Hank Blalock and the Rays have agreed to terms on a minor league deal worth $925K, plus $350K in incentives. The deal will allow Blalock to opt out if he's not in the majors, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com.
Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times reported (via Twitter) that the sides were near a deal and added that the deal should be finalized soon (via Twitter). Heyman reported that Blalock was deciding between the Rays and Marlins and later added that the infielder was in "serious talks" with the Rays before noting the specific details (all Twitter links).
The Scott Boras client will make substantially less than the $6MM the Rangers paid him last year. The Marlins were the only other team linked to Blalock recently, but apparently did not make an offer. Blalock told the Tampa Tribune (Twitter link), "Well, I didn't have any other choice. So that's why I'm here." Joe Smith of the St. Petersburg Times tweets that Blalock's opt-out clause is for April 1st.
Blalock, 29, hit .234/.277/.459 last year with the Rangers, adding 25 homers. Blalock, who hasn't played more than 39 games at third since 2006, split his time between first base and DH in 2009.
I think the Rays would benefit more from his services than the Marlins. A DH role is a better role for Hank than any I think. I think he would do much better than Pat as well at the DH spot.
i think he’ll end up going to the Marlins… The Rays already have Burrell and Aybar at DH, but you never know
yea, but Aybar plays 1st, 2nd, and 3rd too.
I’m going to take the Marlins as well.
Gotta predict he chooses Florida, way more opportunity there to prove himself for next offseason…
Also I would rather play for the Marlins than Rays (even though I would love to play for either one of the two teams). No pressure in Florida and He could really help Logan get comfortable at first base.
Yeah, and in Tampa he would have to compete with Aybar, Burrell for DH at bats and Pena and Dan Johnson for 1B time and lefty abs. In Florida he has to compete with the inexperienced Logan and Gaby Sanchez. Seems like a no brainer now that its pretty clear no one is gonna give him a major league deal.
If the Marlins do give him a Major League Deal though, then every single team will have signed a player to a Major League Deal.
That’s a very interesting fact, at least to me.
Haha interesting fact about the penny pinching Marlins(although I do love the way they run the team, and watching them) but it seems unlikely they will change that distinction. Blalock is the last hope heh
Joe Biemel is still out there.
A minor league deal to the White Sox to D.H. and back up Teahan at 3rd.
I still think the White Sox will have a real D.H. before heading north in April.
Come on Mike and Larry!
He’s not good.
why do you say that, without elaborating on your claim?
A .277 OBP is a liability to any offense. The object is not to make outs.
Good insurance pickup by the rays, with the potential to become an awful one; they could always shift him to second case, in case Zobrist falters in his new position. If not, off to the bench he goes or the DH spot, but with Burrell occupying the DH spot, he’ll most likely be forced to come off the bench, which would then turn into a terrible pickup, since he has shown, during his tenure with the rangers, that he could hit 20+ HR. So, if the rays could find some way to slot him into the everyday lineup, they would truly benefit from this pickup; if not, he might regret not signing with another organization that would give him an everyday job (e.g: Marlins, especially if Bonifacio struggles offensively)
He will not be playing second base for anyone.
Sheffield is pushing 42- Blalock is only 29. Plus Sheffields attitude is soo bad- the Tigers got rid of him and ate 14 million last year just to do away with his antics.
This shows how horrible arbitration is. Average to bad players get paid 6 million a year, but if they were free agents would get less than half that.
Exactly what Charlie Finley said years ago (1970’s) when the arbitration/free agency concepts were being debated.
Finley said arbitration would kill baseball and suggested all players be granted free agency at the end of each season.
Pretty radical at the time, but very prescient. Certainly baseball would be very different today if the owners had followed his advice – but not necessarily for the better.
Maybe at 8 million a year he can learn to get past that.
I don’t really think Charlie O will be learning much these days – he’s been dead for almost 15 years.
What are you in reference to?
i, for one, would like to see burrell back on the field..maybe just for nostalgic purposes..but another reason is that i think it would help his bat out, i think it was weird for him to be sitting on the bench for half the game, he needs the team to WANT him out there.
Unload Burrells contract, Blalock will be fine with at bats, not a bad sign for the rays, plus he is a great sign if pena cant stay healthy. its moves like this that can jump start a guy like blalock!
Im a Rangers fan and would like to wish Blalock the best of luck with the Rays. I had the pleasure of watching him while he was hitting and fielding well it was truely a gift to watch him play back then. Even though its unlikely I hope he does return to that form because if he does, he is one hell of a ball player. Good luck Hank hope you find a place in the Rays organization that suits you.
I win.
wait until episode 6….
I still won.
“Well, I didn’t have any other choice. So that’s why I’m here.”
Love the attitude, Hank.
yea i gotta agree that that is not the best way to get started with a new team lol
i think that he would have chosen the Marlins had they offered him a contract, but since the fish got Jorge Jimenez (who i think will be either their left-handed bat off the bench or potential 3B) they decided to back off from Blalock