Adam Lind is headed back to the American League as the rebuilding Brewers continue to unload older, more expensive players.
Milwaukee dealt Lind to Seattle on Wednesday in exchange for three minor-league pitchers — all of them teenagers. It probably will take years to see if Carlos Herrera (18), Daniel Missaki (19) and Freddy Peralta (19) make the trade worthwhile from a baseball standpoint, but new Brewers general manager David Stearns clearly wasn't going for immediate return.
The Mariners, on the other hand, made a move that indicates they think they can make some noise in the AL West. Lind, 32, will make $8 million next season in the final year of his contract. That made it an easy call for the Brewers to dump him but is also plenty reasonable for the Mariners to take on, especially when you put Lind's .820 OPS and 20 home runs last season next to, say, Ben Zobrist's .809 OPS, 13 homers — and newfound $14 million-a-year price tag.
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Lind has generally been a reliable power bat in his 10 years in the majors, the first nine of them spent in Toronto. The left-handed hitter (.893 career OPS vs. right-handers) figures to platoon with Jesus Montero at first base.
“Adam lengthens our lineup as a first baseman who gives us on-base percentage and power,” general manager Jerry Dipoto said in a release. “First base was a spot we came here looking to fill, and we feel that Adam is a good fit for us.”
He also is just the latest newcomer in Seattle as Dipoto continues a roster makeover. This trade was the Mariners' third in as many days at the winter meetings, following the earlier acquisitions of starter Wade Miley and reliever Evan Scribner.
