Yankees sign Marcus Thames
ByUpdate (3:44pm): Joel Sherman confirms that it is in fact a minor league deal, adding that Thames will make $900,000 if he makes the team. He pulled down $2.275M last season.
3:27pm: Via Jon Heyman, the Yankees have signed Marcus Thames to what I assume is a minor league deal. The soon to be 33-year-old has historically crushed lefties, though those splits weren’t as pronounced last year. With negative defensive value and zero baserunning prowess, anything Thames contributes will come from his ability to run into the occasional mistake pitch from the right side. He’s just some competition for Jamie Hoffmann in Spring Training.
Thames, of course, grew up in the Yanks’ system, and homered on the very first pitch he saw as a big leaguer, taking The Big Unit deep.
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The Tyler Austin Watch
What is this, 2003?
(Not complaining. Just amused.)
Aaron Boone is still a free agent, no?
get on that, Cash
Raul Mondesi is just sitting out there, waiting for a job offer.
He’s in the best shape of his life… still fat.
Round is a shape….
(Mumbles inaudibly under breath…)
Peace, Jaime.
Probably.
Although I’d imagine this might be a Minor League deal for Thames with a Spring Training invite. I guess we’ll find out soon.
And now that we know it’s a minor league deal, I think it’s too soon to write any preemptive obituaries for Jamie Hoffmann’s pinstripe tenure.
I’m reminded of just last offseason where Girardi/the braintrust went north with all-glove no-hit Ramiro Peña over established veteran bat minor league deal Angel Berroa.
If Hoffmann plays great D as we expect and hits even half of a lick, I bet he beats out Thames for the 25th spot.
LA won’t need Hoffmann back they signed reed Johnson and Giles to MiL contract.
What you just said: Utterly irrelevant.
If we return Hoffmann to the Dodgers, they can just stash him right back in the majors. Which is what they’d do.
Damn…
If we return Hoffmann to the Dodgers, they can just stash him right back in the
majorsminors. Which is what they’d do.Cashman: As per MLB rules, since we are breaking camp without Hoffmann, we have to give him back to you.
Colletti: Nah, it’s cool. We don’t need him. He’s all yours.
It’s certainly plausible.
Enjoy your delicious bottle of Pinstripe DFA IPA.
Hold on, lemme get my beer stein…
http://tinyurl.com/pinstripeDFAIPA
Why is everyone such a fan of Hoffman. I am not saying he is bad but do you want him as your right handed bat verse lefties?
Nobody is getting hot and bothered for Hoffmann. The point that’s being made is that Thames’s signing does not guarantee Hoffmann’s departure. There’s still a decision to be made.
Not bad for depth. I’ll take it!
Even though he was worth negative $400K last year according to Fangraphs.com
Maybe he’ll be paying the Yankees $400K to play?
Yay?
No, let me fix that.
Yay! I should never doubt Ca$hmoney Trilionaire.
Does this mean Hoffman is going back to the dodgers?
Not necessarily. He (Thames) probably has a spring training invitation and will compete with Gardner, Winn, and Hoffman for the 3 available spots in LF/4th OF role. But I would expect Hoffman to be returned to LA.
I predict his minor league rights will be retained by trading Sergio Meattray to the Dodgers. The Yankees then use the extra cash to sign Rafael DePaula or use it for steaks and other things at ST.
I predict his minor league rights will be retained by trading Sergio Meattray to the Dodgers.
That sounds like the proverbial “kill two stones with one bird” Nick Swisher Special.
Torre would push for it. Mitre is a veteran, Hoffmann is a useless rookie. (pray that he goes for it)
(pray that he goes for it)
Torre: Wait, Mitre sucks! This wasn’t part of the deal!
Cashman: I am altering the deal. Pray that I don’t alter it any further.
Torre is not cool enough to be Lando, he’s more like Freido Calrissian.
Cashman: When a plot against the Big Stein failed, the plotters were always given a chance… to let their families keep their fortunes. Right?
Torre: Yeah, but only the rich guys, Brian. The little guys got knocked off and all their estates went to the Steinbrenners. Unless they went home and killed themselves, then nothing happened. And the families… the families were taken care of.
Cashman: That was a good break. A nice deal.
Torre: Yeah… They went to Los Angeles… and sat in a hot bath… opened up their veins… and bled to death… and sometimes they had a little party before they did it.
I like that one better. Although, I would love to see Cashman in a black cape. I picture soemthing like this.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_0cD6.....helmet.jpg
“I bet she gives great helmet.”
Can’t really be mad at these moves
I don’t like the signing,we could REALLY use a power bat for the bench. We already have enough OF and 1B.
You’re killing me Cash, killing me softly.
Who do you suggest they sign?
Felipe Lopez? lol
why not? he’s better than JHair possibly cheaper at this point.
I like the Shef idea, and although he is also an OF, he does provide more pop. Maybe Johnny Gomes or Hank Blalock. Thanks for making me realize all the power truly does come from corner OF/IF postions. Meany.
Quick thought, Johnny Damon had 24 HRs last year.
Quick thought, Johnny Damon won’t sign a minor league deal.
Quick thought, Johnny Damon won’t cost under 1M.
Slow thought, Johnny Damon has too many letters in his first name AND has a 5/60 offer from a mystery team.
Thames is a better choice than Sheff, Gomes, or Baldelli…didn’t Reed sign for 850K? I would prefer a commitment to speed/athleticism/defense and get Willy Taveras.
I wanted Cash to pull a surprise Kiko Calero and Willy Taveras for bargain 1 year deals. Also, Jouquin Benoit on a MiL deal is very intersting.
I would prefer a commitment to speed/athleticism/defense and get Willy Taveras.
You want speed, athleticism, and defense? Here you go.
http://riveraveblues.com/wp-co.....ffmann.jpg
You’re welcome.
hoffmann has not stolen 68 bases in a ML season and A’s will probably have to pay his salary, costing the same as Hoff. Cool pic though, he really looks like a player
hoffmann has not stolen 68 bases in a ML season
Excellent point. Other things Jamie Hoffmann has never done:
Made an out in 72.5% of his plate appearances in an ML season, like Taveras did last year when he put up a Varitekian .240/.275/.285 (48+).
Willy Taveras makes Brett Gardner look like Willie Mays.
You’re living in the past, man. Live for the future!
Gary Sheffield, of course.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_p4ez.....Linx+2.jpg (safe)
Willy Taveras. DFA’d after traded to A’s. perfect speed and defense to go with Gardner and Granderson as RH with Winn. Before you spit back Taveras’ OPS+ check how he hits top MLB pitchers, quite well. Imagine starting Gardner, Granderson, Winn and Taveras (Swisher, NJ sit)in the same lineup with Varitek or even VMart catching. The go-go Yankees!
This has to be satire.
We already signed Wily Taveras. His name was Freddy Guzman.
Willy Taveras is Spanish for Brett Gardner.
We already
signedtraded for Wily Taveras. His namewas Freddy Guzmanis Greg Golson.Fixed.
That works too.
Seriously, with Granderson, Gardner, Hoffmann, and Golson on the 40 man already, I think we have all of the Wily Taveras skillsets covered quite nicely. There’s no need to go add a 5th man who does what they all already do (but in a drastically inferior fashion, of course).
Herb Washington is still available.
Harold Washington is still available.
/EddieMurphyjokefromthe80s’d
That made me think of Shabazz K. Morton for some reason.
When and if Golson is called up from AAA he will make the same salary as Taveras
That’s not a reason to sign Willy Taveras. That’s a reason to NOT sign Willy Taveras.
Boston tried it once his name was Dave Roberts
Dave Roberts, career: .266/.342/.366 (89+)
Willy Taveras, career: .276/.321/.328 (68+)
Willy Taveras couldn’t sniff Dave Roberts’s jockstrap.
Seriously. Taveras is one of the 5 or 10 shittiest players in all of major league baseball. Acquiring him is a bad, bad idea.
Wily Taveras or Yuni Betancourt?
That’s a damn tough one.
Speaking of which, the fact that the Royals aren’t all over Willy Taveras is mind-bottling.
gotta be Taveras–neither can hit, but Taveras has almost 5000 innings of 28.6 UZR (8.4 UZR/150) in center field against Yuni’s 5600 innings at short to a -32.6 (-8.4 UZR/150)
hey this one time a crappy player did something sort of significant that was actually only significant because of stuff non-crappy players did after him. We should try doing this too, it cannot fail.
Imagine starting Gardner, Granderson, Winn and Taveras (Swisher, NJ sit)in the same lineup
I really hope this is a joke.
on a given day, not making Swish, NJ bench players
You so crazy.
Hey, we need an official hangover lineup for the day after we clinch the division.
I’m sorry, but his year by year OPS+ totals are just too funny to not post.
2004: -100
2005: 75
2006: 74
2007: 89
2008: 55
2009: 48
Is 2004 seriously a -100 OPS+? How is that even possible?
well, that -100 (.000/.000/.000/.000) was in all of 2 plate appearances
(scans the free agent list for a power bat at 2B/SS/3B/C)
…
…
…
…
(golf clap)
i apologize for my stupidity, I’ve been in school since 10, cut a college kid some slack.
Doesn’t Thames qualify as a power bat off the bench?
Isn’t Marcus Thames kind of a power bat?
Yankees sign Marcus Thames?
Looks like I’m canceling my season tickets this year.
Not only did he homer in his first at-bat but he homered on the first pitch….with his eyes closed
off Randy Johnson no less
off Randy Johnson even.
/Snagglepuss’d
Heavens to Murgatroyd, it appears you are right
He’s like a big cat, a lion even
I’d rather try and keep Hoffman around but, whatever.
Color me unimpressed
Yeah, man. I hate those Minor League deals. They really hamstring the club and have no upside while offering too much risk.
Wait, what?
Theres a difference between not liking a move and being unimpressed by one.
The Yankees didn’t win one single game during the offseason.
Color me unimpressed.
What if we signed Albert Pujols to a minor league deal? Would that work impress you?
Only if he was still an OFer
You have an odd “I’m impressed by this thing that just happened” scale.
Joel Sherman confirms that it is in fact a minor league deal, adding that Thames will make $900,000 if he makes the team.
$900K is the new league minimum? Sheesh. If only I were lefty I could have had a niche in the system…
…no, 900,000 is what they agreed to pay him should he make th bigs. If he doesn’t, he’ll make way, way less…probably something like what you or I would make for a year’s work
I don’t think it’s the veteran’s minimum. I could be wrong.
Though I read it as if he makes the 25 man, he’ll get that 900K.
The league min (i.e. what you have to pay someone you just called up) is ~410K this year
Can’t complain with this move.
Is that a challenge? YOU’RE FUCKIN’ ON!!!
Sincerely,
Lumpen Mass Yankees Fans
You’d be surprised.
This guy can.
http://riveraveblues.com/2010/.....ent-769875
Or look one comment down below mine. Yeah. He can complain about anything.
It’s good that they need 3 guys to replace one in Damon. Why not just sign Damon and be done with it.
Dude.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMxa6kvJFXc (safe)
(bobait’d)
Since the 3 of these guys combined will make about $12 million less than what Johnny was demanding from us to sign. Even if he signs an Abreu type 1 yr $5mil deal, we’re still paying these 3 $4 million less.
Don’t you ever get tired of this?
BO-BOT… I AM A BO-BOT…
It’s good that you use 4 names to pretend you’re different people. Why not just pick one and be done with it.
If I posted the garbage he posts, I would continue to change names too.
Why defend Damon? He used to be a Yankee so your logic dictates he sucks. I bet I can find a post of you complaining about him.
a GREAT MOVE, imo.
i know he has played bad defense of late. But thats something you can live with once a week or so(if that).
a vetern power bat that mashes LHP. Something that makes sense with Gardner and Winn’s lack of production vs Lefties.
also provides a short term power bat option if NJ were to go down.
I know Winn was historically bad last year vs. lefties, but let’s remember that for his career he’s:
.280/.332/.426/.758 vs lefties
and there is some evidence that he might be a good candidate for a Kevin Long reclamation project.
But, I agree that the Thames deal is a high upside/low risk move.
I’d call it a low-to-moderate upside/low risk move for Thames. He basically either hits a HR or strikes out. 28 % career k-rate. Wow. That’s DeLeon territory.
Maybe because Damon’s two best offers (so far) came from the Yankees and he turned them both down.
reply fail
WHY DON’T THEY JUST OFFER HIM A 35 YEAR DEAL??!?!?? THEY’D NEVER HAVE TO REPLACE HIM THEN!!!!!111!!!1!!!
ietcvm. For some reason I laughed for like a good two minutes over this comment.
he would be worth it.
sincerely,
Scott Boras
After all, Damon is ageless. The ABC hit television show LOST is actually a documentary, and Richard Alpert is actually Johnny Damon.
Sincerely,
Scott Boras
You have got to see his
jeansgenes.ietc
/Bonilla’d
Love the signing. Two years ago the man went on a home run spree that won me my fantasy league. If Granderson cannot hit lefties he plays Left and Winn center.
against lefties I should say
I like it – we could use a pinch hitter who can take care of lefties.
Cash is really bringing back the old gang huh?
Up next:
Fernando Seguignol
Marte, Thames, Johnson…
(hmmm…thinks for a second…)
I got it!
Cashman is reassembling the Williams’d Norwich Navigators teams of the early 2000s.
Brilliant.
Guess who couldn’t latch on with a team in 2009 and is thus currently a free agent?
http://cache.daylife.com/image.....9/340x.jpg
El Duquecito.
I laughed.
We’re putting the band back together!
At least it is now official that Cash reads RAB. Right after the Sheff post, he signs Thames…
He like to keep the RABbi’s on their toes.
Hoffman and Thames can fight it out for the 25th spot… Unless the yanks can strike a deal with the Dodgers to trade Hoffman back… Not sure if the Dodgers would do that, might as well wait to see if the yanks dump him then get him back for nothing…
3 questions to look at for the end of Camp (If no significant Injuries)
1. Hoffman or Thames for last outfield spot? (I like Hoffman)
2. The Last LHRP.. Logan, or Ring, or DelaRosa? (Logan I guess)- all though this position probably changes 7 times throughout the year–
3. The 5th Starter? (Joba all the way)
I’d rather have Boone Carlyle on the team than Bonne Logan.
But we could have “Logan’s Run” night. Think of the marketing possibilities.
And, if we focused on the TV show instead of the movie, we could throw Gregory Harrison an appearance fee. He needs the work.
I don’t think marketing possibilities are their top concern. They had a guy named Coke on the roster all last year and were playing in a Pepsi stadium
Good point.
Maybe Jamie Hoffmann can change his name to Jamie Lobel’s Meat Market and see if that gives him a leg up on the race for the 25th roster spot.
Nice!
Re: #2 – I bet the answer is “none of the above”. Logan and Ring (but not WDLR, too young) probably both stay in Scranton waiting for someone’s injury/ineffectiveness. The 7 man pen is already full of incumbents who either wouldn’t lose out to Logan/Ring in an open competition (Mo, Marte, Hughes, Aceves, Robertson) or are out of options and can’t be shuttled up and down (Gaudin, Mitre).
I just dont see the point of Mitre in the pen with Gaudin and Ace there… seems redundant. Not to mention the only time he would come in is in the 15th inning or a blowout. I know he is out of options and that’s why he will be traded before the season or one of those great “fake injuries” to send him to rehab in scranton.
Well, we’ll let him have April (and possibly May) to prove that he’s fully recovered from TJS and is back to being a quality groundball machine.
If he can’t, he’s hitting the Johnny Damon Memorial Highway.
Isn’t that the highway that just ends in a giant drop off?
http://www.timw.com/wp-content.....ed_lge.gif (safe)
I hear that the Johnny Damon Memorial Highway already has a sponsor.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_NPaCuwJ_.....32005B.jpg
Awesome.
Fantastic work.
Is mitre out of options- I can’t see keeping Gaudin and Mitre. I think Melancon gets the spot.
Read my comment again, more carefully.
It’ll come to you.
There is no guarantee that they take a second lefty… Melancon could easily be the last man in the pen (ala 2009 Robertson)… I cant see him staying in the minors later than June… if at all.
Great Power. Seemed like all he did was hit homeruns for Detroit.
The Cris Carter of MLB.
http://media.scout.com/media/image/53/538722.jpg
or
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wi.....ed_Sox.jpg
Didn’t Ca$hmoney ruin one of their careers last year by claiming them off waivers?
Not thrilled with the signing, would’ve preferred someone more well-rounded, but I can’t be mad. Unless Hoffmann is absolutely awful in ST, I doubt Thames makes the team.
Take a look at this.
2006: 89 hits, 26 home runs
2007: 65 hits, 18 home runs
2008: 76 hits, 25 home runs
2009: 65 hits, 13 home runs
Career k-rate: 28% (!)
.360 wOBA vs. LHP with a .260 IsoP. Good stuff.
Yep. Just saying he has pretty funny numbers.
I hear there’s a guy named Damon out there on the market. We could probably plug him into left for a 100 games or so, and another 40 at DH. I’m not sure if he’s ever hit second, but if he has, he might form a good top-of-the-line up guy with Jeter. I hear he runs pretty well and also hits lefties. I guess the only question would be his make up. Would he like NY, would he fit in the club house. I’m guess he’s not expensive since he’s still sitting out there.
Anybody know anything about him?
“he’s not expensive”
….
right now, for the yankees, expensive = $1million+. Damon is the DEFINITION of expensive.
You know, if they would stop adding small pieces for $2 million here, and a million there, they might have found a way to fit him in the budget without too much of any expansion, since he’s options are few and his price seems to be decreasing. I guess we’ll find out when he finally does sign.
I think Damon, Boras and the Yankees have all misplayed this one, and they’re all going to end up losing.
I think the yankees, who have essentially the same caliber offense as last year to complement a much improved defense and pitching staff will still win. So no. Damon lost. Boras lost. The yankees did not.
and they haven’t been adding “small pieces for $2 million here, a million there”. They added one piece for $2 million. They’ve added another who will only amount to $900,000 if he is good enough to warrant it. $2.9 < $5/$6/$7 million, which is what damon will probably get somewhere. If detroit signs damon to a minor league deal worth a potential $1 million, i'll be pissed. But that ain't gonna happen.
I think Damon, Boras and the Yankees have all misplayed this one, and they’re all going to end up losing.
Damon needs the Yankees more than the Yankees need Damon.
Agree they all misplayed this deal but after Melky was traded and Damon’s price dropped they should have signed him for say 1 yr 5m. Among all the nobodys they’ve signed (Winn, Thames, Mitre,Gaudin) they would have had enough $ for Damon. The others could have been replaced with anybody, Damon can’t. It got personal, Cashman got bullheaded and the Yankee fans will pay.
They don’t want him!
Pasqua, on that point you are correct!
Oh I see what you did there.
think of it this way:
Scenario 1: You have $1 million. You want a car. You decide to go for a BMW 765. It’s big, comfortable, and generally a pretty awesome car, non-supercar division. Since you have $1 million, a $110,000 BMW 765 is not expensive.
Scenario 2: You have $1 Million. You get a $500,000 Maybach for Luxury, and then get a $450,000 Ferrari for fun. But you still need a car to drive around. You want the BMW 765, but it is TOO EXPENSIVE NOW BECAUSE YOU BOUGHT THE OTHER CARS. So instead, you get a nice Toyota Avalon for about $40,000. You use the $10,000 you have left on to pay its insurance for the rest of your life. You made intelligent, responsible decisions with your money. Well done.
The Yankees are currently in Scenario 2. They have a ton of money, but they’ve already spent almost all of it. Johnny Damon is NOT in the budget. Get over it.
I’m guess he’s not expensive since he’s still sitting out there.
That doesn’t make sense. The reason he’s still out there is because he’s expensive.
Is he?
Yes.
If Damon had lowered his price already, he’d be a Detroit Tiger or Atlanta Brave (or New York Yankee) as we speak.
The reason Damon is unemployed is because he’s too expensive relative to his actual market value.
He has been lowering his price if we believe what’s been written (not sure I do), but always seems to be a step off.
As with Abreu last year, who ever signs Damon will get a bargain based on value delivered. It won’t be the Yankees.
As with Abreu last year, someone else will sign Damon at a relative bargain and it won’t matter because the Yankees will win a title without him.
[...] agent outfielder/designated hitter Marcus Thames. Thames, of course, was fantastic after signing a dirt cheap minor league deal with the Yankees last year, exceeding all expectations by hitting .288/.350/.491 (.365 wOBA) [...]