The Toronto Blue Jays announced Saturday that they traded Adam Lind to the Milwaukee Brewers for right-hander Marco Estrada.
Estrada, 31, pitched 150.2 innings for the Brewers as a starter and reliever in 2014. He posted a 4.36 ERA while striking out 127 batters, walking 44 and allowing 137 hits.
Lind batted .321 with a .381 on-base percentage and a .479 slugging percentage in 2014. The 31-year-old hit six home runs with 24 doubles in 96 games as Toronto’s designated hitter and first baseman.
In parts of seven MLB seasons, Estrada has a 4.23 ERA with 508 strikeouts and 146 walks in 541 innings. However, he has allowed 85 home runs, including a career-high 29 in 2014.
Estrada split time between the bullpen and the rotation in 2014, starting 18 times and pitching in relief 21 times. Though he began his career in the as a reliever, he was an effective starter with Milwaukee in 2012 (3.64 ERA) and 2013 (3.87 ERA).
The Brewers initially claimed Estrada off of waivers from the Washington Nationals in 2010. Estrada, a native of Mexico, was selected by Washington in the sixth round of the 2005 draft.
Estrada earned $3.325 million in 2014 and he’s set to earn a raise through the arbitration process in 2015. He’ll be eligible for free agency following the 2015 season.
The Blue Jays exercised Lind’s $7.5 million option for 2015 before making the trade. His contract includes an $8 million team option for 2016 that has a $500,000 buyout.
Lind, a third round pick of the Blue Jays in 2004, enjoyed a breakout season in 2009 when he hit 35 home runs with 114 RBI and a .932 OPS on his way to winning an American League Silver Slugger.
Lind provides the Brewers with an offensive upgrade at first base. Milwaukee’s first basemen batted .207/.287/.356 in 2014 for a .642 OPS that ranked 28th among MLB’s 30 teams.
Meanwhile, the Blue Jays create flexibility at designated hitter while adding a pitcher who has had big league success. The Blue Jays have said they intend to improve their bullpen this off-season and the addition of Estrada could help accomplish that goal.
Sportsnet first reported that the teams were nearing a trade.
