Phillies Make Trade for Relief Pitcher

The Phillies have acquired right-handed pitcher Brad Lincoln from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for catcher Erik Kratz and left-hander Rob Rasmussen, Senior Vice President & General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr. announced tonight.

Lincoln appeared in 22 games for the Blue Jays last season, going 1-2 with a 3.98 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 31.2 innings.  He pitched more than 1.0 inning in 13 of his 22 relief appearances.  The 28-year-old also appeared in 23 games with triple-A Buffalo in 2013, posting a 3-2 record with five saves and a 2.05 ERA for the Bisons.

Over his four-year major league career, Lincoln is 9-11 with one save and a 4.66 ERA in 97 appearances for the Pittsburgh Pirates (2010-12) and Blue Jays (2012-13).

Kratz batted .213 with nine home runs and 26 RBI in 68 games with Philadelphia in 2013.  In three seasons with the Phillies, the Telford, Pa., native hit .230 with 17 doubles, 18 home runs and 52 RBI in 120 games.  Kratz started 93 games behind the plate for Philadelphia from 2011-13 and threw out 18 of 52 potential basestealers (25.7%).

Rasmussen, 24, was acquired by the Phillies on August 31, 2013, as part of a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers.  In 28 combined games (24 starts) between double-A Chattanooga and triple-A Albuquerque last season, Rasmussen went 3-11 with a 4.11 ERA and 113 strikeouts in 135.2 innings.