The A's announced that they claimed infielder Brandon Hicks from the Braves. Oakland placed left-hander Brett Anderson on the 60-day disabled list to create 40-man roster space for Hicks.
Hicks, 26, spent most of the 2011 season at Triple-A, where he posted a .252/.333/.446 line with 18 homers in 407 plate appearances. The 2007 third round selection has mostly played shortstop over the course of his minor league career, but he has experience at all four infield positions. Following Scott Sizemore's injury, the A's have an opening at third base, a position at which Hicks has played 20 minor league games and nine Major League games.
Snoochies8
Makes sense since the a’s don’t really have a stable 3rd baseman, what’s the story on this guy?
tomymogo
it’s simple, he can only hit fastballs
Snoochies8
ah so basically he’s just like josh donaldson, awesome
so the a’s still don’t have a stable 3rd baseman
Kurisu Rg
They haven’t had one since Eric Chavez was an everyday player. About six years ago
Ryan Macauley
That had what looked to be a legit 3B man for the first couple hours of day one of spring training…
Snoochies8
well, almost all of last year, but the newfound curse of 3rd base decided to take hold of him
manlytomb
nothing special, but the braves need all the infield depth they can get and losing hicks isn’t great for them.
NL_East_Rivalry
they got plenty of guys whom can defend. Hicks wouldn’t help them on the offense side and from what i’ve heard he isn’t the best defensively.
Justin
hes a strikeout machine
ib_cool
How many starts would you say he gets?
Gaurav Vedak
Probably means Sutton will get the utility spot now.
CaseyBlakeDeWitt
Why is it that we aren’t getting news about guys getting onto waivers first? I love all the articles that are getting posted, but I would like to know who’s getting put on, and taken off teams 40-man rosters
Kurisu Rg
This is MLBTR not MLBDFA
Micah Jones
Expect nothing, and anything you get out of him will be icing on the cake. He’s never been productive for ATL.
ib_cool
Is he competing with Donaldson? Or is there no question
letsgogiants
I’m pretty sure its Donaldson’s job to lose.
John Medeiros
dont worry about our a’s ,your a spy for the giants
bofarr
This also might be an indication the Braves a clearing a spot for Simmons to make the team without losing Pastornicky off the 40 man.
Colin Christopher
That would make perfect sense if the Braves had 40 guys on the 40-man roster, but even with Hicks they only had 36.
nm344
Putting Simmons on the team is the worst thing they can do.
Jeff 31
Not really, if Pastornicky’s defense isn’t ready, Simmons’s glove would probably be top-5 in baseball already. If he can hit .220 even with slap-hitter power, he’d be more valauble then A-Gon was last year.
At worst, you’ll have Rafael Belliard. That said, it should be Pastornicky’s job to win- he’s just not winning right now.
Iconoclast17
Just Beane stacking AAAA players, again.
Brv Rocks
I didn’t even realize Hicks had been placed on waivers. He played in the game yesterday.
Hicks is just your typical AAAA player. He never learned how to hit major league pitching. In ten spring training at bats he had 7 strikeouts. No loss for the Braves.
bedzboy12
He hasent been one bit producti ve at the MLB level and nor has he really done a whole lot at the minors.
Adam
I’m surprised it took this long for the Braves to show Hicks the door. IMO he was kept on life support in this organization 2 years longer than he should have been.
Braves1976
I liked Hicks, his defense was solid enough. But he just struck out too much to keep on the 40-man roster any longer.
The Braves are probably making room for both Sutton and Simmons. Simmons may not make the team out of Spring, but he’ll likely be up by mid-season at the latest, IMHO. Simmons is a special player defensively.
inkstainedscribe
Another potential successor to Chipper is gone. How many guys have filled those shoes over the past 20 years? I count Wes Helms, Mike Hessman, Wilson Betemit, Mark DeRosa, Yunel, and now Hicks. Prado may wind up being the guy even though he came up a 2B …
John Medeiros
beane picked up another nobody ,he knows the team is gonna be awful this year intill our bad owner gets his way to san jose, i hate lee wolf