Hinske on the move?

[Jeremy]

Gotta give credit to TLIN for this:

The Red Sox are talking to the Blue Jays about a deal for Eric Hinske, who will make about $1.4 million over the rest of this year and is owed $5.6 million next year.

There are a lot of teams that could use Hinske with the way he's hit this year, but the Red Sox would seem to be somewhere near the bottom of the list and he'd only be a decent acquisition if the Jays took on a portion of what he's due next year. If the Red Sox are truly serious about trading for him, it could be a sign that they're especially concerned about Trot Nixon's biceps injury.

Another poster mentioned he was pulled from the game 20 minutes before start time and is no longer on the bench.

[Jeremy]

I've actually become enamoured with the idea of possibly extending Hinske's contract at the right price. With the way he has been hitting, and he proven versatility, he's an ideal guy to have on the team. However, if trading him means we have more money freed up to go after an impact player, moving him makes sense. Nonetheless, I am somewhat surprised he may be moved given his play this year.

[qwyjibo]

If the Jays can get someone to take his entire contract on for next year then they should do it.


One thing though, this OF might be really barren next year.

- Rios is coming back down to earth after his great start (even without the injury, I don't think he would've kept the pace up)

- Vernon will probably be traded

- Cat might leave as a free agent

- Reed is crashing back down to Earth as well and looking more and more like a platoon-only OF.


Pray that the Jays can finally get a hitting prospect to pan out with Adam Lind.

[axlsalinger]

Isn't the Hinsk scheduled to make around $6M next year? I'm sure most of us were resigned to having to deal with that chunk of coin in next year's budget simply because there was no way to get out of it, so it would be great news for JP to get it off the books.

If we still have to pay a portion of it, then it's not such a great deal, obviously.

[Jeremy]

Apparently Rosenthal says something is close.

[shawkins]

My dad tells me the commentators said ... Willy Mo Pena? I had it on mute, so I don't know. Anyone care to confirm?

[qwyjibo]

I expect AT BEST a reliever (and realistically... I don't want any from the Red Sox except maybe Delcarmen... but that would be a steal).

Hopefully it's just some low A prospect and the Red Sox simply take on Hinske's entire contract.

[TestSubjekt]

The Red Sox are talking to the Blue Jays about a deal for Eric Hinske, who will make about $1.4 million over the rest of this year and is owed $5.6 million next year.
There are a lot of teams that could use Hinske with the way he's hit this year, but the Red Sox would seem to be somewhere near the bottom of the list and he'd only be a decent acquisition if the Jays took on a portion of what he's due next year. If the Red Sox are truly serious about trading for him, it could be a sign that they're especially concerned about Trot Nixon's biceps injury.
Source: FOXSports.com

[Jeremy]

Thanks Test. I didn't know where the text was orginally posted.

[TestSubjekt]

The Red Sox signed Carlos Pena, who was released by the Yankees today.

[robinhood]

Done deal?

redsox.bostonherald.com/redSox/view.bg?articleid=153177

[Admiral]

JP said he wouldn't comment on it, so something has to be cooking. If its a done deal or not we don't know. But untill TSN says something, I'm considering this deal still in the works.

[Killtacular]

Boston Herald is reporting that it is a done deal...

redsox.bostonherald.com/redSox/view.bg?articleid=153177

It has not been confirmed who is headed to Toronto but my guess is that it is no one of signifigance.

[snowwy]

I doubt its Wily Mo Pena but if it is, what a deal that would be.

[anne25]

I think the reference to Willy Mo Pena was thet the Sox were interested in Hinski because they had doubts about Willy's defence.

[MLBJB]

www.tsn.ca/mlb/news_story/?ID=174468&hubname=

They aren't picking up all of Hinske's contract which bothers me. However, if that is the case than I hope it means we get something of semi decent quality back in return.

[Killtacular]

Is JP serious?

Wow.

The Koskie trade part II.

[MLBJB]

This better not be a "JP Special" kind of deal. You know the one where he dumps a player without getting anything in return ad picks up most of the salary.

I'd rather hang on to Hinske than trade him for nothing. I know his bloated salary but I still think he'd be useful next year and help us instead of trading for nothing in return.

I guess we'll have to wait and see how it shakes out but I'm going to blow of gasket if we get nothing in return.

[TodaysJays]

Its like J.P. can't say no to an oppurtunity to dish out some ca$h.

[MLBJB]

TheStar.com

Apparently the Sox will pick up the remaining 1.4 million on Hinske's 06 salary and about 2.8 of his 5.6 million dollar deal in 07. The Jays will get back a player to be named later....lovely.

With the Show trade the Jays save about 4.8 million on next years payroll.

Yup, a JP special all right. Dumping salary.

[gojays2007]

We said for years how Hinske wouldn't fetch much if anything in a trade and that we most likely would have to eat some salary in a trade. So this trade is the least eventful one of the JP era as far as I am concerned. Even with his good play this year, seemingly it did not help his trade value much. Wish we could have gotten them to pay more of next years. 2.8M Boston will pay for him next year to play there, not too shabby.

[85Jays]

I can't get terribly upset about this. This is pretty much what we were hoping for going into this season. Hinske's trade value was zero then, but the Jays elected to use him primarily against right-handed pitching. The expected result -- and the result that we've seen -- is that Hinske's numbers have looked a lot more impressive than when he was a fulltime player. If someone had said in spring training that we'd be able to make this deal, we would have been ecstatic.

The drawback is that the Red Sox aren't picking up his entire salary ... but realistically, they know what they're getting: a good bench player to bat against righties.

I hope people will remember that before this season we were willing to trade Hinske for a sack of batting-practice balls. He's the same player now that he was then.

I would have wanted to keep Hinske if I thought we were in a pennant race right now, because he's a good player in his role. But the playoffs aren't a real option now -- this deal helps us for next year. And who knows ... perhaps the money we saved will go towards re-signing Vernon.

[jaysmaniac]

85 you are right in saying MOST people would have been happy with this trade in pre-season. For years I watched people complain about his lack of range, his weight, and most people would have hailed JP if he had pulled it off earlier. I for one, and I think posts would prove this, always supported Hinske, and Always hated JP. Now, I still feel the same, Hinske albeit isnt worth the money, but JP gave it to him, so why hate Hinske? Once again, JP has done what he is best out, get rid of some money. But, once again, we send money along in the deal (technically). For every decent move JP has made, he makes 4 or 5 stupid ones. Dumping Schoe was a good one, so what are the next 3? 1) Wells will go and get nothing in return 2) Sign another burnett in the off season? 3) resigning Jason Arnold to be the ace?

[captainbolduke]

I don't mind this trade... I mean guys its Eric Hinske.

The guy we wanted run out of town close to two years ago. The Jays save a little cash, obvoiusly woulda been nice to save more, but come on guys two words..... Eric Hinske.

This whole situation just shows how bad of a general manager JP is. He signed a player to a big contrat after one season of good ball. Three years later he needs to trade this player to save 4 million or so of his contract.

This whole situation was JP's fault. However with that being said... I am not upset to see ERIC HINSKE leave.

[85Jays]

I agree that there was never any reason to hate Hinske. I was extremely upset with fans at the beginning of the season who were booing him. Personally, I think Hinske has been pretty classy -- he's done everything the Jays have asked him to do, and has never put up a fuss, even when being relegated to platooning ... and after that, being sent to the bench when Rios burst out of the gates. The problem with Hinske has always been his contract ... and all he did in that situation was say "you want to pay me that much? Okay." Nothing wrong with that. And he has been outstanding in the role he's been in this year. I don't feel he's a fulltime player ... but he's excellent as a platoon or bench player.

And I do agree that it's a bit uncomfortable picking up half his 2007 salary. Presumably that was the only way to get the deal done. I would have been pleasantly stunned if Boston had picked up the entire tab. But it was a bad contract and everyone knew it, and the Red Sox weren't going to be fooled about that. I'm confident that this was the best we could do. I'd keep him if we were in a pennant race ... but if not, I'm happy to add $4.2 million to next year's payroll. Fingers crossed that it's spent wisely.