Braves Sign Eric Hinske

The Braves officially signed first baseman/outfielder Eric Hinske to a one-year worth about $1MM.  Hinske can earn another $500K in incentives.  Scott Miller of CBSSports.com broke the story a week ago, and David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal Constitution followed with contract details.

Hinske, the 2002 Rookie Of The Year, hit .242/.348/.432 in 224 plate appearances with the Pirates and Yankees last season.  The Braves were looking to add a pinch-hitter to complete their winter moves from a lineup standpoint, and Hinske's signing fits the bill.  He fares well against right-handed pitching (.804 career OPS) and can play first, third and both corner outfield positions.  Also, as Miller's story noted, Hinske is "something of a good-luck charm," having played in the last three World Series.  So, in the words of Bill Murray, he's got that goin' for him.   

Tim Dierkes contributed to this post.

Odds & Ends: Phillies, Hendrickson, Sheets, Brewers, Hinske

A few links to start the day...

• Andy Martino of The Philadelphia Inquirer tweets that the Phillies will prioritze defensive versatility over power when filling Matt Stairs' roster spot, though Stairs, Miguel Cairo, and Paul Bako are welcome to come to Spring Training on minor league deals.
• Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com has an update on the Orioles' negotations with Mark Hendrickson. Last month we learned that Hendrickson hoped to re-sign quickly.
• ESPN's Keith Law wrote about players coming off injury, and notes that Ben Sheets is worth gambling on, considering his upside.
• Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FoxSports.com say that despite the Brewers' logjam on the infield, a trade will probably not happen "unless some club offers the pitching equivalent of (Mat) Gamel."
• David Murphy of The Philadelphia Daily News takes a look at the Phillies' pitching staff to see which free agents may or may not fit.
• R.J. Anderson at FanGraphs wrote about free agent (and good luck charm) Eric Hinske, while his blogmate Dave Cameron took a look at some interesting minor league free agents.
• Orioles scouting director Joe Jordan took the time to speak with Steve Melewski of MASNsports.com about several of the team's 2009 draft picks.
• Buddy Carlyle has joined the Nippon Ham Fighters, according to Kyodo News.
• Not only do players truly hit the open market on Friday, but teams must also set their 40-man rosters for next month's Rule 5 Draft that day as well. Dave O'Brien of The Atlanta Journal Constitution writes about a player the Braves may choose to protect, while Erik Hahmann of DRays Bay looks back at Tampa Bay's history in the Rule 5.
• Speaking of Morosi and O'Brien, make sure you follow both guys on Twitter!,

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Gonzalez, Thome, Hinske, Red Sox, D'Backs, Twins

On this date 64 years ago, the Dodgers announced the signing of Jackie Robinson, who would become the first African-American to play major league baseball since the 1880s. Robinson would spend the '46 season with Triple-A Montreal, hitting .349. The next season he would hit .297/.383/.427 and help the Dodgers to the National League pennant. With the Hot Stove season only days away, let's take a look at what is being written in the Blogosphere...

• Sox and Pinstripes looks at what it would take for the Red Sox to land Adrian Gonzalez.
• Phlavio's Corner attempts to fix the Diamondbacks in three moves or less.
• Around the Majors takes a look at the free agent class of shortstops.
• MLB Notebook breaks down the market for Jim Thome.
• Nick's Twins Blog makes an off-season blueprint for the Twins and projects next season's roster.
• Capitol Avenue Club examines what the Braves can do to reload the bullpen in 2010.
• Talking Chop says the Braves need to add a power-bat this off-season, in part to protect Chipper Jones.
• Marlin Maniac sees Eric Hinske as a good fit for the Marlins.

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com. If you have a suggestion for this feature, Cork can be reached here, and followed on Twitter here.

Odds & Ends: Chapman, DeRosa, Lackey, Hinske

Some links for Friday morning...

• Roch Kubatko of MASN.com doesn't expect the Orioles to win the bidding for free agent lefty Aroldis Chapman, but the club doesn't have a policy against signing Cuban defectors, according to a high-ranking Orioles official.
• Tyler Hissey of Around the Majors takes a look at this year's class of free agent second basemen. Players like Mark DeRosa and Freddy Sanchez have value, but Hissey doesn't see a true star among the group. 
• MLB.com's Carrie Muskat says the Cubs aren't going to sign DeRosa just because he's popular. Jeff Baker is currently the frontrunner to start at second base next year.
• Matthew Cerrone of MetsBlog thinks John Lackey, who turns 31 today, would be a fantastic pitcher for Citi Field.
• The Blue Jays are looking for a Canadian scout and, according to Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun, have received permission from the Phillies to interview a member of their front office for the job.
• Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker compiles a list of players who could spend next season in Japan, including Kenji Johjima and Eric Hinske. 
• Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the Houston Chronicle points out that most of baseball's best-respected managers improved in their second or third stints.
• Felix Perez, the Cuban outfielder who was suspended for lying to the Yankees about his age, has been reinstated, according to Jorge Arangure Jr. of ESPN.com.

Twins Release Luis Ayala

The Twins released Luis Ayala after failing to trade him, according to La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. He was designated for assignment after struggling on the mound and failing to get along with manager Ron Gardenhire.

Odds & Ends: Zambrano, Royals, Hinske

A dosage of links to soothe and satisfy between innings:

• Paul Sullivan at the Chicago Tribune got Carlos Zambrano to respond to the poll that 57.2% of Cubs fans think he should be traded: "Fine, trade me to Boston," he joked.
• Joe Posnanski gives an in-depth look at the problems facing the Royals. "The Royals execs are smart people. But the more they do to this offense, the worse this offense gets," he says.
• Rinku Singh and Dinesh Patel, cricket players from India who won a reality T.V. show called "Million Dollar Arm" and had never picked up a baseball until recently, are now set to play their first game for rookie-level Pirates affiliate Bradenton.
• M.A. Mehta at the Newark Star-Ledger talked to Yankees GM Brian Cashman, who says the deal for Eric Hinske "made some sense...he's a pro."
• Bart Hubbuch at the New York Post tweets that the Mets "inquired repeatedly" on Mark DeRosa but didn't like the price.
• ESPN's Keith Law takes a look at some intriguing pitchers in the Cape League (Insider).
• Kiley McDaniel tweets that Baltimore is a "serious darkhorse" for the services of Miguel Angel Sano, with the Pirates and Twins still favorites.
• According to MLB.com's Rustin Dodd, the Royals have begun discussions with first-round pick Aaron Crow.

Odds And Ends: Hinske, Pirates, Astros

Links for Tuesday...

Yankees Acquire Eric Hinske

Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  reports that the Yankees acquired Eric Hinske from the Pirates for two minor leaguers, Casey Erickson and Eric Fryer. Joel Sherman of the New York Post says the Yankees are getting $400k in the deal, which is about half of what's still owed to Hinske. Sherman also offers eight reasons the Yankees made the deal.

Erickson, 24 in August, has 37 strikeouts and a 2.25 ERA in 44 innings of A ball this year. Fryer, who will turn 24 two days before Erickson does, has an OPS under .700 and 11 steals as a catcher and outfielder in A ball.

Odds And Ends: Hill, Dye, Hinske, Fogg

Links for Saturday...

• Cameron Smith of the Washington Post thinks the Orioles should pull the trigger on a possible Rich Hill deal immediately.
• MLB.com's Scott Merkin reports that Jermaine Dye remains "unfazed" by all the trade rumors that have involved him this winter.
• Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times suggests Dye doesn't expect to return to the White Sox after 2009.
• Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writes that Eric Hinske attracted lots of interest. Hinske said eight teams showed "good interest" in him.
• Troy E. Renck of the Denver Post likes the Josh Fogg signing because of his clubhouse presence and his price.
• Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune heard that the Padres will not offer a contract to Brian Lawrence, Steve Trachsel or Scott Elarton (hat tip to Buster Olney).
• Olney heard that the Blue Jays are looking for bargains to stock up their minor league system.

Pirates Sign Eric Hinske

8:46pm: Kovacevic says pitcher T.J. Beam was designated for assignment by the Pirates to make room for Hinske.  Beam, 28, posted a 4.14 ERA and 4.7 K/9 in 45.6 innings for the Bucs this year.

12:45pm: According to Dejan Kovacevic, the Pirates announced the signing of Eric Hinske today.  He'll earn $1.5MM plus a possible $1MM in incentives.

Hinske was one of the best free agent bargains a year ago, as he hit .247/.333/.465 for the Rays at an $800K salary.  He'll be a useful, versatile player for the Bucs if kept away from lefties.