Eric Hinske

Hinske will continue to get steady at-bats in a utility role for the Braves. He has a good eye at the plate and decent power, but his batting average is always a risk if he gets significant at-bats since doesn't make great contact. And he did continue a trend of fading in the second half each of the last four seasons (he hit .173 with just two home runs after the All-Star break last year). He'll get time at first base and the outfield, but he's no longer used at third base. He could be a cheap source of power in deeper formats.

While Hinske ended a three-year streak of making the World Series, a bounce-back season with Atlanta may have earned him a shot at a full-time role or at least a meatier platoon role. Hinske has a good eye at the plate and decent power. While he's passable in the outfield and first base, he's best served as a DH or pinch-hitter. One worry is that he's faded in the second half each of the last three seasons (.598 OPS after the All-Star break last year). Outside of that trend, he could offer cheap power in a utility role for the Braves again this season.

Atlanta found the answer to get to the 2010 World Series in signing Hinske, the man who has played in the last three World Series with three different clubs. Realistically though, he faded after the All-Star break for the second straight year (a .208 average) and didn't offer the Yankees much after homering five times in his first seven games. He does still boast some pop in his bat, however, and could be a cheap source of power as a utility player for the Braves.

The Rays may be very interested in bringing Hinske back, depending on whether or not the club signs a right fielder over the winter, and also depending on whether the Rays feel Fernando Perez may be ready for a full-time role. Hinske had a lot to do with the Rays' first-half success, but he hit just .214 in 54 games after the All-Star break.

Hinske is a free agent whose versatility kept him on Boston's roster in 2007. He's mostly a first baseman these days, but can play some corner outfield, too. His upside is a platoon role on some team in 2008.

It's hard to believe that this guy was the American League Rookie of the Year only five short years ago, because he's essentially dropped off the face of the planet since his award-winning 2002 season. The Blue Jays tired of his low output and high strikeout rate in 2006 and essentially gave him away to the Red Sox, a division rival. In Boston, Hinske saw garbage time backing up the corner infield positions and made the occasional outfield appearance. While his batting average and OBP were somewhat promising during the latter portion of 2006, we don't expect him to receive much playing time in 2007 backing up Kevin Youkilis. Look to Hinske only if Youkilis suffers an injury, and even then, don't expect a whole lot from him.

A nice April and May gave some hope that Hinske had finally regained star form, but a terrible June (.132/.264/.211) ended that thought. He's expected to be nothing more than a DH against righties, which should actually help keep his average above .260. If he can do that, it's less of a price to pay for his 15 HR and 10 SB. However, the acquisition of Troy Glaus and Lyle Overbay clouds his outlook given the logjam for playing time at the corner infield spots and DH.

Those hoping for a rebound from Hinske after an injury-marred 2003 were greatly disappointed. For the second straight year, he failed to hit .250 or mash more than 15 HR, and his extra-base hits have dropped from 64 to 60 to 41 over the past three seasons. He had a decent stretch in June and July, during which he hit over .300, but he failed to slug over .500 in any month in 2004. Even against righties, he slugged .363 in 402 AB, so the traditional platoon advantages don't exist here either. He's 27 and due to make $13 million over the next three years, so without a ton more production he'll be elsewhere soon.

Injuries ruined Hinske's season, but you'd be wise to not forget about him in 2004. There's still a lot to like, including 45 doubles in 449 at-bats. And 25 steals over the past two seasons are a nice bonus too. Hinske improved against lefties a good bit from his rookie season, so there's real potential for a .280/30/100 season hitting behind some on-base machines.

Quite a rookie season, drawing walks, swatting home runs and stealing 13 bases. He struggled against lefties, and slowed down a bit down the stretch after having played full-time in the Arizona Fall League the winter prior. A repeat performance in 2003 is a reasonable expectation; expecting another step up is unlikely until he can solve lefties and that's going to take some time.