Comments on: Random free agents: Hinske

By: pmbaseball7

pmbaseball7 — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 22:12:53 +0000

I love the idea of Langerhans if I’m not mistaken he’s one of the better outfielders in the game he sounds like a potential low risk high reward FA to me. Byrnes has $22M left on his contract and a complete no trade clause I do love the way he plays the game but I’ll pass. Tracy would probably be a good pickup he’s owed $4.75M this year and an option for $7M in 2010 with a $1M buyout. His career line is .343/.461/.285. He’ll be 29 in May.

By: sugar2323

sugar2323 — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 17:49:04 +0000

Here’s one to think about as a cheap LF/CF platoon with some skills, Ryan Langerhans.

I like a possible look at Tracy and what about about someone like Eric Byrnes to bring a little energy and attitude?

By: DMZ

DMZ — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 09:30:31 +0000

I think you end up with the second platoon in left. Though I threw Hinske out here randomly, if you figure that Johjima’s a full-time catcher and Clement needs to get at least 400 plate appearances, those are most likely going to come at DH. And if you’ve got Clement taking a massive chunk of the DH at-bats, someone like Hinske doesn’t make a lot of sense any more.

By: CMC_Stags

CMC_Stags — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 07:27:46 +0000

Itâ€™s what a bench is for. I donâ€™t see any issue carrying at least two platoons. But Iâ€™m not establishment baseball thinking, obviously.

DMZ - Roster Construction Question: If Branyan is half of platoon #1 at 1B, where does it make the most sense for the M's to have the 2nd platoon? Is it cheaper/easier for them to use the #2 platoon at DH or to find two outfielders with strong platoon splits? I would also propose that if the team keeps Reed, they could try to find a free agent OF with strong platoon splits versus LH pitching. Could you take a gander at Gabe Kapler next in your series?

By: Benne

Benne — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 05:59:36 +0000

It’s a twisted and scary world we live in when Oliver Perez is considered a Type A free agent.

By: niterunner

niterunner — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 05:37:51 +0000

What do you think about Oliver Perez? ESPN’s Keith Law ranks him at no. 10 for free agents, which seems overrated to me.

Oh nevermind, I see that he was offered arbitration (Type A).

By: coasty141

coasty141 — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 05:12:39 +0000

Hey… whats up with Chad Tracy these days?

By: coasty141

coasty141 — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 05:10:41 +0000

I’m all for it because it should be cheap and the downside is minimal.

Sidenote: Bill James and Marcel project Hinske with a sub 800 ops.

By: DMZ

DMZ — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 04:29:15 +0000

It’s what a bench is for. I don’t see any issue carrying at least two platoons. But I’m not establishment baseball thinking, obviously.

By: nickwest1976

nickwest1976 — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 04:11:40 +0000

What about trading for Nick Johnson to play 1B and moving Branyan to DH? Then the M’s could find a decent platoon partner for Branyan.

I don’t mind Hinske but I agree with the previous poster that Hinske and Branyan seems like a bit much in terms of guys that need platoon partners.