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Tuesday, June 30, 2009

YANKS OBTAIN HINSKE

The Yankees New York Yankees acquired veteran lefty hitter Eric Hinske from the Pirates for two minor leaguers not considered significant prospects, righty pitcher Casey Erickson and outfielder Eric Fryer.

happysky Posted: June 30, 2009 at 04:08 PM | 50 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
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1. TVerik Posted: June 30, 2009 at 05:16 PM (#3237837)

Speaking of Ruthian impact...

2. puck Posted: June 30, 2009 at 05:18 PM (#3237841)

This is the unexpected part:

The Yanks only agreed to do it if the Pirates ate $400,000 of the approximately $800,000 left on Hinske's contract.

3. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: June 30, 2009 at 05:25 PM (#3237845)

SEEMS LIKE A GOOD MOVE FOR DEPTH. THE YANKS ALWAYS SEEM TO GET GOOD PLAY FROM VETS LIKE THIS.

4. Random Transaction Generator Posted: June 30, 2009 at 05:26 PM (#3237846)

Blue Jays?
Red Sox?
Rays?
Yankees?
Orioles

One more team and he completes the "AL EAST TOUR" achievement.

5. tjm1 Posted: June 30, 2009 at 05:30 PM (#3237853)

One more team and he completes the "AL EAST TOUR" achievement.

Has anyone done this before? In any division? Nobody comes to mind straight off.

6. TVerik Posted: June 30, 2009 at 05:32 PM (#3237854)

I think he can take over the role that Swisher was supposed to play during the spring. Primary backups for first, third, and corner outfield slots. Swisher is the everyday right fielder now, so he can't do that.

This ought to lead to the release of Berroa.

7. tjm1 Posted: June 30, 2009 at 05:33 PM (#3237855)

Actually, to answer my own question, Hinske joins David Wells and Juan Beniquez in playing for four of the five AL East teams. No one has played for all five.

8. aleskel

Posted: June 30, 2009 at 05:35 PM (#3237857)

This ought to lead to the release of Berroa.

he was already DFA'd when Ransom was brought up

9. Jolly Old St. Neck Wound, Moral Idiot

Posted: June 30, 2009 at 05:36 PM (#3237860)

One more team and he completes the "AL EAST TOUR" achievement.

Has anyone done this before? In any division? Nobody comes to mind straight off.

Don't know about that, but Nolan Ryan played for the four original expansion teams, and only them. I doubt if anyone else falls into that category.

And in 1977 Dave Kingman played for one team in each of the then four divisions (the Mets, the Madres, the Yanks and the Angels), and hit at least two home runs for each of them. I'd like to see anyone top that, even if now it's theoretically possible.

10. snapper (history's 42nd greatest monster) Posted: June 30, 2009 at 05:37 PM (#3237862)

he was already DFA'd when Ransom was brought up

If anyone deserves to be DFA'd twice, it's Berroa. Make sure he's gone.

11. HGM Posted: June 30, 2009 at 05:38 PM (#3237863)

Has anyone done this before? In any division? Nobody comes to mind straight off.

Steve Finley played for every NL West team. (Throw in Houston and he played for a total of 6 NL West teams in his career :p)

12. tjm1 Posted: June 30, 2009 at 05:39 PM (#3237864)

And, in other divisions, Mark McLemore and Gene Nelson have played for all four AL West teams. Steve Finley and Matt Herges have played for all five NL West teams.

Jerry Reuss gets an honorable mention, for playing for 5 of the 6 NL Central teams, misisng only the Cubs (although he did play in Chicago for the White Sox briefly). Ron Villone is also missing only the Cubs.

13. tjm1 Posted: June 30, 2009 at 05:39 PM (#3237866)

Baseball-reference's frivolities are cool!

14. TVerik Posted: June 30, 2009 at 05:39 PM (#3237867)

Is Cody Ransom more useful than Eric Hinske?

15. Obama Bomaye Posted: June 30, 2009 at 05:41 PM (#3237868)

So is Hinske replacing Ransom? That seems like a good move. Maybe Ransom is a better defensive third baseman but it shouldn't matter. How many freakin pitchers are on the team these days?

16. aleskel

Posted: June 30, 2009 at 05:43 PM (#3237870)

Is Cody Ransom more useful than Eric Hinske?

he's probably the better defender at 3rd, but I think now that they've committed to giving ARod more days off they'd prefer to have the guy who's more likely to hit his weight.

17. ColonelTom Posted: June 30, 2009 at 05:44 PM (#3237872)

Puck's right - why the hell are the Pirates kicking in cash to the Yankees on an $800K remaining salary? Is this Bizarro world?

18. aleskel

Posted: June 30, 2009 at 05:47 PM (#3237874)

why the hell are the Pirates kicking in cash to the Yankees on an $800K remaining salary? Is this Bizarro world?

obviously there's some residual guilt from the Nady/Marte trade

19. Benji Gil Gamesh is not being paid to be that guy Posted: June 30, 2009 at 05:49 PM (#3237876)

Hinske joins David Wells and Juan Beniquez in playing for four of the five AL East teams.

Add Jose Canseco to that list.

20. adamadkins Posted: June 30, 2009 at 05:52 PM (#3237879)

I remember during the winter, right after the Yankees signed CC Sabathia, they were engaged in trade discussions with the Brewers, something like Melky Cabrera for Mike Cameron, and I can recall Doug Melvin getting pissed that the Yanks wouldn't just automatically eat Cameron's deal. Just because the pockets go on forever doesn't mean that Brian Cashman will keep jamming his hand down.

21. Dock Ellis on Acid

Posted: June 30, 2009 at 05:52 PM (#3237880)

Dude takes a lot of pitches, too.

22. Steve Treder Posted: June 30, 2009 at 05:52 PM (#3237881)

Puck's right - why the hell are the Pirates kicking in cash to the Yankees on an $800K remaining salary? Is this Bizarro world?

No kidding. $400K is a rounding error on the Yankees' payroll cycle.

23. Dock Ellis on Acid

Posted: June 30, 2009 at 05:57 PM (#3237890)

Puck's right - why the hell are the Pirates kicking in cash to the Yankees on an $800K remaining salary? Is this Bizarro world?

I wonder if Nady being out for the year had something to do with it. Kinda like Kenny Williams giving Pat Gillick Tad Iguchi for nothing after the Freddy Garcia fiasco.

24. Paul D(uda) Posted: June 30, 2009 at 05:59 PM (#3237896)

Eric Hinske is not a third basemen.

25. winnipegwhip Posted: June 30, 2009 at 06:01 PM (#3237901)

Bruce Chen went through a lot of 4 teams in the NL East

26. RJ in TO Posted: June 30, 2009 at 06:05 PM (#3237906)

Eric Hinske is not a third basemen.

Shutup! If you don't tell them, we'll get the joy of watching them discover this for themselves.

27. Benji Gil Gamesh is not being paid to be that guy Posted: June 30, 2009 at 06:12 PM (#3237916)

Hinske joins David Wells and Juan Beniquez in playing for four of the five AL East teams.

Add Jose Canseco to that list.

And Kevin Cash.

28. Bad Doctor Posted: June 30, 2009 at 06:13 PM (#3237919)

We had a thread that discussed the "playing for all teams in a division" trivia ... coincidentally enough, it was:

Pirates Close to Signing Eric Hinske

29. Best Regards, Larry M. Posted: June 30, 2009 at 06:21 PM (#3237931)

Eric Hinske is not a third basemen

He can play third base in a blowout when you take A-Rod out. That's pretty much all they'd need him for at third. It's better than Ransom.

30. o_dawg Posted: June 30, 2009 at 06:26 PM (#3237937)

In (tangentially) related news, while the Yankess were picking up a (mostly) free Eric Hinske, the Blue Jays trotted Russ Adams out as a starting LF last night. I could only imagine what epic commentary Brattain would be writing up.

31. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: June 30, 2009 at 06:27 PM (#3237941)

He can play third base in a blowout when you take A-Rod out. That's pretty much all they'd need him for at third. It's better than Ransom.

I thought ARod needed regular rest due to his hip thing. Is that over now?

32. TVerik Posted: June 30, 2009 at 06:29 PM (#3237944)

They were talking about sitting him once a week. My guess, from the similar talk about Posada and others, is that there's no way Girardi is going to sit this guy out. I imagine that he'll end up sitting out at about half that rate, if that.

33. Martin Hemner

Posted: June 30, 2009 at 06:29 PM (#3237945)

Hinske joins David Wells and Juan Beniquez in playing for four of the five AL East teams.

Too bad for Juan Beniquez. The guy was born to be an original Devil Ray scrub, but never had a chance..

34. RJ in TO Posted: June 30, 2009 at 06:29 PM (#3237946)

I could only imagine what epic commentary Brattain would be writing up.

That with Snider hurt, and the other options being a guy like Joe Inglett, Adams playing a couple games in left probably isn't a disaster?

35. Mike Emeigh

Posted: June 30, 2009 at 06:44 PM (#3237973)

36. snapper (history's 42nd greatest monster) Posted: June 30, 2009 at 06:49 PM (#3237983)

I thought ARod needed regular rest due to his hip thing. Is that over now?

No, I think the plan is to rest him once a week. With Hinske, they'll probably go to once a week at DH, and one full day rest for aRod.

From the available stats, Hinske appears to be a below average 3B. As long as he's not a complete embarassment, his bat still makes him a better option than Ransom.

Hinske will also probably spell Damon, Swisher and Tex some, allowing them to DH more.

37. Steve Treder Posted: June 30, 2009 at 06:50 PM (#3237988)

Hinske's PT had been substantially reduced since McCutchen was called up, so I understand why he was traded - but I don't understand why he was traded for so little, plus a cash infusion to a team that didn't need it. I find it difficult to believe that this was the best possible deal that the Bucs could have made for Hinske.

That's my take. It strikes me that the Yankees need Hinske more than the Pirates need to dump him; if that's the case, the Pirates should have at least insisted that the Yankees eat the full salary, especially considering that in Yankee payroll terms the amount here is trivial.

38. snapper (history's 42nd greatest monster) Posted: June 30, 2009 at 06:52 PM (#3237991)

That's my take. It strikes me that the Yankees need Hinske more than the Pirates need to dump him; if that's the case, the Pirates should have at least insisted that the Yankees eat the full salary, especially considering that in Yankee payroll terms the amount here is trivial.

I agree, but I think it's at least a little surprising they couldn't hold the Mets up for a better package.

It almost seems that Minaya doesn't want to add any players so he can use the injury excuse to save his job.

39. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: June 30, 2009 at 06:54 PM (#3237992)

From the available stats, Hinske appears to be a below average 3B. As long as he's not a complete embarassment, his bat still makes him a better option than Ransom.

He's really, really terrible. The reason he's averaged 27 innings a year at 3B since 2005 is that not a single team he's played for has considered him an acceptable defensive 3B.

Hinske's a very good bench player and the Yankees made a good trade. But he's not someone that starts once a week or once every two weeks at 3B.

40. RJ in TO Posted: June 30, 2009 at 06:58 PM (#3238000)

From the available stats, Hinske appears to be a below average 3B.

And most of the available stats are from when he last played 3B regularly, which was with the Jays in 2004. After 4+ years away from the position, and 4+ years of aging, I would expect that he would be at best far, far below average at the position.

41. snapper (history's 42nd greatest monster) Posted: June 30, 2009 at 07:01 PM (#3238008)

I would expect that he would be at best far, far below average at the position.

Well that and a 750 OPS makes him a better option than Cody Ransom. Probably try to hide him behind the high flyball/K guys.

42. Mark Donelson Posted: June 30, 2009 at 07:31 PM (#3238059)

The rumor is that Ransom stays, Ramiro Pena goes down to the minors to play every day (along with Cervelli once Molina is activated). Bench becomes:

Hinske
Ransom
Molina
whichever of Gardner/Melky isn't starting today

That's still not great shakes exactly, but it's better. Still wish they'd lose Tomko for something useful, however.

43. Benji Gil Gamesh is not being paid to be that guy Posted: June 30, 2009 at 07:32 PM (#3238060)

I'm no one's idea of an analyst, and I know that this year is a small sample size, but Hinske is a blocky guy who had at best moderate power.

His '08 resurgence was a fantastic April and a nearly as good June, surrounded by 4 months of backup-catcher-level hitting. This year the power is virtually nonexistent, especially for a guy who can only play the corners.

Maybe the Pirates see a guy falling off a cliff and were happy to get half the salary covered and a couple of bodies for someone they aren't playing much anyway, before his value drops any further.

44. Walt Davis Posted: June 30, 2009 at 07:42 PM (#3238077)

Orioles

One more team and he completes the "AL EAST TOUR" achievement.

If ever there was a player with "future Oriole" written all over him, a man worthy to follow in the late career footsteps of Kevin Millar, Jeff Conine and BJ Surhoff, it's Eric Hinske.

45. ColonelTom Posted: June 30, 2009 at 07:46 PM (#3238078)

I doubt Hinske will start at 3B under any circumstances, given how far removed he is from playing it regularly. Getting Hinske might let them DH A-Rod occasionally, though, with Ransom starting and Hinske being used as a late-inning PH and 3B for an inning here or there.

46. TVerik Posted: June 30, 2009 at 07:57 PM (#3238096)

It's too bad that they didn't DFA Berroa in favor of Hinske. When was the last time a team DFA'd one ROY in favor of another one?

47. wjones Posted: July 01, 2009 at 02:02 PM (#3238878)

Do the Pirates just automatically think of themselves as out of contention, no matter what the standings are? It must be tough to be a Pirate fan or Pirate player.

48. zack Posted: July 01, 2009 at 02:25 PM (#3238888)

They are out of contention. The articles all say they're "only 5 games out", but 5 games out behind 5 other teams is completely out of it.

49. Dan Szymborski

Posted: July 01, 2009 at 02:46 PM (#3238904)

Well that and a 750 OPS makes him a better option than Cody Ransom. Probably try to hide him behind the high flyball/K guys.

Bad April or not, Ransom's level of ability in the majors is somewhere in the 690-730 OPS range. Ransom hasn't played well defensively in the majors but he has an OK reputation and was adequate in the minors and Hinske hasn't played 3B regularly in 5 years and hasn't been adequate there in 7. I'd play Hinske over Ransom at 1B/LF/RF, but I'd probably play Ransom over Hinske at third if Hinske can't be expected to beat a 750.

50. RollingWave Posted: July 01, 2009 at 02:54 PM (#3238914)

what i don't get is, do they just plan on playing Cano and Jeter for the rest of the season? since having either Hinske or Ransom starting in the middle infield would be an epic disastor (though Ransom already started once at second, IIRC miraculasly almost nothing was hit that way in that game )

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