On Wednesday, the San Diego Padres and Milwaukee Brewers pulled off a surprising trade that could have a direct effect on the National League playoffs in 2007. The San Diego Padres sent right-handed set-up man Scott Linebrink to the Milwaukee Brewers for pitchers Joe Thatcher, Will Inman and Steve Garrison. Case for the San Diego Padres: The Padres add three quality arms in Thatcher, Inman and Garrison, with Thatcher expected to join the Padres right away. Linebrink, 30, is in the last year of a three year deal that called for him to make $1.75 million this season, according to Cot?s Baseball Contracts. Linebrink has struggled in July, going 1-2 with a 9.35 ERA and with Linebrink not part of the Padres plans past 2007, general manager Kevin Towers decided to get value for his top set-up man. The Padres still have a top bullpen with Trevor Hoffman, Heath Bell and Cla Meredith and they were also able to add a major league reliever (Thatcher) and the Brewers 3rd best prospect in Inman. Case for the Milwaukee Brewers: The Milwaukee Brewers needed to add something to the roster to hold off the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central and Linebrink could be the answer in that regard. With a line-up filled with their young stars and a deep rotation even without Ben Sheets, the only other area of need in the bullpen. Like San Diego, Milwaukee has a relatively deep bullpen with closer Francisco Cordero, Derek Turnbow and Matt Wise and with Linebrink now, they could have the best bullpen in the National League. While Linebrink is a free agent after 2007, he does provide some insurance as another option with both Cordero and Wise also free agents after the year, according to Cot?s Baseball Contracts. To add Linebrink, who has had an ERA under 4.00 every season since he came to San Diego in 2003, the Brewers gave away three pitching prospects who had no immediate futures in Milwaukee. Verdict: San Diego Padres C- The Padres gave up Linebrink, a vital part of the bullpen, for three prospects who won?t help the Padres win in 2007. With the National League Championship a real possibility, general manager Kevin Towers has some work to do before July 31. Milwaukee Brewers B- They didn?t really need bullpen help and in the process, gave away some trading chips they could of used in other areas. The Brewers definitely won the talent portion of this deal, but will it keep them ahead of the Cubs is yet to be determined. Does Linebrink keep the Brewers in first? How did the Padres do? Email your thoughts to [email protected]