Yankees sign Bill Hall to minor league deal
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(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
The Yankees have signed utility man Bill Hall according to utility man Bill Hall. We first heard rumblings that the two sides were talking last week. Erik Boland confirmed that it’s a minor league contract with an invite to Spring Training. Ken Rosenthal says Hall will get a $600k base salary if he makes the team with another $50k each for 100, 150, 200 and 250 plate appearances plus another $100k each for 300, 350, 400, and 450 plate appearances. That’s a total of $600k in incentives. He can opt out of his contract if he’s not on the big league roster by April 4th, two days before the start of the season.
Hall, 32, is supposedly a close friend of CC Sabathia‘s from their time together on the Brewers. He was atrocious for the Astros and Giants last season, like .252 wOBA with a 31.7% strikeout rate in 199 plate appearances atrocious, but Hall did club 18 homers with a .342 wOBA in nearly 400 plate appearances for the Red Sox as recently as 2010. He does have some power (career .188 ISO) and is very versatile, having played over 200 career games at second, third, and short while also seeing considerable time in all three outfield spots. The defensive numbers are mixed, however.
The Yankees have been connected to Hall in each of the last three or four offseason it seems, so Brian Cashman finally got his guy. The signing doesn’t impact the team’s pursuit of a left-handed DH-type. Last night we heard that the Yankees were in serious talks with Raul Ibanez, and that a deal with a DH-type could be wrapped up this week. Don’t be surprised if the Yankees bring in another player or two to compete with Hall for a bench spot either.
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The Mason Williams Watch
Nice low risk move.
On a related note, did Chavez decide to retire?
I like Bill Hall.
I hope he can do what he did for the Red Sox for us.
Does this mean no Chavez?
What’s to lose with Bill Hall ? He’s only 32 and plays multiple positions. If he doesn’t make the cut by opening day he can opt out.
They need to hire Chavez. That man could field blindfolded.
I think he batted blindfolded.
Sign Damon and the offseason is basically done.
Finally after trying to get this guy and failing year after year they now have BILL HALL!
Now can someone tell me what’s the fascination with this guy because I don’t see it?
Versatility is the appeal. He can play the positions where the stars are aging. Let’s be real, if Alex starts 100 games at third(and hopefully another 30~ at DH), it’ll be considered a success. Also, he can spell Jeter when he’s nursing an injury or is fatigued.
Low risk, high reward. For me, if he puts up a .250/.320/.425 line, I’ll be ecstatic. That will be right in line with his career numbers.
Wilson Betemit II.
I hope it ends as well.
Give the man his pink bat, and watch him rake.
#shadesOfMothersday
I Endorse This Signing.
Minor league deal. Can’t complain.
****stolen from clubhouse confidential****
Chone Figgins was suggested by Joe Sheehan , its not the worst idea I’ve seen on the interwebs or on TV but signing bill hall I suppose makes this all moot.
No reason not to make a bunch of MiL deals. Hopefully Cash has a few more ideas like this to create a bench job competition.
i like this signing, i am a bill hall fan. still hope we dont sign raul ibanez…not a fan of that at all
Over the last five years (2007-2011) bill hall has been worth -.1 bwar.
WHY???????????????
Because it’s a Minor League deal that’s basically no-risk, and he’s one year removed from an 18-homer season. What’s the big deal?
yeah, iirc when we signed freddy last year everyone was like ZOMG FREDDY GARCIA IS TEHH SUXORZZZ!!!!11!!
in reality, minor league deals are never a bad thing, it never hurts to chuck stuff at a wall and hope it sticks.
The CC Sabathia friendship connection BY ITSELF is the dumbest reason I have ever heard for signing a free agent. Hall may be a great caddy, but he can’t hold Ed Nunez’s jock at this stage in his career. Summarily dump him after spring training.
Being friends with CC is not the reason the Yankees signed Hall. They probably didn’t even take that into any kind of consideration whatsoever. Mike is just saying “things and stuff” to put in a post.
This is a depth move. Period. How can people react negatively to a minor league deal? Perspective people.
Somebody should take his tweeting device from him for at least a week. Dude RT’s wayyyyyy too many people.
This would be a good pick-up… if it was 2003! Am I rite? or am I rite?
J/K btw, minor league deal can’t hurt.
A few times I’ve read he has been working out with Kevin Long during the off-season. Does this refer to just this off-season, or is it multiple off-season?
Sorry, multiple off-seasons*
aaron miles goddamit.