Hinske officially signs, Braves DFA Brandon Jones
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Jan 12, 2010 
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Eric Hinske is officially a member of the Atlanta Braves, but it’s the corresponding move that caught my attention: To make room for Hinske on the 40-man roster, the Braves designated Brandon Jones for assignment.
Jones entered the 2008 season as the Braves No. 4 prospect according to Baseball America. He was ranked ahead of Gorkys Hernandez and even ahead of Tommy Hanson. The three players ahead of him were Jordan Schafer, Jordan Heyward and Jair Jurrjens, which is a pretty strong group. Jones was seen as the Braves’ left fielder of the future.
Clearly, his stock has dropped the past two years. Jones hit .267 with one home run in 41 big league games in 2008, and his Triple-A numbers that season weren’t much better. Last year, though, Jones was solid with Triple-A Gwinnett (.281 with seven homers, 28 doubles and a .360 on-base percentage). He just turned 26 in December.
Best I can tell, Jones still has one option remaining. He had his contract purchased at the end of the 2007 season and would have been optioned in 2008 and 2009.
I wonder if Jones might make sense for the Yankees to put in a claim, if only because their outfield is pretty thin in the upper levels of the minor league system. Jones bats left-handed, so he’s not exactly what the team is looking for at the major league level this season, but he could be a nice bit of competition in spring training and good depth during the year.
I was thinking the same thing when i read he was DFA’d.
In the last 3 years, Hinske has played on 3 World Series teams (two winners). Does this make the Braves an NL favorite now?
Well, I don’t think they’ll make the playoffs, but they’ll be bette than the mets.
Good luck to Hinkse. At least he’ll be seeing a familiar face with Melky there too.
Good looking out.
Yankees can use all the depth they can get in the outfield now with A-Jax (and many’s dreams of the future) has been shipped out.
Time to snatch up old prospects from across the league and stockpile them to see if any turn up not sucking.
I still feel sad that Melky’s going to be stuck out there in Atlanta without his buddies
I’m a sap, I know.
From the other thread….
Using the Ken Phelps for Jay Buhner trade as “evidence” that acquiring bench guys at the deadline is dumb.
Who did the Yankees give up in the last few years to acquire bench help like Hinske, Molina, Gaudin and Hairston?
Answer” Nobody of any value.
Easiest thing for a big market team to do is acquire a bench in season.
at least for a-jax we got granderson, who is still fairly young.
Why not? Stockpile enough of these guys and a few have to stick.
All depends: why the sudden drop in performance in 2008, was it transition/adjustment to AAA? Personal issues, minor injury? Or is he another Melky Cabrera, maybe an inconsistent AAAA player?
I’m sure the Yankee scouts have a price on Jones’ head, anybody near the top in any of the MLB farms is on Cash’s radar. If he doesn’t cost too much and he’s not damaged goods, put in a claim.
The thing I like about Cashman is that he is constantly learning and applying what he learns to how he assembles the team.
For example, assembling a bullpen. Earlier in his career he spent big bucks on lots of veteran relievers. He realized this was an inefficient strategy because relievers are so volatile and that those spots can easily be covered by young guys making the minimum. The only big contract he’s given to relievers in recent years are Mariano Rivera and Damaso Marte. Both are exceptions to the rule because one is an all-time great and the other is a hard throwing lefty with closer exp.
The other place he’s learned is when assembling a bench. It always frustrated me that he had a bench filled with guys like Andy Phillips, Shelley Duncan, Bubba Crosby etc. Crappy young players. Last year the Yanks started the year with a young/crappy bench but Cash made some great moves and acquired skilled vets partway through the season. He can do that again this year.
It isn’t necessary to have a bench full of veterans on April 1. It’s a lot more efficient to start with cheap youngsters in case there’s an injury and see what they can do then if necessary go after guys like Hinske and Hairston.
As long as there isn’t any huge commitment, I would have no trouble adding depth. Barring a Mets-esque string of injuries, however, I doubt if he would find his way into the big league lineup.
Also, is there any way we can get rid of the ads with sound? The photo-snap sound is quite annoying (and I do understand it’s a source of income).
Patrick,
Exactly. He probably will sign Hairston just to have a veteran utility guy to give Jeter and Arod some time and have him play some OF. If done, that’s a smart move.
The rest of the bench can evolve as the season unfolds.
Its always nice to leave yourself some wiggle room (budget-wise) for in season options because they will materialize as the season unfolds.
Hairston would be a good signing because what he brings to a team is very consistent. He is a good fielder at multiple positions and he isn’t Cody Ransom at the plate.
I wouldn’t be shocked if Ramiro Pena is the utility infielder going into the season but I agree, Hairston would be a solid signing.
Hairston is fine only if he is gravy – not if signing him would preclude signing a Damon or a Nady. Trade-offs mean everything.
Wouldn’t Brett Gardner doing well as the everyday leftfielder be a better baseball miracle than Johnny Damon signing another multi-million dollar contract?
I believe in baseball miracles!
Sorry but Hairston is a pretty good 2nd baseman, he’s a decent shortstop and a brutal 3rd baseman.
I like Hairston a lot as well……..as a UTIL INF, not as a platoon OF
Why not sign this guy Brandon Jones? He can’t be any worse than the dreck the Yankees plan on using as a third outfielder now.
I don’t think they would sign Hairston as a platoon LFer, that’s not what he is and its not what he’s most valuable doing.
SJ wrote: Using the Ken Phelps for Jay Buhner trade as “evidence” that acquiring bench guys at the deadline is dumb.
You have some good insights at times but your manner is annoyingly condescending. The simple fact is a bench can be assembled now at no cost other than dollars. At the deadline it will cost players. And the Yankees may need a lot more than a Hinske if one of their key position players goes down– back-up at third and in the outfield is woefully thin. And Bushner is not the only one they gave up for deadline help. Wat about Marte? What about a pretty good pitcher in Westbrook for Justice? What about Ohlendorf to use a very recent example. If A-Rod, Jeter or any of the outfielders go down, this team is mighty thin. It’s a top-heavy roster where the big bucks go to the stars and crumbs for the role players. It worked great last year. Doesn’t mean it will again.
“It isn’t necessary to have a bench full of veterans on April 1. It’s a lot more efficient to start with cheap youngsters in case there’s an injury and see what they can do then if necessary go after guys like Hinske and Hairston.”
Patrick -
Absolutely. You never know when you might strike lightning in a bottle with a youngster, and then you don’t even need to go out at the trade deadline. Even if you don’t, you find out what the kids have (like Cervelli and Pena last season – not too shabby). Cash has a pretty good trade deadline record for the past few years. The last thing I’m worried about is back-up players.
And just to be clear, I should not have said “worried.” I don’t “worry” about the Yankees – they don’t pay my bills.
I should have said, back-up players are the last thing on my mind when I think about the Yankees. 
What I like about Hairston is he is a professional. He knows he is a utility player and he goes about his business, for lack of a better word, appropriately. And personality-wise, he seems like a good guy, as well. I hope they do sign him.
Strange note about Tampa. They trade of Iwamura, but have Ben Zobrist, who played the majority of the games there in 2009, have Willie Aybar and Reid Brignac and are looking to bring in a 2nd baseman to compete for the spot. Do they know something about the freak power and average seasons of Zobrist and Bartlett? Not steroids, but, loaded bats?
yeesh this is a seriously anti-gardner blog, huh? The guy should be about 30 runs (3 wins) better than damon on defense, so even if he is a replacement-level offensive player (he won’t be – he should be about 90 wRC+, and then adjusted for his baserunning could bring that up to roughly league average, or 1 WAR, which, combined with his projected +20 UZR in left, makes him a 3 WAR player. Damon was a 3.6 WAR player last year. It’s not unreasonable to expect a little decline on offense next year, plus a little more on defense, which would likely make him, at best, a stadium-assisted 3 WAR player next year. And for about 6.5 million more than that same 3 WAR from gardner.
Remember, folks, we’re talking about the #9 hitter in an otherwise DOMINANT lineup. Ours will still likely be the best offense in baseball whether he or someone better (offensively) is in it. Why not then maximize our defensive efficiency, thereby boosting our entire pitching staff?
Even if Gardner plays center (as I believe he should, since I believe he is a better CF than granderson defensively), he’s still probably about +15-+20 UZR. If Granderson shifts to left, it’s not unreasonable to expect at least a +10 UZR. And if Swish bounces back from his fairly average (-2 I think) year last year to his career norms, that puts him at about +5. That means that our outfield, which was a net negative last year, could post a net UZR over +30. We all saw what improved defense did for the Mariners last year, why not try and see if we can do the same thing?
bottom line
January 12th, 2010 at 5:54 pm
SJ wrote: Using the Ken Phelps for Jay Buhner trade as “evidence” that acquiring bench guys at the deadline is dumb.
You have some good insights at times but your manner is annoyingly condescending. The simple fact is a bench can be assembled now at no cost other than dollars. At the deadline it will cost players. And the Yankees may need a lot more than a Hinske if one of their key position players goes down– back-up at third and in the outfield is woefully thin. And Bushner is not the only one they gave up for deadline help. Wat about Marte? What about a pretty good pitcher in Westbrook for Justice? What about Ohlendorf to use a very recent example. If A-Rod, Jeter or any of the outfielders go down, this team is mighty thin. It’s a top-heavy roster where the big bucks go to the stars and crumbs for the role players. It worked great last year. Doesn’t mean it will again.
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You’re talking about an entirely different front office and ownership.
Garnder doesn’t appeal to the sort of sports fan that votes Tracy McGrady and Allen Iverson to NBA all star teams – i.e. casual, ill-informed ones.
Let me edit, that, Gardner is the type of players those sort of fans are quick to condemn.
I don’t know if Gardner will be a successful major leaguer, but you’re purely and plainly ignorant if you think he’s going to demonstratively hurt the Yankees batting 9th.
KLaw: Just stick with Gardner
By Mike Axisa
RAB fave Keith Law chimes in on the Yanks’ left field situation in Rumor Central today, saying that the Yanks should just stick with Brett Gardner in left because of his defense. “Either Nady or (Reed) Johnson represent marginal improvements that may not justify the cost,” says KLaw. “Neither is really a full-time player. Johnson is strictly a platoon player, and can back up Granderson, but they have Gardner for that. Nady, even when healthy, was a platoon guy until ‘08.” The Yanks’ offense is good enough that they could carry a black hole in left, and there’s no reason for them to fix something that we aren’t completely sure is broken yet.
“Eventually, some other option will emerge,” KLaw adds, “and there’s no reason for the Yanks to spend money on left field simply for the sake of spending money.” · (21) ·
this over at RAB
Stuckey, I’m glad you amended that because that comment is really unbecoming. You may wish to see Gardner get more opportunities, but those of use who are not fans of his and who think he isn’t that good are not ill-informed by any means.
if gardner can get on base at a decent enough clip he is going to drive pitchers nuts & give us something we have not had in a while
we survived with melky in cf
gardner does not have melkys power but i doubt melky is that much better if at all & gardner is better defensively & a much,much,much better baserunner
not even close
And the Mark McGwire MLB Sobfest continues from Verducci and shock of shocks, Curt Schilling. It would be interesting to hear the sage words of Roy Oswalt and Jamie Moyer.
Justice helped the Yankees win the Series in 2000 so, that was a great deal for the Yankees.
Ohlendorf no role on the team.
Marte was re-acquired and helped win a title this year.
I cited numerous examples of them getting in season help at little cost.
In fact, that strategy has worked more than it has failed for the last 14 years of Yankee Baseball.
Bru: If gardner can get on base at a decent enough clip he is going to drive pitchers nuts & give us something we have not had in a while
Exactly.
GreenBeret7
January 12th, 2010 at 6:15 pm
And the Mark McGwire MLB Sobfest continues from Verducci and shock of shocks, Curt Schilling.
**************************
Schilling has to make himself a part of everything, doesn’t he? For Christmas I got my dad a copy of Pride of the Yankees. When he opened it Christmas Day, he was reading through the bonus features, which included “A Legend on a Legend: Curt Schilling discusses Lou Gehrig.” It’s a good thing I didn’t notice that in the store-otherwise I might have put it back. lol
damon
“Either Nady or (Reed) Johnson represent marginal improvements that may not justify the cost,” says KLaw. “Neither is really a full-time player. Johnson is strictly a platoon player, and can back up Granderson, but they have Gardner for that.
Yeah but a Reed Johnson could potentially play CF against lefties if say God forbid Granderson somehow has a harder time hitting lefty pitching than Gardener. Which would be pretty scary.
Nick in SF
January 12th, 2010 at 5:28 pm
Wouldn’t Brett Gardner doing well as the everyday leftfielder be a better baseball miracle than Johnny Damon signing another multi-million dollar contract?
I believe in baseball miracles!
*************
Nothing against GGBG but….. Incorrect!
Erin
January 12th, 2010 at 6:23 pm
GreenBeret7
January 12th, 2010 at 6:15 pm
And the Mark McGwire MLB Sobfest continues from Verducci and shock of shocks, Curt Schilling.
**************************
Schilling has to make himself a part of everything, doesn’t he? For Christmas I got my dad a copy of Pride of the Yankees. When he opened it Christmas Day, he was reading through the bonus features, which included “A Legend on a Legend: Curt Schilling discusses Lou Gehrig.” It’s a good thing I didn’t notice that in the store-otherwise I might have put it back. lol
****************
Does it make me a bad person if I admit that I sometimes wish Curt Schilling would break a finger blogging?
Regardless of what Keith Law and RAB say about LF, the Yankees still need a stronger bench and Nady not only makes it better but he offers insurance for Gardner.
Bronx Jeers:
I agree about Reed Johnson. I think he would be an excellent addition to this team, since he is an exceptional defender and hits lefties very well. I could see him getting quite a bit of playing time on this team, and making the most out of it. Overall, I see our outfield as being one of the most productive all-around OF’s in the AL, right up there with Seattle and Boston.
Erica – always OPPC – Bring Johnny Back!!!
January 12th, 2010 at 6:27 pm
Does it make me a bad person if I admit that I sometimes wish Curt Schilling would break a finger blogging?
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No, because that would make me a bad person too.
Erin
January 12th, 2010 at 6:23 pm
GreenBeret7
January 12th, 2010 at 6:15 pm
And the Mark McGwire MLB Sobfest continues from Verducci and shock of shocks, Curt Schilling.
**************************
Schilling has to make himself a part of everything, doesn’t he? For Christmas I got my dad a copy of Pride of the Yankees. When he opened it Christmas Day, he was reading through the bonus features, which included “A Legend on a Legend: Curt Schilling discusses Lou Gehrig.” It’s a good thing I didn’t notice that in the store-otherwise I might have put it back. lol
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If he can get his name on the lips of voters, he’ll keep talking. I’m hoping that somebody comes up with prof on him and his usage. Schilling just needs to shut up and go away. I’m sorry, but, I just don’t see him as a HOFer. If Byleven, John and Kaat aren’t, no way is he.
The other non-HOFer is Moyer. That will be interesting to watch. Hard to believe that he isn’t doing something at age 46. that seems to be the big thing going…he’s performing as well or better at an advanced age. I don’t think the stuff helps much if at all, but, others that use this came believe it….selectively.
A lot of posts here in the offseason, but not much content. I hate to say it, but I miss PA…………
Summer is Coming!!!!!
My Eddie Bauer Summer Preview catalogue arrived today!!!!!! YAY!!!!
Erica – always OPPC – Bring Johnny Back!!!
January 12th, 2010 at 6:27 pm
Erin
January 12th, 2010 at 6:23 pm
GreenBeret7
January 12th, 2010 at 6:15 pm
And the Mark McGwire MLB Sobfest continues from Verducci and shock of shocks, Curt Schilling.
**************************
Schilling has to make himself a part of everything, doesn’t he? For Christmas I got my dad a copy of Pride of the Yankees. When he opened it Christmas Day, he was reading through the bonus features, which included “A Legend on a Legend: Curt Schilling discusses Lou Gehrig.” It’s a good thing I didn’t notice that in the store-otherwise I might have put it back. lol
****************
Does it make me a bad person if I admit that I sometimes wish Curt Schilling would break a finger blogging?
————————————————————
Break a finger blogging and bite off his tongue when he talks.
BTW Damon will re-sign, he needs a team, the Yanks need a starting, legit LF…. reed johnson and gardner… lol… not gunna cut it…
Damon’s already admitted he’s going to have to take a paycut. That’s the first step. It’s gonna happen people.
KO
January 12th, 2010 at 6:36 pm
BTW Damon will re-sign, he needs a team, the Yanks need a starting, legit LF…. reed johnson and gardner… lol… not gunna cut it…
Damon’s already admitted he’s going to have to take a paycut. That’s the first step. It’s gonna happen people.
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Please be advised: I am NOT moonlighting as “KO”
Erica – always OPPC – Bring Johnny Back!!!
January 12th, 2010 at 6:37 pm
KO
January 12th, 2010 at 6:36 pm
BTW Damon will re-sign, he needs a team, the Yanks need a starting, legit LF…. reed johnson and gardner… lol… not gunna cut it…
Damon’s already admitted he’s going to have to take a paycut. That’s the first step. It’s gonna happen people.
******************
Please be advised: I am NOT moonlighting as “KO”
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OK, Scott. Point made.
GreenBeret7
January 12th, 2010 at 6:40 pm
OK, Scott. Point made.
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Hehehehehe..
Erica = Scott Boras???????????????????????????
“You may wish to see Gardner get more opportunities, but those of use who are not fans of his and who think he isn’t that good are not ill-informed by any means.”
I’ll repeat. You don’t have to be a fan of his. I’M not a fan of his. But he’s capable (if he just repeats last year’s production) of being the BEST 9th (or NL 8th) hitter in the game.
Read my post again. I never suggested anyone should like him or believe in his skills. But he WON’T hurt the Yankees. He’ll in fact represent a competitive advantage over nearly every ML team the Yankees will face in the regular or post-season.
The one thing I have found in common with people who are outspokenly “not a fan” of his is their routine silence when confronted with this notion.
This has nothing to do with a personal opinion of him, which everyone is entitled to. It has to do with the argument made in the vacuum that he’s not “good” enough to play the role assigned to him, and by any reasonable standard (and I believe better than ANY player in his role is a more than reasonable standard, he is.
The question isn’t whether he’s “good”, it’s whether he’s “good enough”.
Brett Gardner is above average when Jose Molina/Ramiro Pena types are the mean, and no critic of his (in my experience) seems willing to acknowledge this simple truism.
Erica – always OPPC – Bring Johnny Back!!!
January 12th, 2010 at 6:41 pm
GreenBeret7
January 12th, 2010 at 6:40 pm
OK, Scott. Point made.
******************
Hehehehehe..
Erica = Scott Boras???????????????????????????
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Evening, Erica. Hope all is well there at the Arctic Circle.
GreenBeret7
January 12th, 2010 at 6:36 pm
Break a finger blogging and bite off his tongue when he talks.
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GB, I like the way you think.
if jones is better than Gardner, we’d need/want his services. NYY like all teams is trying to improve.
I’m not particularly a fan of Brett Gardner’s. But if they decide he’s going to play LF and bat 9th (in some sort of platoon, I’d guess), it could be worse.
In all fairness to Gardner, he was really doing pretty well leading up to his injury. And by pretty well, I don’t mean he was excelling – I mean, he was doing an acceptable job. That injury really set him back – a lot.
I’d love for Gardner to show me that I short-changed him, and that he can make further improvements to his offensive game. Defensively, I have no issue with him in LF. Or CF. There are plays that he makes I’m not fond of, but he has made some really good plays, too.
Lukewarm. I’m lukewarm about Gardner.
But you gotta root for whoever they put out there.
Listening to MLB Network while cleaning the kitchen a while ago and have to say Canseco can shoot himself in the foot with the best of them.
KO
January 12th, 2010 at 6:35 pm
A lot of posts here in the offseason, but not much content. I hate to say it, but I miss PA…………
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you are wrong
when nothing is happening in mid january what can possibly be discussed that has not already or will be?
when baseball comes back soon it will get better but right now there is nothing so for this blog to be going strong 24/7 is a miracle
do you wan’t chad & sam too start doing weather reports or entertainment???
even when pitchers & catchers report it can get boring but at least there are games being covered & reported on.
i remember when there was no internet & somehow we survived
The filter here is very strange.
new thread
Just a heads up. It’s JASON Heyward.