Garrett Atkins, recently designated for assignment by the Orioles, is headed home to California to wait out his fate. MLB.com's Brittany Ghiroli spoke to the corner infielder, who would be willing to sign a minor league deal with a new club. Ghiroli notes that interested teams would wait until after he clears waivers. Atkins is not thinking about retirement.
Atkins, 30, signed a one-year, $4.5MM deal with the Orioles on December 22nd after being non-tendered by the Rockies. The signing was considered one of the worst of the offseason in our March executive poll. Having logged 152 plate appearances with a .214/.276/.286 line in 2010, Atkins' stock has only dropped further.
Atkins told Ghiroli that he is ready to move on from the Orioles. However, he told Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun that he would consider playing in the minors for another organization. That approach worked for Pat Burrell, who is hitting well for the Giants after a stint in their minor league system.
I’m thinking this is going to be, at best, the second or third to last time we hear of Atkins. There will be a small item next spring or so about him getting a spring training invite to some team, but he won’t make the roster. Then maybe a bit about him trying to rejuvenate his career in some independent league. Then his name will pop up during some Rockies or Orioles broadcast and we’ll have to Google him to find out what happened to him.
I’m not hating on the guy and as I am sure he’s no better or worse a person than anyone else, I wish him the best. But his career is really having the feeling of being done.
Who would sign him to anything but a minor league deal? Unless of course Dayton Moore runs out of creative ways to keep Kila in the minors for no reason.
As a Rockies fan I hope they offer him a minor league deal and see what happens. He’s a good guy and put up some great years for them in the past. If he can get frequent playing time you never know what could happen.
If the Rockies did anything like that it would strictly be out of the kindness of their hearts. They don’t really need help at the positions he plays, so there wouldn’t be any real benefit to them. Besides, I think that ship sailed in their eyes and I think both sides are better off apart.
A fresh start?
Paper or Plastic??
I hear Fresh Direct is hiring if he wants a fresh start.
Serves the Orioles right… a once proud franchise is just a complete joke, They dont belong in Major League Baseball, right now, they don’t, They belong in some sort of AAAA league.
Signings like these, and mis-management just prove that Angelos has no interest in competing and continues to lose fans, and its sad. That great ballpark should have some more talent in it, the fans deserve better than Garret Atkins…
Have to admit, 4.5 million is a nice consolation prize.
Maybe you should consider a new career choice?
He’s laughing all the way to the bank, 4.5 mill ain’t pocket change.
I’m always fascinated when people think that a player getting cut from a team, his career in jeopardy, is somehow cackling like a hyena that he’s still getting paid. I’d wager it’s more likely he feels like crap and is worried about ever playing again.
Except, the guy has made $16,489,500 over his career. For what? Playing a game.
I’m not saying he shouldn’t get to keep every penny he earned but you definitely won’t see me shedding a tear for this guy.
He got cut for a reason yet he still gets to make millions. How many people with families are out there with no jobs that have no other means of support? Millions throughout the world. Yet, he won’t take an assignment to AAA? Even after the Orioles took a chance on this guy?
What I am saying is, if people only played baseball for money, maybe the salary and the money would comfort him. But just try to imagine you were somehow talented enough to get to play in the bigs, and you were even kind of good. But then, without warning, while you were still young and healthy, it all suddenly fell apart.
That’s probably an extremely s—y feeling, big bank account or not.
I’m always fascinated when people think that a player getting cut from a team, his career in jeopardy, is somehow cackling like a hyena that he’s still getting paid. I’d wager it’s more likely he feels like crap and is worried about ever playing again.
this is what happens when you start a career in Colorado and move somewhere else.
So true. I can’t think of anyone that went on from Colorado to be better than they were here.
I think Juan Uribe started in Colorado and has turned into a pretty respectable player after leaving.
The free-fall was well under way before he left COL. He had dropped 70-100+ points of OPS every year since his peak in 2006.
Just a thought, maybe the Angels will look into him. They’ve had some major infield issues and he could rebound. Not likely though.
fresh start? didn’t he just get one this season? He wants to just keep hitting the reset button like he’s playing a video game?
.223/.299/.326 over his last 550 plate appearances.
In response to the “frequent playing time” comment: Atkins hit .214/.261/.294 while essentially playing every day in April and May.
This guy is beyond done. Any franchise that takes a chance on him at the major league level would be taking a major step backwards. The only way he gets another chance in the bigs is if Andy MacPhail gets fired by the Orioles and somehow finds another job. There isn’t a first baseman, third baseman or DH in baseball who’s worse than Garrett Atkins.
The Reds seem to be a team content with giving minor league contracts to older players looking to rejuvenate their careers (see Gary Mathews Jr., Corey Patterson, Willy Taveras, Miguel Cairo, Aaron Miles). I don’t see why they would not want to offer the league minimum to a guy who is only 30 and can serve as an asset in Louisville where they are struggling for infield production. From what I have read, the guy is a positive clubhouse influence unlike 4/5 of the names just mentioned. Why not?
For the past 3 years the Reds have always been “linked” to Garrett Atkins, whether it being a trade or signing him in the off-season. I would not mind see Garrett Atkins in Louisville, because point blank how could it hurt the team?
the headline should read………. ATKINS LOOKING FOR A FRESH START…….IN TRIPLE A
what a massive disappointment he has been in his career
Disappointment is the word. He had a great swing.
Disappointment is the word. He had a great swing.
the headline should read………. ATKINS LOOKING FOR A FRESH START…….IN TRIPLE A
what a massive disappointment he has been in his career
“Garret, would you have any interest in signing a minor league deal somewhere?”
“No, Baltimore was quite enough thanks. I’m done playing for minor league teams.”
The Phillies would be a good fit. They need bench help desperately and a spot starter with pop at first or third would be perfect.
Can, Garrett Atkins join the Cardinals and maybe re-find his career? I know that he and Matt Holliday were good friends on the Rockies. And, David Freese is being placed on the DL today. Yes, Atkins seems like he’s on the decline. But, maybe coming to St. Louis could help him out. He’d at least might be better than watching Lopez and Miles platoon at 3B, until Freese gets back. And if Atkins were to re-find himself if he became a Cardinals, he could give Pujols a day off; when he needs one or two. And maybe even sub for Freese, if he gets into a slump.