a three-year contract with a club option for a fourth year.

New Additions

Marlon Byrd (11/12/13) - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Brad Lincoln (12/3/13) - Acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays for Erik Kratz and Rob Rasmussen.