Angels Sign Shea Hillenbrand

by sanchez96 on Dec 26, 2006 9:21 PM EST

From ESPN:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2708779

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The Los Angeles Angels didn't waste much time finding another hitter after Juan Rivera broke his left leg playing winter ball in Venezuela.
The Angels agreed with free-agent first baseman Shea Hillenbrand on a $6.5 million, one-year contract on Tuesday.
Hillenbrand, who split last season between Toronto and San Francisco, gets $6 million next year, and the Angels hold a $6.5 million option for 2008 with a $500,000 buyout. The option could become guaranteed based on his plate appearances next season.
The 31-year-old Hillenbrand hit a combined .277, with a career-high 21 home runs and 68 RBI in 141 games last season. He finished with 73 runs and 27 doubles.

I certainly don't think he's worth $6.5 million, especially with his reputation as a clubhouse cancer and general malcontent. The Yanks are in the process of dumping one (Tiny Unit), why bring in this loser, for this money? Good non-move.

Tweet Comment 17 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I agree,

He wasn't a huge upgrade.

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Dec 26, 2006 9:45 PM EST reply actions

Bill Stoneman

I know the guy has won a World Series and has stockpiled a great farm system, but I am seriously doubting his ability to compile a consistent contender. He consistently signs poor free agent deals and in my opinion has cost his team over the past few years. With the resources they have compared to their division, they should win that division consistently.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Dec 27, 2006 9:05 AM EST reply actions

Now what

who's going to be on first for the Yanks?????

by Yanks22 on Dec 27, 2006 2:06 PM EST reply actions

Doesn't matter,

Shea Hillenbrand wasn't the answer.

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Dec 27, 2006 2:59 PM EST up reply actions

No, what's on second

Off the Facade
You say "sell-out," I say "opportunist."

by PinstripePowerhouse on Dec 27, 2006 8:13 PM EST up reply actions

1st base

Why don't we resign Craig Wilson? He was a nice pickup last yr.

by craigtyle on Dec 28, 2006 8:46 PM EST reply actions

An okay

fall back option. But what they are looking at is more of a defensive 1st baseman. Craig Wilson plays a few positions, but is average at best at any of them.

Great Success!

by ReLaunch on Dec 28, 2006 10:13 PM EST up reply actions

True, but

he will so outhit Dougie M that any lapse in defense will be overcome. Minkie blows.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Dec 28, 2006 11:16 PM EST up reply actions

Mientkiewicz would

give us a great defensive firstbaseman, which might help us with A-rods bad throws. But wasn't that terrible last year. He hit .283 last year with 24 doubles in only 314 Ab's. I know he was bad in years before, but he might put up decent numbers this year if we get him. If he hits .265 and plays great defense he would do great spliting time with Andy Phillips or Josh Phelips. Besides look at the players that might be in our lineup, do we really need a big bat at first? Damon, Jeter, Abreu, Giambi, A-Rod, Matsui, Posada, Cano, Phillips,Mientkiewicz.

by jetsfan1990 on Dec 31, 2006 10:43 PM EST up reply actions

So young, so naive

I realize you are a newcomer, but sweet christ you are off base. Dougie Alphabet used to be a good first baseman. That was before major back surgery. There is no guarantee he would be good now. Regardless, plus defense at first is not a big enough benefit to sacrifice the offense at that position. I don't give a shit if you have 8 Babe Ruths in your lineup, there is no excuse for carrying a Neifi-esque bat at first.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Dec 31, 2006 11:04 PM EST up reply actions

I agree...

I really don't think Dougie is the answer, why would we trade one back problem for another? Haven't we learned a lesson from banged up, aging players who would probably need an AARP membership as part of any contract?

Why don't more people talk about Loretta? His stats from last year were good, and I hated seeing him bat against the Yanks. He also has pretty good career numbers at first defensively (anyone with a pulse should), so I guess I don't understand why all the rumors and talk seem to be about Dougie... am I just reading the wrong people?

If I'd tried for them dinky singles I could've batted around six hundred --Babe Ruth

by deucemijo on Jan 1, 2007 3:57 AM EST up reply actions

Loretta

I have heard recently that they are trying to sign him to be the utility infielder, which would mercifully boot Cairo from the roster. Loretta isn't the full-time answer at first either though. He really isn't a very good hitter. He doesn't strike out, but that is pretty much it. If he were the starter, then the Yanks would almost certainly have the lowest OPS at first of any team in the league and there is no reason to waste offense at that position.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Jan 1, 2007 9:01 AM EST up reply actions

yeah,

Loretta would be a huge upgrade at the utility infield position. But his hitting stats might suffer a little because he wouldn't be playing every day. Even so, he'll be much better then cairo. And if someone in the infield gets injured we don't have to worry about putting cairo in the lineup. As for minkie, i didn't realize he went through surgury. So at first the yanks should probably just use phillips/phelps and maybe Eric Duncan will start hitting and get called up.

by jetsfan1990 on Jan 1, 2007 10:53 AM EST up reply actions

Wilson is still out there

Personally, I advocated signing Aubrey Huff, but since he is gone I think Wilson is the best bet left. He is a much better hitter than Phillips or Phelps.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Jan 1, 2007 11:17 AM EST up reply actions

We probably

didn't go after Huff because we would have to pay him about 7 mil a year for 3 years, he's a left handed hitter and he was a third baseman last year. He also never really played firstbase full time. Huff played first about 20-40 games a year from 2001 to 2005. As for Wilson, he didn't look comfortable hitting with the yankees last year. He was hitting .267 with the pirates then he hit only .212 when he played with us. I don't want a guy who averages about a .265 ave in the NL central to be in our lineup. Unless his defense is flawless, which its not.

by jetsfan1990 on Jan 1, 2007 11:54 AM EST up reply actions

That was a small sample for Wilson

He crushes lefties and is a virtual lock to outhit Phillips, Phelps or Minkie. I am not saying that he is a great option, just the best of what's left.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Jan 1, 2007 1:47 PM EST up reply actions

well since

Wilson isn't good against righties and so far Phillips can't hit southpaws, so maybe they would make a good platoon at first. But I don't think we're the front runners to sign wilson.

by jetsfan1990 on Jan 1, 2007 3:08 PM EST reply actions