HMFFL wrote:The Atlanta Braves made another move toward attempting to beef up their offense Tuesday when they agreed to terms on a one-year deal with veteran infielder Eric Hinske, CBSSports.com has learned.
The contract is pending a physical examination, according to a source with knowledge of the talks. Financial terms were unknown.
Hinske gives the Braves an experienced, left-handed bat off the bench, and he gives them insurance at first base in case Troy Glaus doesn't stay healthy.
Hinske, 32, will also can play third base and the corner outfield spots. He's also something of a good-luck charm: He's played in each of the past three World Series, with the Yankees last fall, Tampa Bay in 2008 and Boston in 2007.
In 93 games with Pittsburgh and the Yankees in 2009, he hit .242 with eight homers and 25 RBI.
http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entr ... 5/19392542
Beef up the offense...
If he manages to put up his 2002 numbers, fine, but I doubt he does much even coming off our bench.
Not trying to be negative, but all these one year "fixes" are annoying me.
same here, but the Braves will pay Glaus, Hinske and Melky around 7-7.5 mill for 2010 season. I'd take that over giving Damon a one yr deal for 8-10 mill. The Braves believe Freddie Freeman will be their starting 1b by 2011. Glaus is a nice cheap one yr stop gap to Freeman. IF Glaus can stay healty and play 140+ games, he could have a 20+ hrs 85+ rbi season.
Hinske is a nice bench player to have. He can play outfield to help rest guys or if there is injury.
He could also play 3b and 1b. Also would help Chipper and Glaus rest. He is a good pinch hitter also.
All in all I'd rather have Hinske on the bench than Greg Norton.
Braves believe Heyward is their future in RF, he may play from opening day platooning with Diaz. Or he may start in Gwinett and come up around June, also platooning with Diaz.
Nate is our centerfielder and there is no problem there.
Melky is a stop gap OF solution also, if Schafer proves he has a future in majors, he could play center and move Nate to LF. So you'd have Nate in LF, Schafer in CF and Heyward in RF.
Melky could be traded with prospects sometime this season, but most likely in the future(2011 or 2012)