The Pittsburgh Pirates once spent the No. 4 overall pick on Brad Lincoln.
Tuesday, they brought the right-hander back to Pittsburgh, signing Lincoln to a minor league deal, nearly a decade after using a top pick on the Texas native.
Lincoln turned out to be a bust as a starter, but turned into a nice reliever for the Pirates, posting a 2.73 ERA in 59.1 innings pitched during the 2012 season. During that season Lincoln was dealt to the Toronto Blue Jays at the trade deadline in the deal that brought Travis Snider to Pittsburgh.
He didn’t fare well after the trade, posting a 4.77 ERA in 60.1 innings pitched, during parts of two seasons in Toronto.
Lincoln was traded to the Phillies last December where he spent nearly all of the season pitching at Triple-A as a starter and struggled mightily, where he got knocked around by Triple-A hitters regularly.
At Triple-A Lehigh Valley he posted a 5.11 ERA with 8.2 K/9 and 4.2 BB/9 during the 2014 season.
He should start the season with Triple-A Indianapolis and if he figures things out there could be a small chance he could help the Pirates at some point next season, although a lot would have to happen for that to occur.
He does have a 3.74 career ERA as a reliever and there is no risk involved with the Pirates bringing the former No. 4 overall pick back to the organization.
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