Dewayne Wise is one of four players the Marlins signed to minor league deals, according to Matt Eddy of Baseball America (Twitter links). The team also added infielder Joe Thurston, catcher Clint Sammons and corner infielder Jamie D'Antona.
Wise, 33 next month, spent the 2010 campaign with the Blue Jays after two seasons with the White Sox. He hit .250/.282/.393 in 118 plate appearances last year and backed up at all three outfield positions. The eight-year veteran will provide insurance for the Marlins in case Chris Coghlan struggles in center field.
Thurston last appeared in the majors on the 2009 Cardinals. He has a .225/.306/.324 line in 280 big league plate appearances spread over six seasons. The infielder can play second or third base and has some experience in the outfield.
Sammons, 27, picked up some playing time with the Braves from 2007-09. The catcher hit .162/.253/.244 at Triple-A last year, but threw out 36% of would-be base stealers.
D'Antona, back in North America after two seasons in Japan, hit .263 with 36 homers for the Yakult Swallows last year, according to Eddy. The D'Backs selected D'Antona in the second round of the 2003 draft and he made it all the way to the majors in 2008.
And yet another good defensive outfielder the Braves pass up on. Wise can’t hit, but the man can cover some ground and with McLouth in CF…..the Braves are definitely going to need a late-inning defensive replacement.
Internal candidates aren’t too appealing, although I hear Matt Young is good defensively, but no arm. No idea about Mather, and I’m assuming he’ll be on the opening day roster as he’s out of options. Hinske won’t cut it defensively, Prado looks as if he can handle left field, but he’ll be in the infield at some point.
Anyway, good idea on the Marlins part. No way in hell Coghlan sticks in CF….
center field worries will not be remedied with wise. i would rather see boni. get a shot at it if coghlan struggles.
On the bright side defensively he’s solid.
true.
very solid.
Clint Sammons, go make me a sammich!
All 4 have some sort of Major League expierence and D’Antona hit those homers in 685 AB’s last year so he might be one of those interesting minor league deals.
D’Antona only hit .245 with 15 home runs and 50 RBI last season. That’s his two-year total with Yakult.
Well… he’s as good as Maybin.
The book “The Last Best League” has a pretty fascinating storyline throughout it on D’Antona. It’s well worth the read, if you’ve not already read it.
He’s a low-risk, potentially high-reward slugger for peanuts. It’s okay.
I was thinking the same thing. I remember when I saw Tim Stauffer play for the first time and trying to remember why I knew his name… Looks like Stauffer figured out his stuff at the end of the season, I’m hoping D’Antona can as well.
Those stats are D’Antona’s totals over his two years with Yakult. He had a rough season in 2010.
Not that anyone cares, but Joe Thurston actually has 380 PA…
Meh.
For some bizarre reason, he’s one of my favourite Jays.
I’m happy for Clint Sammons. I hope he does well in Florida, just not against the Braves. 🙂