 |
|
|
| |
« Trade Market: Center Fielders | Main | Rays Deal Iwamura To Pirates For Chavez »
Blue Jays Claim Hoffpauir From Cardinals
The Toronto Blue Jays claimed infielder Jarrett Hoffpauir off of waivers from the St. Louis Cardinals. Left-handed pitcher Bill Murphy was designated for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for Hoffpauir.
Hoffpauir, 26, is an intriguing pickup. He posted a .291/.357/.486 batting line in 402 plate appearances for Triple-A Memphis, and also held his own in 16 plate appearances with St. Louis. In other words, he's right around the same part of his career Marco Scutaro was when Oakland gave him a chance to play every day.
One wonders if this is a sign that Toronto doesn't plan to bring Scutaro back. For what it's worth, Hoffpauir has played 10 games at shortstop in the minor leagues, while Aaron Hill, Toronto's second baseman, came through the minor leagues as a shortstop.
Murphy, 28, had posted a 7.59 ERA in Triple-A, so this move can't be considered much of a surprise.
Comments
Verify your Comment
Previewing your Comment
This is only a preview. Your comment has not yet been posted.
As a final step before posting your comment, enter the letters and numbers you see in the image below. This prevents automated programs from posting comments.
Having trouble reading this image? View an alternate.
Top Stories
Search MLBTR
MLBTR Features
Recent Posts
Rumors By Team
Monthly Archives
Live Chats
Tuesdays at 2 p.m. CST
Hoffpauir's a good candidate to match Scutaro's numbers next year, though I'm not sure he can handle SS on an everyday basis (certainly not as well as Scutaro). Handy guy to have on the bench, though, and he can play anywhere in the infield. For the major-league minimum, he's a very nice pickup for the Jays.
Posted by: ColonelTom | November 03, 2009 at 05:59 PM
He can replace McDonald if he even makes the 25 man.
Posted by: Kinsm | November 03, 2009 at 05:59 PM
He's basically Julio Lugo but much younger. He did pretty well in his brief MLB stint hitting a bloop 2 run double to win the game.
Posted by: Taskmaster | November 03, 2009 at 06:02 PM
"Hoffpauir's a good candidate to match Scutaro's numbers next year, though I'm not sure he can handle SS on an everyday basis (certainly not as well as Scutaro)."
I don't believe they would consider him a candidate for SS at all. He did not play that position in St. Louis' system any time recently, and from what I understand, there were concerns about his defense at 2nd. He definitely had a good season at the plate, though. With Hill entrenched at 2nd (for good reason), I am not sure how they might plan to use him.
Posted by: WY | November 03, 2009 at 06:19 PM
Take it easy with the Scutaro talk. Are you kidding me? This guy is a nice addition and may pan out to Scutaro type production after a couple of seasons, but for now hes a role player
Posted by: TrueBlue | November 03, 2009 at 06:34 PM
Scutaro has only had "Scutaro type production" - by which I assume you mean his 2009 level - for one year. Usually he's a .260/.340/.370 guy, and Hoffpauir looks like a guy who could put up those numbers for considerably less money.
Posted by: ColonelTom | November 03, 2009 at 07:47 PM
"Scutaro has only had "Scutaro type production" - by which I assume you mean his 2009 level - for one year. Usually he's a .260/.340/.370 guy, and Hoffpauir looks like a guy who could put up those numbers for considerably less money."
That may be, but he still doesn't appear to offer the defensive flexibility of Scutaro, who has shown that he can play average to above-average defense at a handful of positions. That's a pretty big difference.
Posted by: WY | November 03, 2009 at 08:51 PM
This is a potential McDonald or Bautista replacement, NOT a potantial Scutaro replacement.
Posted by: rpriske | November 04, 2009 at 07:57 AM
Yeah, but the Jays should probably keep Bautista around, he was awfully solid in 2009.
I wouldn't be surprised to see Hoffpauir emerge as a decent everyday player for some team, he's been hitting pretty well in the upper minors for a couple years now, and he's still only 26.
Posted by: scribbletone | November 04, 2009 at 09:42 AM
Makes sense for the Jays to give Hoffpauir a look at 3B in Spring Training (unless they have plans to move Aaron Hill back to SS).
Either way, it was a good no-risk pickup for Toronto.
Posted by: TNS | November 04, 2009 at 10:09 AM