Yankees Acquire Eric Hinske

Hinske = Championship

So now they have what? 6 outfielders? Only 2 of who are actually good enough to play in the outfield.

I kind of like it...

3b/0F/1B/PH option...

For cash and a few low level minor leaguers... why not.

Love this movie, Hinske wasn't doin anything here, and to get anyone for him, regardless of what level, is a win. I'll be pullin for him in NY, he's a likeable dude.

Who's going to get the axe? My money is on Ransom.

Hawkeye, if its any of the backup infielders, it'll be Pena.

Ransom is leagues ahead of him offensively, and they about equal on defensive versitility.

Obviously, Cervelli is going to be optioned down.

Actually johns:

http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=1305&position=3B

Eric Hinske can certainly play the outfield. 2nd, both of these guys are 23 and are in A-Ball. Also, they are not highly regarded as Andrew Brackman is. One guy is a guy we got in a trade for the recently DFA'd Chase Wright.

Hinske could bomb out and not do anything, and this trade would still not be anything of a loss. Because at the time of the trade, Hinkse>>>>>>>>both these guys and their futures.

Thee4stringking, Cervelli is kind of obvious I guess, I see him as the up and coming Jose Molina who will probably replace him next year. I agree with you about Ransom's bat, but isn't that what Hinske is for. Even though Ransom has as much versitility as Pena he has no where as good defense at those positions. In this case I think the Yankees value that more than anything. I'll tell you one thing however, Shelley Duncan is about to vomit right now.

What are the Pirates doing? They're ripping apart the best bench in baseball! I thought I might end it with the McLouth trade, but I'm through now! Hinske is a stud!

has he played on every AL East team but Baltimore?

Anyway, he'll be the first player ever to go to the World Series with the Red Sox, Rays and Yanks this year.

I think Hinske is now what Cashman originally wanted Swisher to be. A versitile Corner OFer/Corner IFer that can fill in when people need breaks without that big of an offensive drop.

I don't think there's anyway they DFA Ransom, so I think your second option is a lot more reasonable.

Yankfan08,

I was thinking of Doug Minkowitcz (spelling) and not Hinske.. My apologies...

Yeah, Hinske really could help. I remember him from here in Tampa and he does have a nice power bat, problems with contact, but a nice bat.

Another ex Sox player and certainly a capable OF and 1B guy.

It's okay johns. I've always liked you, even though I'm not a regular like you around here. We got into some "battles" few months back I remember. But, you've always seemed to be a good guy.

For that, you have my apologies. ;)

I don't think Molina is quite ready for game action yet so most likely Cervelli is safe for now and Pena will be optioned to Scranton. He's young enough where he could still learn a bit with the stick from playing everyday in triple A. I'd love to see ransom DFA'd but I don't think Cashman will cut him when pena can be sent down.

Ballsy move by the Yankees! (Not trading for Hinske, but telling another team that they're going to have to help pay someone's salary in order to finish the trade...)

Decent numbers? An OPS BELOW .700 for a 24 year old (in LOW-A BALL!!!) and a pitcher who gives up more than a hit per inning, 24 years old again in LOW-A BALL are decent numbers?

The guy the Bucs are promoting might be an upgrade, but the fact is, this really can't be a loss for the Yankees. Hinske, as I said,can flop and the Yankees still haven't given up anything.

And at Casanova Wong, I think Pete Abraham said a yesterday Molina was about a week away.

Ahh ok word thanks b3ngal. Cervelli will get to stay with the team for a few more days then.

rockford:

No, not goodbye Swish. I don't even understand where this is coming from.

Yea, and Johns, Swisher has been the starter since Nady went down. I hope Ransom goes down...

This deal is an absolute solid aquisition. In any and EVERY deal you have to cosider what am I getting vs what am I giving up.

Hinske, is young-ish (31), versatile (3b/1b/LF/RF), and despite his lack of power thus far this year has a history of being an offensive force w/ an avg of 15 hrs per year). Plus he's played on two back to back AL World Series teams (Sox in 07 and Rays in 08) so he could prove to be a solid reserve to turn to off the bench with the bat. Offensively he's an upgrade for sure over Ransom. He would be our primary back up for Arod and Damon if they need a rest. Pena should absolutely stay up as his defense at SS is SUPERB and even as a 3b/2b he's got better range and a better arm than Ransom. He has held his own with the bat and in fact has out hit Ransom this year.

Pena- .267/.308 0 hr
Ransom- .200/.241 0 hr

So since neither is a big offensive force then you might as well stick with the one that will help prevent runs from scoring and that's absolutely Pena.

As for the prospects, I was high on Fryer when we acquired him in the off season but he's shown himself to be more suspect than prospect. Erickson has the makeup to be a decent prospect as he throws around 92-94 mph and decent secondary stuff. However, he is far down the depth charts behind McAllister, Kontos, Brackman, Betances, DJ Mitchell, Banueles, Nova, Noesi, Marshall and Phelps which is why I guess he was converted to a bullpen guy. Still 93-94 mph out the bullpen isn't bad. A career era of 3.07 and a 8/3 ko/bb rate per 9 IP is pretty good too.

As for Cervelli, it would be tough to send him down. I would like to see him stay. He works so well with CC and Joba. Molina is a great back up and calls a good game too but who know what kind of shape his quad will be in. Yanks can go with 5 SP, 6 guys in the pen (Mo, Coke, Aceves, Hughes, Robertson and Bruney), the 9 regular starters and Pena, Hinske, Gardner, Molina and Cervelli on the bench. Hinske makes it less of a need to call up someone like Duncan and he can be the primary bat off the bench, not that the Yanks need to pinch often. Who would you really need to bat for except for Gardner (Damon and Cabrera would be on the bench), Cervelli (Molina or Posada would be available), or Pena (Jeter, Arod or Cano would be on the bench). So assuming the regulars are just being rested then they could pinch hit and finish the last inning or two of the game if needed.

Decent numbers? An OPS BELOW .700 for a 24 year old (in LOW-A BALL!!!) and a pitcher who gives up more than a hit per inning, 24 years old again in LOW-A BALL are decent numbers?

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Last year, Fryer had an OPS of .914

He hit .335, 76 runs, 63 RBI, 26 doubles, 5 triples, 10 homeruns, 43 walks, 74 strikeouts and 15 stolen bases in 104 games.

I'd call that decent.

Erickson when pitching out of the bullpen this year has a 1.10 ERA with 33 strikouts in 32 innings.

Again, decent.

Considering what was given up in Hinske (.255/.373/.368), I'll take that every day of the week.

Just dumping half his salary and promoting Jones is a win. Getting two more players out of the deal that may or may not turn into anything? Thanks, Yankees.

"Swisher has been the starter since Nady went down. I hope Ransom goes down..."

Is there any chance at all that Gardner is going to get into the regular lineup this year?

Pena is being optioned down. It's in the article I linked in these comment sections. So this is already happening.

Johns: I think Girardi just needs to do what he has done for the CF "platoon". Ride the hot hand, we all know that most likely neither of these guys are long term answers. So, just ride the hot hand.

This is a good move considering the Yanks got a player who was productive last year and is versatile for absolutely nothing. Hinke has helped contending clubs before and hits right handed pitching well over his career

Goodbye Swisher? what sport do you guys watch, Swisher has a 128 ops+ hes not leaving the lineup any time soon.

"Swisher has been the starter since Nady went down. I hope Ransom goes down..."

Is there any chance at all that Gardner is going to get into the regular lineup this year?

Posted by: johns | June 30, 2009 at 11:53 AM
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Hes played himself into regular playing time with his resurgence but his ABs will come in center field NOT in right. The club will rotate Melky and Brett in center and occasionally put Melky in corner when Damon or Swish are getting rest.

Wow......I truly hope Girardi DFA's Ransom vs Pena. I was all for Pena going down to AAA early in the year but now he's so valueable just with what he does with the glove. Defensively the Yanks IF is at its best with Pena at SS. Ransom does nothing exceptional with the glove and his offense has been horrid this year. Oh well...

You misunderstand. Acquiring the two single A players wasn't the win for the Pirates. Getting rid of Hinske was the win. Making room for Jones was the win. Getting two halfway decent A ball players back is just gravy.

The Yankees just got a guy that was too ineffective to play regularly in the Pirates offense.

Wow..something got screwed up. Should've read .."When we came out of spring training with Pena as a utility guy I thought we were crazy and that he should've started in AAA where he could get everyday at bats".

I'd imagine Pena stay up with the Yanks. Arod will see some time at DH as will Jeter too. Plus I would like to keep Cano honest over there at second. Everytime he gets too comfortable he starts falling into his old ways.

As for the Hinske deal.....I love it. I was praying the Yankees wouldn't over react and trade their prospects for yet another star player (Holliday or any other star OF on the block). The fact that we traded nothing and got some cash back is even better. Hinske isn't going to over impress with his numbers, bt he is a solid ball player with versatility. In the event Arod or Tex gets hurt for an extended period of time he can step in and provide some pop for the lineup. Plus you have to like any left handed power hitter in yankee stadium.

Does anyone know is Ransom is out of options. Can he be sent down to AAA or does he have to clear waivers?

I hate to say this but the next best thing that could happen to the Yankees is that Matsui gets hurt and goes down for the year. He is untradeable and the Yanks seem insistent on playing him at DH (I'm assuming because of his contract).

I love what Matsui has done for this team and thought he was possible the best player on the Yankees in his prime but he really does not have that much to give. I would like to see the DH used for Damon and to spell the starters now and then (Jeter, Arod, Posada)

"The Yankees just got a guy that was too ineffective to play regularly in the Pirates offense."

Toddsm66, The Pirate offense is pretty poor and have a hard time imagining that they did not have the space for a guy like Hinske in it. If you check his stats when he is given enough AB's over his career, the Former AL Rookie of the year for Toronto has produced, it is always when he has been miscast as a rarely used sub that he has stumbled.

Hinske, hitting 20HR and have an OBP of .373 for the Rays last season are probably better lines than all the Pirates currently playing, save for 1/2 of the LaRoche brothers.

In the same vein of logic, last year you could have said that Ransom deserves to be in the ML because he was hitting .302/.400/.651.

In fact, he did that in a larger sample size last year, than his current stats this year.

I will agree, Ransom is a very streaky hitter, but to only takes his lows and not his highs is a pretty ignorant statement to make.

By the way, a ".260" hitter doesn't mean jack. Especially when is actual numbers in AAA these past two years have him at a .340 OBS% and a .480 SLG% which is great offensive power for a backup.

YFS78, What are the sample sizes you are comparing these two? To just the beginning of the year?

That's terrible logic, Ransom is historically the better hitter, but because he went into a bad slump when he was up, suddenly, he's no better than Ramiro Pena?

You are just being ridiculous.
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Hahaha....ok.

Ransom:

238 career mlb at bats: .239/.325 w/ 7 hrs

4,155 career minor league at bats: .242/.322 w/ 164 hrs.

Obviously, Ransom has some pop. However, what do you look for in a good utility player or guy off the bench? Versatility, good defense, a decent stick and speed. Ransome and Pena are both versatile, Pena is by far better defensively, historically, Ransom has more pop but hasn't shown he can hit for avg or carry a high obp and Pena has more speed. Pena brings more to the table. If I'm subbing for Arod, Jeter or Cano, then I would prefer to have someone who can give me great defense rather than an occasional homer. Just my opinion.

Why are you acting as if Ransom is something more than a career AAAA guy? I like him but I think Pena makes the team better.

"Why are you acting as if Ransom is something more than a career AAAA guy? I like him but I think Pena makes the team better."

I know Ransom has always been a AAAA guy, and I think Pena is going to obviously have a better career. That's not my point.

There are basically two options here.

Option 1: Keep Ransom in the ML and option down Pena. Pena gets a lot of experience down in AAA, and comes back up in september. Ransom stays basically as an emergency last option, only coming in for jeter and cano for the rare times they don't play. He has SUFFICIENT (key word) offensive and defensive capabilities which all him to perform average to finish this year. Next year we bring Pena up.

Option 2: We keep Pena up, possibly stunting his growth by overexposing him to ML-level pitchers, cutting Ransom, and having one less versitile middle IF in the farm.

Personally, I think Option 1 is the safer option and is better for the Yankees long-term.

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Also, what does Hinske's spot mean for Juan Miranda since now we have THREE players that can play 1B on the roster?

Try moving him to LF?

Miranda should be packaged in a trade. People will say he's a AAAA guy however, he's never had a chance to play more than 4 or 5 games above AAA so that seems unfair. He'll end up as a throw in somewhere.

So you feel Ranson WON'T clear waivers? Are there that many teams looking for a career 33 year old who's hitting .200/.269 right now. Andy Marte cleared waivers and he had much more upside than Ransom.

Posted by: YanksFanSince78 | June 30, 2009 at 02:23 PM
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Im with YFS78, if Hinkse made it through waivers with much better numbers I see no way a club takes Ransom and icks someone off their 40 man rostor for him. Just about every club has a guy in their system like this anyway

Boston's answer to Hinske to help out at the IF for the Yankees just announced:

Mike Lowell is placed on the 15 day DL and Bailey just recalled from AAA.. Another retread.. Yuk..

The thing wih Pena is he might not benefit down in the minors. There are players who develop while being a role player at the major league leavel and there are the prospects who need to play everyday at the minors and not sit on the bench. From what I have seen from Pena I think they made the right call keeping him up in the bigs. He doesn't try to do things above himself and has a nice quick stroke......At the start of the season I thought the Yankees were foolish bringing up Pena instead of letting him play everyday in the minors. But now watching how good he is defensively and how he handles himself offensively I think they made the right call. If he was giving away at bats I could see the argument to send him to AAA but he has his head on pretty straight and seems to always have a good idea of what he is doing at the plate. Plus if he is the successor at SS he should be watching the Captain everyday.

I have a feeling Pena is going to be playing plenty in 2010 with Jeter DHing a bunch. Same goes with Cervelli and Posada DHing a bunch.

Nady's gone!trade him!Swisher starts at right and Hinski backup