Lueke's a guy I've always believed in. Yeah, I agree, his motion isn't always pretty on the back end, but he knows where the zone is and makes hitters look stupid while pounding it.
I'm glad his velocity is back. He said he might have to throw all winter since his velocity seems to wane if he doesn't, and he's had that problem for a couple of years, so assuming he does that and can fire at 95 all season long...
How good does that trade look?
Beavan has no Ks, but otherwise looks like a classic no-walks back-end starter and he can throw a million innings, IMO - he just has to keep his runs down to be given the chance to.
Smoak...I still think he's a 130 OPS+ guy going forward, just like we saw earlier in the year (or like we see from the right hand side of the plate, if you prefer).
And now Lueke is showing that the idea of him closing games for us in the future is not outrageous, as a thinking-League type (I like that description).
The Randy Johnson trade landed a few years of a TOR starter who then declined to a MOR one, plus a #5-6 guy and a decent SS who got TB, then blossomed into a plus hitter and heart-of-the-order capable guy.
I would take Closer, BOR #5-6 and and MOTO 1B out of this trade and call it comparable - just don't trade Smoak for a Ramon Santiago and it's all good.
And have Fister show Beavan how to strike some guys out, please. Lueke should have that part figured out in his second go-round.
~G
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