Yankees getting the band back together, re-sign Marcus Thames

July 22, 2011 by Mike Axisa 90 Comments

Via George King, the Yankees have signed Marcus Thames to a minor league contract. He’ll work out in Tampa at the minor league complex before being assigned to Triple-A Scranton. The Dodgers released Thames earlier this week after he’d hit just .197/.243/.333 with two homers in 70 plate appearances this year, plus he missed a bunch of time due to a calf strain. Welcome back, Marcus.

CP

Clearly, he’s better than Andruw Jones.
- http://twitter.com/#!/Clay_Bellinger Clay Bellinger
  
  Except for that he’s not.
  - CP
    
    It’s really sad that the quality of comments has deteriorated so much that a statement so obviously untrue is thought to be a real comment.
    - http://twitter.com/#!/Clay_Bellinger Clay Bellinger
      
      Haha, so many people here would agree with your comment that I just assumed you were being serious.
    - http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
      
      Your comment is true, not untrue.
      
      Marcus Thames does not smile after striking out. Because of that fact, he is better than Andruw Jones.
      
      Marcus Thames could hit .000/.000/.000 and be better than Jones hitting .400/.500/.600, because Thames shows proper respect for the sport by not smiling. He’s not a greedy fuckface who’s only in it for the money and his own stats and doesn’t care if we win or lose as long as he’s getting paid.
      - Pounder
        
        ….and what a glove….. :)
        
        http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
        
        He’s worth the price of admission. Not many fielders could top the Nuñez/Peña comedy of errors… but Marcus Thames can.
      - Cuso
        
        “He’s not a greedy fuckface who’s only in it for…..”
        
        Correct. He’s not a greedy one.
      - hogsmog
        
        TATTOOS. GEORGE WOULD NOT HAVE STOOD FOR THIS.
forensic

This will obviously fix the numerous underperforming/dead spots in the lineup…

The downtrending of the offense will clearly stop now…
- Ted Nelson
  
  A slump doesn’t mean that the trend will continue downwards… The Yankees have one of the best offenses in baseball, hardly any dead-spots.
  - David, Jr.
    
    Very true, particularly when ARod comes back.
- SullyLV
  
  This mush be the big bat that most want to see.(ok so,i was laughing when i wrote this)
  - SullyLV
    
    (must)wasn’t laughing when i wrote that.
Andy In Sunny Daytona

WHYYYYYYYYY? Bernie Williams still wants to play.
- CP
  
  Actually, he said a few days ago that he was done.
  - zs190
    
    amusing that you just ignored your own message up top, “It’s really sad that the quality of comments has deteriorated so much that a statement so obviously untrue is thought to be a real comment.”
    - CP
      
      Until this week, I don’t think that Bernie had ever said he was done with professional baseball – he had never ‘officially’ retired.
      - http://twitter.com/#!/Clay_Bellinger Clay Bellinger
        
        Even so, was there any chance at all that he was coming back?
        
        CP
        
        No, but I still think it’s interesting that he finally said he was done.
      - hogsmog
        
        It’s really sad that the quality of comments has deteriorated so much that a fun factoid so obviously offhand is thought to be a fervent rebuttal.
http://twitter.com/AndrewLeighNYC Andrew

This will really help Scranton’s playoff push
http://RAB Nuke LaDoosh

“Getting the band back together”
{ They’re on a mission from God. }
- dkidd
  
  great minds (see below)
- Rainbow Connection
  
  Thanks, Captain Obvious.
Undertaker’s Dong

Chad Gaudin “Come on Down”
- Stryker
  
  a phrase so nice, you said it thrice
Rich in NJ

Being a marginal Yankee means never having to say goodbye…for good.
JamesNeuf

Why not try and catch lightning in a bottle? Also I will always love him for hitting that walk off home run against Papelbon (on my birthday!) last year.
- pat
  
  I think he also had a walk off single against him too.
  - http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
    
    I think that was the Blue Jays. I remember that was his first game back off the DL, and it was a dinky little broken bat blooper.
    - pat
      
      I could have sworn it was against Paps. On well. Wishful thinking.You’re right though, he had one against Toronto too.
    - http://twitter.com/#!/Clay_Bellinger Clay Bellinger
      
      It was. On the 4th of July. Sold my tickets to that game!
Andrew J.

I saw some of his at bats in LA. Not good.
AJ
- Sayid J.
  
  I saw some of his at bats in NY. Good.
  SJ
Adam

What’s Sidney Ponson up to these days?
- Dale Mohorcic
  
  Eating and beating up judges.
bonestock94

I like this move. I don’t expect 2010 but I think he can contribute off the bench when gets 100%.
- Joey from jersey
  
  Hopefully you meant Scranton or Trenton’s bench…..
  - bonestock94
    
    “When he gets 100%,” no I meant the MLB bench. Look at his career line against lefties.
    - Joey from jersey
      
      Absent any further / continuing injuries, Who exactly will he replace? Thus, hopefully he remind in the minors. I have no issue with the minor league signing, but if he replaces anyone not named Posada (which ain’t gonna happen) it will likely be because of injury. Thus I hope you meant he will help scranton’s bench.
      - bonestock94
        
        The only guy is Jones I guess, but he’s been good against lefties. Plus I’d hate to lose him. You’re right, I didn’t consider the logistics. He can’t replace Posada, the DH slot would be worthless vs righties.
  - Sayid J.
    
    Yea, Marcus Thames is now a AA player…
    - Jock Johnson
      
      Yeah ..im behind him 100 b/c he’s my homeboy f**k what the haters say he will always be true to da game.
- Cris Pengiuci
  
  Yeah, or have him fill in at SS for that overpaid, over-the-hill, shell of a captain. He did play 3rd base for the team last year.
  
  /nohopehe’llproduceanythingfortheteam
Reggie C.

But can he throw as well as golson?
- Monteroisdinero
  
  No one can.
http://twitter.com/#!/Clay_Bellinger Clay Bellinger

We all know he’s had his struggles in the OF, but can he play some 3B?
- nsalem
  
  The game he played at third showed they he had a strong and accurate arm. I remember it well.
  - bonestock94
    
    Strong I agree with
- nsalem
  
  The game he played at third for the Yankee’s last year showed he had a strong and very accurate arm. I remember it well.
  - http://twitter.com/#!/Clay_Bellinger Clay Bellinger
    
    That’s it then, run em out there!
theyankeewarrior

Worst trade season ever.

/sofar’d
- Sayid J.
  
  It’s July 22nd.
  
  /deadlineisoveraweekaway’d
  - CP
    
    Last year, Cliff Lee was traded by this point. Three years ago, CC Sabathia was traded by this point. In 2009, the Yankees had already acquired Eric Hinske by this point.
    
    It seems extra dead this year…
    - http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
      
      Wilson Betemit and Jeff Keppinger don’t do anything for you, eh?
      - Jetrer
        
        KRod
infernoscurse

cashman obviously knows that scranton will need a dh because montero is being promoted to the big club to dh and jorge vazquez is being traded for gavin floyd
Greg

Meh, its a minor league deal.
Bronx Byte

The Dodgers dumped Thames. That tells the story. Dumpster diving is not Cashman’s job. That’s a Theo INepstein job.
- http://twitter.com/#!/Clay_Bellinger Clay Bellinger
  
  Bartolo Colon? Freddy Garcia? Eric Chavez?
  - Ted Nelson
    
    The Dodgers basically cut Russell Martin as well. Cory Wade (literally a Dodger last season, with a lay-over in TB) & Luis Ayala. Heck, Nick Swisher was a sort of dumpster dive.
    
    Besides ignoring that it’s a minor league deal, Bronx Byte also ignores that you’re looking for value wherever you can find it. In all likelihood Thames won’t show enough by the deadline to really change their thinking there, but he’s at least injury insurance and at best a potential righty platoon partner for Posada should Jones fail.
- infernoscurse
  
  cashmans is known to stick his hand more in the dumpster more than epstein, specially with ex has been red sox players
- pat
  
  He has more value to the Yanks because he can DH and hide in RF.
- Jim S
  
  Seriously?
  
  Scenario A: Theo searches for gold in the dumpster. “CASHMAN WTF why don’t you find these guys in the scrapheap instead of overpaying for our shitty under performing shit?”
  
  Scenario B: Cashman searches for gold in the dumpster: “CASHMAN WTF why don’t you spend money and buy someone who’s WORTH IT and leave dumpster diving to Theo?”
  - Ted Nelson
    
    If there’s one thing I’ve learned from following this blog, there will be fans who criticize anything the Yankees do (and probably any other team, but seems especially rabid since we Yankee fans are used to winning a lot…). If they win the WS in 5 games this season, I would honestly expect more than one comment about how they failed to sweep.
    - Jim S
      
      Yeah, I mean, I won’t criticize people for being overly passionate. Not everyone can subscribe to zen baseball, especially for a team with expectations like the Yankees. I definitely don’t use zen baseball when I’m at the games.
      
      But the logical cartwheels get a bit ridiculous. Especially once you’ve had time to calm down.
http://www.twitter.com/vscafuto Vinny Scafuto

I asked Mike if there would be an obligatory Marcus Thames post right after the Dodgers released him. Minor League deal is alright by me.
Jedile

Clearly this is a move for the bullpen. He is starting in the minors to try and make it as a pitcher now! He gonna be the next Ogando.

hi
http://yankeeanalysts.com Matt Imbrogno

Glad it’s an MiL deal.
- http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
  
  Maybe we can call up Anthopoulus and see if we can trade Marcus Thames for Eric Thames. And if he likes that, we can throw in Rony Bautista if they throw in Jose Bautista.
vin

I called it…
http://riveraveblues.com/2011/07/the-brandon-laird-option-52182/#comment-2401627
duzzi23

Dunno why people are trashing this move Thames was great for us last year and clutch. He’s way better than dickerson or golson and makes for a good dh/pinch hitting option. I wish they’d just call up Montero but that will never happen.
- http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
  
  Dunno why people are trashing this move
  
  Me neither, it’s zero risk, possible (if remote) reward.
  
  Thames was great for us last year and clutch.
  
  Largely irrelevant, but yes, true.
  
  He’s way better than dickerson or golson
  
  Meh, probably not. But possible and worth trying, yes.
  
  and makes for a good dh/pinch hitting option.
  
  See above.
  
  I wish they’d just call up Montero but that will never happen.
  
  Patience, young padawan.
  - Jeremy
    
    Montero has fallen very far, he can;t hit in the minors yet people wan thim on the Major league roster? Yankees see Austin Romine (SP?) as their catcher down the line, I would not be surprised if Montero gets traded.
David, Jr.

Watch for Chad Gaudin. Could be imminent.
KenC

now we are missing another player. Here’s a hint: he was released by the Nats -.-
Pounder

No flexibility with this move.River Thames is absolutely horrendous in the field.Minor league depth.Parraz will be brought up before Thames,hopefully.
Cuso

Don’t get me wrong, Thames is a good guy. And he did great in the role that he played last year.

But if you’re trying to get 2010 lightning-in-a-bottle, couldn’t ya go talk to the Cubs about Kerry Wood?

If Thames was a lefty or could field a lick, I could see it. But his role on this team is already filled (by someone who can actually field a little bit, mind you).
- http://twitter.com/tsjc68 tommiesmithjohncarlos a/k/a Ridiculous Upside the Elder
  
  If the Cubs release Wood, then yes, I expect Cash to be all over him.
  
  Thames was signed because, unlike Wood, he currently costs nothing but straight cash, homey.
  
  One of the most cost effective ways of catching lightning in a bottle is to procure free bottles.
  - CS Yankee
    
    One of the most cost effective ways of catching lightning in a bottle is to procure free bottles.
    
    Tell me where is he going to find caps for those said bottles?
  - Cuso
    
    …oy vey
    
    My point was that if there’s anything you want to take from 2010 that there is a need for on the 2011 team, Thames isn’t it.
    
    And I don’t think there’s any way to get Wood anyways.
    
    Thames is a very nice guy. A very nice guy with a fuckface.
    - Urban
      
      As I noted below, we don’t know what the Yankees will need in a week or a month.
      
      Some people think the Yankees get lucky when they suddendly find a Colon, or they get a great run from an Aaron Small, or a very productive hitting season from Thames in 2010.
      
      Luck is the residue of design and hard work.
first time lawng time

What’s the big deal? Thanes was good last year. He’s a nice guy. The Yankees can’t sign a Barry Bonds every trade deadline. The Yankees will get Arod and Chavez (?) back soon and now the have Thames. That’s perfectly solid. Don’t act like spoiled brats like you’re ungrateful about this.
- Urban
  
  Some Yankee fans overreact to moves because they can’t see beyond what’s in front of them at a given moment. One-dimensional thinking. Cashman is providing potential options, both for himself and Girardi, based on moves that may or may not come. Fans were upset when the Yankees signed Colon. There was no risk, but they still were upset. It was a depth move. It paid off. Most don’t, but that’s why during the season the Yankees and Cashman make many of these moves. A few of them pay off. It’s a volume game. Mike Lamb right now sits in the minors. He will probably never see the MLB roster. Or maybe Chavez gets injured again before A-Rod returns, and suddenly Lamb becomes a useful piece until another move is made.
Bartolo’s Colon

I’d be interested in seeing girardi send out a yankees defensive all stars lineup one of these nights. thames in left, pena at third, nunie at ss, posada at first, aj on the mound, and cervelli behind the plate. whats the most errors ever in a game? in all seriousness i hope they don’t even let thames touch a glove.
http://johnsterling.blogspot.com/ Xstar7

Happy Thames are here again!

/Sterling’d
Jack Merridew

Finally Cashman realizes what a mistake it was to let him go. Good pickup. He’s one of those guys like Sojo and Aaron Small that help us win ballgames.
dkidd

they’re on a mission from god

/best movie ever’d
Urban

A simple depth move. With Posada’s continuing issues against lefties, if Thames shows he has anything left, he might serve as part of a lefty-righty platoon. Those ABs should go to Montero if he’s still with the team, but if the Yankees trade Montero, they’re building options. Just like they did when they signed Colon or Chavez. This is one of the things Cashman does best. Some like Millwood never see the light of day, others being important cogs in the machine. Be happy. Cashman is at work and is thinking several moves ahead on the board.