Pinch hitting: Will Wang
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Jan 17, 2013 
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Today’s Pinch Hitter is Will Wang, a 34-year-old attorney who lives in Queens, grew up as a Yankees fan in the 80′s, and cut class at Bronx High School of Science to attend his first game at the old Yankee Stadium. “My favorite player was Rickey Henderson, and of course, I was huge on Willie Randolph, Don Mattingly, and Dave Winfield,” Will wrote. “… I was an emotional wreck for a week when Mariano tore up his knee in Kansas City. I would say Mariano is my current favorite player.”
For his post, Will chose not to focus on his favorite player, but on a familiar face who’s still a bit of an unknown. He calls his post, The Eduardo Nunez Conundrum.
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In 2013, the Yankees must figure out what they have in Eduardo Nunez. Nunez turns 26 during the ’13 season and is at a crossroads in his career. He is no longer a prospect and not yet a veteran. For Nunez, 2013 will be career-defining.
Is he a starting MLB shortstop? Is he a utility player? The Yankees just don’t know. Nunez reached the majors in 2010, played the utility role for 112 games in 2011, shifting back and forth between SS (50 games), 3B (40), and 2B (16), and then had his 2012 season almost completely derailed by a thumb injury and recurring defensive woes.
Many Yankee fans have been impressed with what he brings to the table offensively. He makes good contact (Nunez led the IL in hits in 2010 and in 491 career MLB PA, has only 51 Ks, a 10% k rate), has some pop, and has dynamic speed (38 steals in 180 games). Of course, on the defensive side, he has been complete disaster (in 2011, 14 errors in 50 games at short). Heading into 2013, the Yankees said they were committed to Nunez as a shortstop only and did not view him as a utility infielder, until January 10 when Cashman said if Nunez was going to make the team, it would be as a utility infielder.
Nunez is blocked at his natural position by one of the greatest Yankees ever. We know that Derek Jeter is still capable of performing at a high level, but we don’t know for how much longer. The Yankees need to give Nunez 300-plus at bats this season and allow him adequate time in the field to prove he isn’t as bad defensively as people think he is. The purpose of this extended playing time would be two-fold: (1) redeem Nunez’s trade value as a cheap, still relatively young, under salary control, middle infielder who can hit; and (2) answer the question of whether Nunez can man the position when the inevitable time comes for Jeter to retire or change positions.
Based on the current makeup of the 2013 Yankees roster, Nunez should be the backup SS/2B and an everyday player against left handers. The Yankees could rest Jeter by allowing him to be the right-handed DH, letting Nunez start at shortstop against lefties. In that role, Nunez could acquire 250 at-bats over the course of a full season. In 200 career plate appearances against lefties, Nunez has hit .298/.332/.436.
Of course, the potential midseason return of A-Rod from injury will complicate the ability to find Nunez at-bats (assuming A-Rod and Youk share 3B/DH).
In 2011, when Jeter went down with a calf injury, Nunez was given consistent playing time between June and August, which amounted to 200 plate appearances, for which Nunez hit for a slash line of .301/.350/.421 with three homers and 13 steals. The highlight of that period was the July 1-2 series with the Mets in Citi Field, where Nunez went 7-for-8, with three doubles and one home run. In the 2012 postseason, in two ALCS starts, Nunez managed a triple in Game 4 and a home run off Justin Verlander in Game 3.
Nunez brings speed and contact to the lineup, things the lineup was clearly missing in 2012. In 2013, the regular additions of Ichiro/Gardner/Nunez would change the entire dynamic of the lineup. No longer will fans have to watch the Yankees go station to station, hoping for the three-run home run. We will see more first to thirds and scoring on a double from first. Nunez can be a major part of Yankees “Smallball 2013.”
What can Eduardo Nunez become? Looking throughout baseball for comparison points for Nunez, I come across two potential comparable players. I think it is fair to say that Nunez, handed a full-time job can out-produce the offensive numbers of Alcides Escobar (probably with better power).
Alcides Escobar (Born 1986):
3 full seasons (1936 PA) .266/.307/.356, 14 HR, 75 steals
Ian Desmond (Born 1985):
3 full seasons (1849 PA) .271/.313/.424, 47 HR, 64 steals
Eduardo Nunez (Born 1987):
3 partial seasons (491 PA) .271/.318/.384, 7 HR, 38 steals
Escobar is one year older than Nunez but is an undisputed far superior defender. Nunez’s offensive development ceiling is probably Ian Desmond (two years older than Nunez) with less slugging and less power. No one thinks Nunez will ever develop the power to hit 25 home runs and lead all MLB shortstops in OPS the way Desmond (.845 OPS) did in 2012, but Nunez certainly has a capable bat. From a defensive perspective, in Desmond’s first full season as the Nationals’ shortstop, he committed a ghastly 33 errors himself. With a full season of Nunez, you might expect the same or worse.
The Yankees need to find out what they have in Nunez. He is a dynamic player, and we have seen glimpses of what he is capable of. Whether he can be that dynamic player on a consistent basis is something we don’t know yet because he hasn’t been given that chance.
Give him that chance. Besides, don’t we all love hearing Girardi say “Nu-Ni?”
Associated Press photos
@CDickerson_PFTP
Why is there a “born in 2013″ option when making a Twitter? “Just got home from the hospital where I popped out of my mom! #YOLO!”
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I’m gonna miss Dickerson lol.
Good post….really hope Nunez can show enough defensively this year to have value. He’d be super valuable if he could be a utility guy……at this point I don’t think they have much choice other than to just up him in that role and see what happens…..
The role next year for Nunez, presuming Jeter is healthy, is DH. They have no one else.
He is good offensively for a SS. He does not strike me as a DH.
actually makes some sense to put Jeter at DH and give Nunez an opportunity to see if he can hack at SS. A day without Nunez is a day with sunshine….
#without… btw, I am ready to say goodbye to Jeter if he wants multi year deal, but i am sure others feel differently.
blake January 17th, 2013 at 12:04 pm
Actually what was the last team to win a Ws without a good catcher?
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Last Yankee team? That was probably 98 where Girardi and Posada split the job. I think Posada caught more, but I don’t remember how many – something like 110 vs 70 for Girardi. Before that was obviously 96 with Girardi behind the dish.
Last team overall the Phillies in 2008 – Carlos Ruiz was quite craptastic offensively
Actually – the 2008 WS featured two bad catchers that year in Ruiz and Dioneer Navarro.
Dioner did hit : .295 .349 .407 .757 which is great for a catcher. Ruiz had his worst year in 08 tho.
Mac, just thought of it by association, Ortiz might go down as the greatest DH ever over Harold Baines and Edgar Martinez.
In general though most WS teams recently have had a Posey or a Molina or a Posada type catcher
Cashmoney says:
January 17, 2013 at 12:18 pm
#without… btw, I am ready to say goodbye to Jeter if he wants multi year deal, but i am sure others feel differently.
Depends on the money he wants and how he’s playin
BobKlap
Told there’s still one spot open on WBC roster for a starting pitcher. It’s Pettitte’s if he wants it, but hasn’t given Torre a yes or no.
Andy’s wife must need to ask him what he wants for dinner weeks in advance because the man can not make a decision without lots of thinking about everything.
@GordonEdes: Soxannounce Saltalamacchia signs one-year deal. Deal is for $4.5 million
Has Dickerson signed on with anyone? Would the yankees take him back if he is not on the 40 man. He is not a bad player.
Plus, I agree that he is a funny guy. He played at Rice. That tells us he is a smart guy.
Love Andy but he gives Favre a run for his money in wishy washyness
In 2011, when Jeter went down with a calf injury, Nunez was given consistent playing time between June and August, which amounted to 200 plate appearances, for which Nunez hit for a slash line of .301/.350/.421 with three homers and 13 steals.
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I guess I’m a big Nunez fan, because I don’t see the horror show that everyone else does. I feel that give him at bats and don’t jerk him around and he’ll reward you with something in the vicinity of the above. If he’s not worried that one error relegates to the bench, again smooths out his fielding.
Now Jeter was on the bottom end of range last year and he’s coming back off ankle surgery. How that doesn’t impact his fielding and hitting at least for the first half is beyond me. That would mean Jeter DHing the first half and A Rod the second. Nunez, Gardner and Ichiro on the base paths should create some havoc so I’m not that bent out of shape for the beginning of the season, to join the kvetch brigade.
blake January 17th, 2013 at 12:23 pm
In general though most WS teams recently have had a Posey or a Molina or a Posada type catcher
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Well, given that in the last twenty years the Yankees, Cardinals and Giants have played in the majority of the World Series – yes that’s true.
In addition to Ruiz and Navarro
The Rockies had Torrelaba in 07
Detroit had Aviles
Houston had Ausmus (who was ancient at that point)
02 Giants had Benito Santiago
Dbacks had Damian Miller
So there were plenty of bad catchers who played in the WS.
Mac – I’m sure the Yankees would be happy to sign him to a minor league deal.
Bo! I agree.
Avila is good.
You’re also listing a lot of the losers
Wow 36 year old brad ausmus had a career year in 05. On based .351 that year. Prolly a big help
Agree Bo. One of Nunez’s fielding issues seemed to be reaching balls Jeter would never get to, and then throwing the ball away. Of course he also had his share of botched routine plays. No one would disagree that Nunez has far superior range compared to Jeter. But of course Jeter makes people feel secure because of the balls he can get to, he handles them flawlessly (most of the time). You worry about Nunez, you know Jeter can do what Jeter can do.
Cashman has 27 days to be stealth….
Sorry if this was posted already
http://riveraveblues.com/2013/.....ies-81364/
At this point, with the roster looking the way it is, Nunez isn’t just a UTIF. He’s our best choice for DH vs LHP & probably RHP if we’re being honest. And I only say he’s a DH because we have Jeter & Youk as written in stone starters.
Nunez should play a ton based on this current roster. There’s no depth. No real DH.
And to be honest, when I see people talk about giving the kids a chance in here it’s Nunez you should be talking about. Not Austin Romine who clearly hasn’t progressed from a health or baseball standpoint thus far to be handed a starting role.
The problem with giving the kids a chance is you need the kids to be knocking on the door. Outside of Adams, who isn’t considered a top prospect, we don’t really have any position players knocking on the door yet.
Nunez is here. He has bat speed. He has foot speed. He plays hard. I’d be thrilled to see him given a chance.
That said, he cannot throw games away with his fielding. If he can’t field the position he’s asked to with any sort of positive consistency then he needs to learn how to play the OF and just be a DH. You make an error once in awhile it’s one thing. But if you can’t get through a game without a throwing error, you’re hurting the team.
I think he can be a huge piece for this team as it transitions from the low average hero swingers to something a little more sophisticated at the plate.
just to chime in on the Morse trade…
Jack Z. is getting unfairly killed on this board for what was for him an excellent and necessary trade for his 2013 team.
he basically traded a (while useful) role player for a guy that if healthy will be his cleanup hitter or at worst 5 hole hitter capable if healthy of supplying .290+/30-35HRs/100 rbis which is what that team desperately needs.
Jaso while offering a professional at bat and some .obp is far from a building block and more of a future bench player for the M’s. they are ripe with LH hitters and when Zunino gets here then he’s the starting C with Jesus moving to BUC/DH leaving Jaso no role.
Moving him now, although for only 1yr of Morse, allows him to put together a legit lineup while also giving them a good 3rd to half of the season getting Jesus reps as a catcher where last year he was an elite offensive player when he caught.
if healthy then the M’s could have a legit lineup that looks something like this;
Gutierriz CF
Ackley 2B
Montero C
Morales DH
Morse LF
Smoak 1B
Saunders RF
Seager 3B
Ryan SS
I btw have been saying since last spring the Yanks should be making a concerted effort to get Nuney 300-400 abs this season playing him almost regularly to see exactly what type of impact he can offer them offensively.
It should be almost a team mandate.
Nunez was top defensive SS in AAA one year. So the ability is there, seems to be a lack of confidence and bad coaching ie footwork in the minors. I would say, leave him alone, give him some reps and fuggadaboutit.
Jeter is Jeter. Ever since they moved him back and he can plant, what he gets to, is good. But he is not here for a long time, Ponce notwithstanding.
Not acquiring Morse furthers the case for Nunez to SS/DH frequently this year. Would love to see Ichiro/Gardy/Nunez wreaking havoc on the basepaths.
Based on the current makeup of the 2013 Yankees roster, Nunez should be the backup SS/2B and an everyday player against left handers. The Yankees could rest Jeter by allowing him to be the right-handed DH, letting Nunez start at shortstop against lefties. In that role, Nunez could acquire 250 at-bats over the course of a full season. In 200 career plate appearances against lefties, Nunez has hit .298/.332/.436.
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Been saying this since the season ended.
“Jack Z. is getting unfairly killed on this board for what was for him an excellent and necessary trade for his 2013 team.”
He’s getting killed everywhere not just on this board because it wasn’t excellent not necessary for the Mariners for 2013….gives them no better shot at that division than they had and morse is a FA at the end of the season
Jack Z traded 3 years of a player at a premium position for 1 year of a platoon player.
Jack Z is a bum and so is Cashman for not getting us Jaso.
I’m sure this is old news here but cannot believe the Sox got Napoli for only a 1 year deal with only $5M guaranteed and the possibility of $13M. Cash is either asleep at the wheel or Hal is cheaper than I thought. Would have been a perfect power hitting right handed bat at DH/C/1B for this season. Unreal
Also gives the Mariners like 4 guys that should be DHing a lot and will force them to either catch Montero full time or rush Zunino…..unless morse will sign a cheap extension this trade makes very little sense for them
I think he can be a huge piece for this team as it transitions from the low average hero swingers to something a little more sophisticated at the plate.
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I think that was my major gripe last year – sophisticated at bats. All these players made the Majors because they could adjust, now they couldn’t because? The chipmunk knew the pitch was a breaking ball down and away, the swing was for a FB down the middle. I’m still spitting.
Blech
“I’m sure this is old news here but cannot believe the Sox got Napoli for only a 1 year deal with only $5M guaranteed and the possibility of $13M. Cash is either asleep at the wheel or Hal is cheaper than I thought. Would have been a perfect power hitting right handed bat at DH/C/1B for this season. Unreal”
My guess is his hip looks only marginally better than Arods….otherwise they is no way he’d take that deal when the original offer was 3/39
one thing that worries me about Nunez is his approach and pitch selection….I do think he has some tools offensively but he’s never really played long enough for big league pitchers to start exploiting his weaknesses. I would like to find out once and for all what he really is…..and I hope he can field well enough and make the offensive adjustments necessary for him to be a big league player…..Thatd be cool and very helpful
Either Cash is being stealth or there really is nothing going on. haven’t heard a Yankee rumor (other than yanks has interest in …) recently. No yanks are negotiating with, talking to, etc …
“I’ve been resolute that [getting under the $189M luxury tax threshold in 2014] is our goal. And that is our goal …
________________________
The number one goal of any Yankees high command should always be to win a championship. That is the resolute, the resolution, the mantra. It has been for a majority of the franchise. Once the Yankees step away from that commitment and place another priority over it, they become just like every other franchise, which they are not.
It doesn’t seem like Nunez does too well when he is moved around alot.
Not sure he has enough pop to be a DH.
It is good that they are going to find out what he is once and for all.
All that said I like the kid and wish him the best.
chicken little,
I think phone lines are humming all over MLB. Many more deals will be made before ST. Whether Cashman will make one or more, I have no idea. But I feel it in my bones that he will, although that may be just a little arthritis combined with cool rainy weather around here today.
Preacher Tom-
Hitch anyone today ?
Cashman asleep as perfect potential 1 year guys get signed or traded in the last 24 hours in
Napoli, Morse, Jaso
Thought on a 1 year deal the Yankees were willing to outspend anyone else as long as 1 year committments could be made.
How do you not take a $10 million or so 1 year flier on Napoli to man DH and possibly an occasional start at C?
It is definitely a make or break year for Nunez ; he has been an absolute butcher in the field though and if he can’t stop making errors in the field he becomes totally useless to the team’s abaility to trade or play him long term.
Next weekend, Mister MTU. Last one went great, and she wasn’t even pregnant.
If they want Nunez to reach whatever his ceiling is, they need to live with the errors, no matter what. I would be very surprised if they ever do, although I think the errors would decline over time with sufficient patience.
That’s good.
Shotgun weddings are hazardous duty pay for Preachers.
“Cashman asleep as perfect potential 1 year guys get signed or traded in the last 24 hours in
Napoli, Morse, Jaso”
Just to be fair…..the comps the Yankees would have had to trade to get Morse probably would have been either Campos or Depaula….or more given who the Nats got for him…..and they would have probably had to give Granderson to get Jaso given that Seattle wanted an impact power bat that’s ready now. Also….Napoli’s hip is obviously a big concern if he accepted a 1 year 5 million dollar deal and nobody was willing to top that.
Mick Kelleher and Eduardo need to become best buds.
But it’s the groom who’s being aimed at, and the white lightning sometimes bought along eases the anxiety.
….Napoli’s hip is obviously a big concern if he accepted a 1 year 5 million dollar deal and nobody was willing to top that.
_
But a risk worth taking, given the other risks the Yankees take, their need for offense, and what $5m should mean to them.
“But a risk worth taking, given the other risks the Yankees take, their need for offense, and what $5m should mean to them.”
Yea I mean I probably would still have signed him for that unless he’s like on the verge of surgery…..they have Youk 12 million and he’s a huge risk too
That’s true Tom but you could get caught in a crossfire if things went South (Pun intended).
And the White lightning might only make matters worse.
Anyway, good luck with your newly chosen occupation.
Yankees would have had to trade to get Morse probably would have been either Campos or Depaula….or more given who the Nats got for him…..and they would have probably had to give Granderson to get Jaso
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I would’ve probably done this. I wasn’t enamored with Morse, but not going after Jaso at that price is insane given out catching situation going forward. He’s cheap as hell and in his prime years.
Now we’ll probably give up Grandy for a draft pick that they find a way to put in the bullpen.
our*
Eff.
I’m probably setting myself up for big time disappointment but I feel like and have a for a few days that the Yanks are gonna get Upton….just have a feeling….it’s an obvious fit….they have been really quite…..Cash’s relationship with Towers etc…..just a feeling…..like I said probably gonna be let down
MTU,
It fills the rooms, too.
Shame,
I would have traded Granderson for Jaso+ if the Yanks could have gotten Upton first…..
I can’t see an Upton trade without a third team involved given how far away the Yankees’ best assets are, unless Towers like Nova, Hughes, or Phelps, or somehow (please, please, please) wants Granderson.
I think Towers showed last week that he was now willing to do a prospect deal now that he has a SS……..I think the Yanks have enough unless Texas or Atlanta change their minds about a couple of players or unless Towers just really likes Olt or Teheran ….like I said….just a feeling….I’m probably wrong
OK, and the only prospect that I would insist on keeping out is Sanchez. I would like to keep Heathcott too, because I
thinkhope that he may be close and they have multiple OF needs, but because of his injury issues, I would give him up.The team is going to have to use speed to score. They have lost, including AROD, 102 home runs from last year’s team to be replaced with Ichiro and Gardner all year, Nunez, Cervelli and Mesa(?). I would estimate a 75 home run decline.
Want the team to find other ways to score is one thing, but that is a lot of runs to make up. I will say most of the lost homers were from guys with low BAs.
Gardner seems critical to me. He has to have a .350 OBP and steal 50+ bases.
Then, I look at the roster and realize it is critical for many to have good years. We do not have the luxury of one or two position players having down years.
Enjoyed your post Will. I’d only add that another reason to give him more DH AB is to showcase his strong suit for potential trade partners. In this (hopefully) post-PED era, a speedy solid low-K contact hitter with some pop has value even if he makes souvenirs out of too many throws to 1B. Part of me still feels Eddie missed his calling as an OFer, but I imagine sharper baseball minds than mine saw good reasons not to hunt that dog.
Sorry if this was posted already
http://riveraveblues.com/2013/…..ies-81364/
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Hal is giving indications that he is so lost it’s stunning.
blake January 17th, 2013 at 1:41 pm
Shame,
I would have traded Granderson for Jaso+ if the Yanks could have gotten Upton first…..
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Oh yeah.. I mean, Team Greedy’s line up would look really different:
SS Jeter/Cuban Kid
LF Upton
2B Cano
DH Beltran
RF Hamilton
3B Youk/Arod
1B Tex
CF Gardner
C Jaso
…or something.
blake,
I think your hope/optimism re: Upton has a good chance of happening. Not a great chance. But a good chance.
From the ticket perspective, the Yankees are starting to get a little desperate with customers re:season tickets. They’re reaching out more aggressively and offering more deals to retain or obtain season tickets holders. I truly feel the numbers are off enough in that department that they realize the strip mining for 189 plan isn’t going to fly here.
It’s getting closer to spring training and if the ticket numbers are not good or have decreased, someone will ask why. I know many, including myself, have told the Yankees what they are doing and the way they are acting is offensive to people who spend top dollar to support this team.
A cosmetic move is coming because status quo isn’t going to win back the hearts and minds of people they’re on the verge of losing or they’ve lost. They care about ticket sales otherwise they wouldn’t be amping up efforts to increase them.
That being said, if we get Upton, Towers is going to raid the cupboards and it’s going to hurt.
Oh yeah.. I mean, Team Greedy’s line up would look really different:
SS Jeter/Cuban Kid
LF Upton
2B Cano
DH Beltran
RF Hamilton
3B Youk/Arod
1B Tex
CF Gardner
C Jaso
…or something.@”
G love,
Agree with all that….when I said I thought we might get Upton….I should have also said that it might hurt a lot more than we’d like it to..
I think your hope/optimism re: Upton has a good chance of happening. Not a great chance. But a good chance.
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I really hope you guys are right on this one and it’s not more of that phantom limb stuff. I’ve been waiting for the big move I doubt will come this off season (it’s like rooting for the Cowboys.. you know they’re gonna lose but you still have that stupid naive hope) and I’m hoping Cash proves all of us wrong about his activity.
@jonmorosi: If Yankees catching tandem is Francisco Cervelli/Chris Stewart, total cost will be $1.03MM; Cervelli $515,350 salary, Stewart $515,100.
I asked yesterday when the Yankees would note a decline in ticket sales. That is my last desparate hope.
But, in the end, I think this is Hal telling Cashman to prove your claims of building the team under the cap by use of MILB players. Hal can always say his GM told him this was the way to go. Cashman has already said he believes everything Hal says.
They have too many prospective holes to empty the cupboards.
blake January 17th, 2013 at 2:29 pm
G love,
Agree with all that….when I said I thought we might get Upton….I should have also said that it might hurt a lot more than we’d like it to..
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I didn’t think the package the M’s offered was quite what we thought it would be though….. they may have put themselves in a position to have to take lesser value for him or just keep him.
Thanks Morosi. I believe we won the contest for cheapest catching tandem in the majors. Gosh I’m proud.
“But, in the end, I think this is Hal telling Cashman to prove your claims of building the team under the cap by use of MILB players. Hal can always say his GM told him this was the way to go. Cashman has already said he believes everything Hal says.”
That’s fine, but a CEO has to be able to point to effective execution by one of his managers in order to be thought as a competent CEO, and if development is the model, there isn’t a body or work to demonstrate that Cashman can do that.
Then again, there is no accountability, so he can say whatever he wants.
Personally, a HR is much overblown, especially with no one on base. As an example – Gardner walks, steals second, Jeter single. Or for a buzz – Nunez and Gardner both on, double steal and Ichi single. Now that’s, fun.
austinmac January 17th, 2013 at 12:28 pm
Has Dickerson signed on with anyone? Would the yankees take him back if he is not on the 40 man. He is not a bad player.
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I assume that they would jump at the chance to sign him to a minor league deal, but I assume he will take this as a chance to find an everyday job. You have to imagine that some bad team could use him in the OF, maybe even some decent teams/