Hello crazymoloh,

Sorry for not being more specific - I think Lincecum's mechanics improved during his final season at the University of Washington, before the Giants drafted him with the 10th pick in the 2006 Draft. Lincecum's BB/9 IP during his sophomore year at Washington was 6.12 BB/9 IP, whereas it was only 4.52 BB/9 IP during his junior year.

From what I've read and heard, his mechanics are better than they were than when the Indians drafted him; there was considerably more concern about Lincecum's mechanics when the Indians drafted him than when the Giants did. They're still a bit of a concern though, especially with his relatively small frame, when it comes to how healthy he'll remain and whether he'll remain effective in the long-term.

That's why I'd be hesitant to give up the package you're suggesting. Yes, Lincecum had a very solid first year, but between the NL seeing him only one time and questions about how durable he'll remain, I'd be leery of making that trade if I was the Indians. Besides that, if Miller stays healthy (and that's a sizable "if" in its own right,) you'd probably have a comparable pitcher already in the farm system who you wouldn't have to give up any talent for. And Miller is "knocking on the door," so if he does stay healthy, he'd likely be contributing as early as this year, so it's not like we have to wait for him or have no data on guessing how dominant he can be, based on his track record in the Minors.

Preferably, it might be more advantageous to see how this year plays out - in regards to Miller, Lincecum, and Mills. We'll see if Lincecum can dominate at that high level again, as well as see if he can be a little more consistent in the strike zone (after all, he'll be facing DHs and solid #8 hitters over here who know the strike zone better than most pitchers do.) We'll also see if Miller can become that dominant pitcher we think he can become. In addition, we'll also see if Mills becomes that power-hitter we'd like to have, one who might arrive quicker than Weglarz likely will, based on their respective baseball backgrounds.

Plus, while the pitching staff would be quite good IF Lincecum can carry over what he did over there over here this season, you do take away some depth in both the OF and the middle IF, which could come into play if Dellucci/Michaels or Gutierrez falters or gets hurt, and/or if Cabrera falters or gets hurt. Especially in the OF, you don't have many "ready-to-go" options in the system if you trade away Francisco (Choo is not a sure bet to stay healthy at this point, and guys like Brown, Crowe, and Snyder will need at least a half-season to be ready, maybe even most of the season,) and Carroll probably would be better off as a utility infielder than as an everyday starter, but even if he does become the starter, who becomes the backup - Barfield? It could work, but Barfield doesn't have the experience Carroll has, and Barfield hasn't moved around the INF like Carroll has either. And, you have even less "ready-to-go" INF depth in the system than you do "ready-to-go" OF depth (you'd likely have to go with someone like an Aaron Herr or Andy Gonzalez as your primary backup or utility infielder; Josh Rodriguez and other internal options with potential likely wouldn't be ready by that point.)

Again, in this championship-contending season, I'm not sure the Indians want to make any significant changes that would upset their depth, since they value depth so highly, and that depth was a major reason why they were able to outperform the Tigers and win the AL Central last season, which is another reason why I don't think they'd make that trade.

Granted, the price for Lincecum may rise in the meantime, but I have a feeling the Giants might want even more than what you're suggesting for Lincecum right now, since they don't have to trade him and they are rebuilding (or at least, are in a "rebuilding" phase after losing Bonds,) and at this point, I wouldn't be comfortable giving up that large a package for that relatively small sample size where the NL has only seen him one time for the most part, combined with the question that there may be some durability and injury concerns with him in the future based on his mechanics and his relatively small stature.

It's certainly an interesting trade idea, and it does have some merit, but it's not without some risk and loss of depth, and that's why I think the Indians wouldn't consider that trade this season. During the next offseason, perhaps, especially if/when Sabathia leaves, Byrd leaves, and after there is more objective data on Lincecum's ability to produce at the ML level after NL teams have seen him more than once or twice.

Just my 2 cents - no offense. :-)