WEDNESDAY, 8:46pm: Francoeur gets $1MM if he makes the team with a chance to make $500K more based on plate appearances, tweets Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
MONDAY, 6:20pm: The Indians have signed outfielder Jeff Francoeur to a minor league deal, the team announced in a press release. Francoeur will receive an invitation to the Tribe's Major League Spring Training camp. ESPN's Jerry Crasnick reported earlier today that the two sides were close to an agreement. Francoeur, who turns 30 on Wednesday, is represented by CSE.
Francoeur hit a combined .204/.238/.298 in 256 PA with the Royals and Giants last season, continuing a two-year slide in production for the veteran outfielder. The right-handed hitting Francoeur has had trouble consistently reaching base and hitting right-handed pitching throughout his career, but he has struggled against both righties and lefties over the last two seasons. If Francoeur could at least regain his form against southpaws, he could provide bench balance to a Cleveland outfield that includes left-handed bats such as Michael Bourn, Michael Brantley and David Murphy.
Signing Jeff Francoeur these days is never a good thing, regardless of the price.
Frenchy! You’re a really good/nice dude and you deserve better but you are just not good at professional baseball.
I’d probably call it an 8 year slide with one blip in 2011.
Great signing, I predict: .330, 29, 126 ………… for Mike Trout.
cool story bro
I can’t help but think this would be a better idea if Francoeur were good at baseball.
Jeff Francouer to baseball is what Tim Tebow is to NFL
This is so spot on it hurts.
Not even close. Tim Tebow is a media darling. He’s all over ESPN, he’s been on the cover of GQ Magazine, Not to mention he’s a Christian and thus has a huge fan base. When the Mets acquired Francouer it had nearly any of the buzz the Jets had when acquiring Tebow. It dominated sports pages for months. Francouer is a blip on the screen to Tebows mass popularity.
By the time he joined the Mets that may be true, but the world does exist outside of New York :). He was indeed a media darling when he debuted with Atlanta, and was the talk of the town for at least a year. Remember his SI cover story “The Natural”?
I’m hoping he can make the Indians opening day roster not only because he’s a great guy, but because he can then celebrate Bacon Tuesday on April 1st with the rf bleacher fans in Oakland.
Speaking of Frenchie, where is the globetrotter of all trades Lars Anderson? What team will sign the prodigal son? My bet is on a west coast team. Lars seems a bit thin on west coast experience.
Championship.
If Jeff Francoeur makes it to your major league roster, you’re going to have a bad time.
Any predictions for Frenchy’s Indian WAR?
.4
0. Dude will be in the minors all season…won’t sniff our MLB roster.
Seems like “Frenchy” has been around forever. He is 30, I would have guessed 34 or 35. Maybe that’s just me haha
That’s because he only 20 or 21 when he made his debut back in 2005.
I’m glad Frenchy got a job,. He can still hit LHP and he’s still a great fielder.
Well, the arm is still strong, but he moves like a man twice his age out there.
He can’t hit LHP anymore.
Also that. He’s a one dimensional player. Maybe a half dimension.
Insider info says he had Lasik done on his eyes, that vision was an issue these past years….if this is true, its a little intriguing….nobody can deny he’s been stinking it up as of late
Maybe the Indians go after Yuni Betancourt as well? Great 3/4 in the lineup.
Not sure if sarcasm but Betancourt is not a great 3/4 in the lineup. .212/.240/.595
A bit of misplaced sarcasm.
So sad. Ten years ago this guy was the prize of Atlanta’s system and the heir to Dale Murphy’s legacy.
Frenchy is a great guy glad he got a contract .. i think hell be an impact for the Indians in 14
… a negative impact, that is.
It’s a minor league deal…he won’t be needed on our MLB roster unless there’s an injury.
Sadly, this is the Indians third biggest acquisition thus far.
Last time the Indians took a guy a AL central team had who was hated he did pretty good. He wasRaburn.
I don’t think Raburn was ever as bad as Francoeur is nowadays.
Now I’m also reading they are interested in Bobby Abreu
i like francoeur he isn’t a horrible player and remember he has a cannon for an arm. glad to see the tribe give him a chance!
Heard a report on MLB Network that the Braves offered Francoeur a long term deal the same time they signed McCann to his 6 year deal, but JF turned it down. I bet the Braves are glad he did!
Yea they did offer him one. He wanted more money.
I liked Frenchy up until his second year with the royals but yikes now. He’s a solid spring invite but nothing more. If the Indians wanted a righty outfielder to hit them lefties Drew Stubbs would be perfect!
Oh the drama. Frenchie is an insurance policy for Ryan Raburn, who was hobbling around on one leg for most of Aug/Sept last year. Funny quips below, but nothing of substance.
So…they trade a decent player in Stubbs away and sign Frenchy? Yeah, that makes sense…
How do these guys keep hanging on? This website’s front page is full of these cats who hit .206 and yet somehow keep getting signed here or there. There aren’t a 1000 guys in the minors who can hit .206 for less money?