Tyler Pike Completes Alex Jackson Trade With Braves: What They Said

On Friday the Mariners announced they were sending lefty starting prospect Tyler Pike to the Atlanta Braves to complete the deal that sent former first rounder Alex Jackson to Atlanta for starters Max Povse and Rob Whalen. We scoured the vast internet to see how people felt about the deal.

Pike himself said his goodbyes to the organization that drafted him.

Rob Whalen was bummed that he didn’t get the chance to play alongside Pike. The two pitchers, who are both 22 years old, went to high schools that were just 12 miles apart.

Bobby DeMuro thinks the Pike family is likely happy that Tyler isn’t on the other side of the continent anymore.

DeMuro also has some video on the young lefty.

Jeff Todd at MLB Trade Rumors thinks Pike will need to work on his control if he wants to succeed in Atlanta.

A third-round pick in the 2012 draft, Pike has twice reached the Double-A level, but spent all of 2016 at High-A Bakersfield. In his 125 2/3 innings there, Pike worked to a 4.01 ERA with 9.6 K/9 against 4.9 BB/9. While that’s obviously a rather hefty walk total, it’s actually just below his career levels. Clearly, he’ll need to lock in his command to earn a shot at making the Braves’ MLB staff at some point in the future.

On the Braves side, Walk Off Walk likes the acquisition by the Braves.

Pike will turn 23 near the end of January and the southpaw will be given a third shot to solve the Southern League. This time, however, he's earned it and is age appropriate. He could easily be a sleeper that turns into a Top 10 prospect by season's end or get moved to the bullpen. Much like many prospects the Braves have picked up this offseason, Pike represents a low floor, high ceiling guy. His stats are not much to write home about, but if Atlanta straightens him out, they turned two decent arms into a big one (plus whatever happens with Jackson). That's how you build impact talent.

Meanwhile, Tomahawk Take is frustrated with the Braves’ love of pitching prospects with poor control.

Command, command, command. It’s a common thread in the Braves organization. We hate walks, but we continue to find prospects that struggle with command. Sean Newcomb and Chris Ellis came to the Braves in 2015 and they both have issues with command. Braves just traded for Luke Jackson who has struggled with command.

If you missed it, Jerry Dipoto gave his thoughts on the trade as a whole on 710 ESPN.

So Lookout Landers, what do you think? Does this deal sit with you better or worse now that we know it included Tyler Pike?