The Trades of 2012

The Pirates made 4 major trades in 2012 to get AJ Burnett from the Yankees, Wandy Rodriguez from Houston, Gaby Sanchez from Miami, and Travis Snider from Toronto. In my estimation, I would give NH a collective grade of A which reflects positive value to the Pirates in 2012 and 2013, the lack of impact players/pitchers we had to give up, and the cost effectiveness for the Pirates in 2012 and in the future.
Rotation:
AJ Burnett for Diego Moreno and Exicardo Cayones, and the Yankees pick up $11.5 mil of his salary of $16.5 in 2012, and $8.5 mil of his salary of $16.5 in 2013. Became the ACE of the staff pitching 202 innings, a record of 16-10 with a 3.51 ERA and a K/W of 180/62. Cayones hit .228 at Short Season, Moreno I could not find. AJ's attitude and professionalism gave us much more in the clubhouse.
Wandy Rodriguez for Rudy Owens, Robbie Grossman, and Colton Cain at the trading deadline, costing the Pirates only $1.7 mil in 2012; Houston will cover $4.5 mil of his $13 mil salary in 2013, and $5.5 mil of his $13 mil salary in 2014 if he opts to exercise a player option. Rodriguez started 12 games down the stretch, pitching 75 innings, posting a record of 5-4, and 3.72 ERA. Owens did not do well - 2-3, 4.34 in AAA and threw very few innings in ST. Robbie Grossman - a switchhitting CF and excellent leadoff hitter is the one I liked the most and he did just as well at AA as he was doing for the Pirates. Colton Cain did little at Hi A after the trade and not much at ST. Again, what he gives us in the Rotation is excellent, and his attitude and professionalism will help the Pirates greatly.
Players:
Gaby Sanchez for Gorky's Hernandez and our #33 pick in the 2013 Draft. Sanchez gave the Pirates a solid RH bat who could play 1B and possibly 3B. He came through the U as a Catcher. An All Star in 2011 he had a problem with the new direction of Miami and did poorly. Hitting .202 with a .250 OBP for Miami he hit .241 with a .323 OBP with 6 doubles/4 HR's/13 RBI and 13W/20K's in only 116 AB's. In ST in 43 AB's 3 doubles/4HR/11 RBI and 8W/3K for an average of .302/.415 OBP. Gorky's was going regardless, and we would still be waiting on making the draft pick.
Travis Snider for Brad Lincoln. Snider, 25, has improved his offensive numbers from Toronto, but we want a power bat. Little to be desired on the defensive side as he exceeded the league average for fielding percentage and Range Factor/9 innings. Made some highlight reel plays in RF. Lincoln, 28, fell back after the trade - with the Pirates he pitched 59 innings with a 2.73 ERA; with Toronto 29 IP, 5.65 ERA. At ST he threw 3.2 innings with a 9.82 ERA, and I found him on the AAA Roster.
BTW, the McLouth trade from a few years back has a second SP in Jeff Locke in the Rotation, and Gorky's Hernandez. That trade just keeps paying dividends.