The Mariners have agreed to a minor league deal with center fielder Billy Hamilton, tweets Corey Brock of The Athletic. Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times tweeted earlier that Hamilton was in the Mariners’ clubhouse. The Wasserman client will surely be in big league camp and compete for a roster spot over the next few weeks.
Hamilton, 31, is one of the game’s fastest players and best defensive players but has never managed to provide much in the way of value at the plate. He did swipe at least 56 bases in four straight seasons with the Reds early in his career, even in spite of a dismal .297 OBP in that time, but his lack of production makes it difficult to plug him into an everyday lineup.
Hamilton spent the 2021 season with the White Sox, logging 135 plate appearances over the life of 71 games. Primarily used as a late-game sub, Hamilton walked in a career-low three percent of his plate appearances while striking out at a career-high 34.8% clip. He hit .220/.240/.378 overall in Chicago and is a career .240/.293/.397 hitter in 3260 plate appearances.
Lack of offense notwithstanding, there’s still a chance Hamilton could wind up making the Mariners’ roster. The starting trio of Jesse Winker (left field), Jarred Kelenic (center) and Mitch Haniger (right) isn’t exactly a standout defensive group, and while Taylor Trammell would give them a strong glove off the bench, the Mariners could want the former top prospect getting regular reps in Triple-A in hopes that he can rebound from a disappointing 2021 campaign.
President of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto told reporters at the time of the Winker acquisition that former AL Rookie of the Year Kyle Lewis isn’t likely to be ready to begin the season as he continues to rehab a knee injury, which only creates further opportunity for a player like Hamilton. Seattle, of course, has one of the game’s top all-around prospects in outfielder Julio Rodriguez, but he’s yet to even take a plate appearance at the Triple-A level and only has 206 (dominant) plate appearances of Double-A ball under his belt. High as the ceiling with Rodriguez is, it seems likely that he’ll begin the year in Triple-A Tacoma.
Does enforcing the pitch clock and slightly larger bases make a guy like Hamilton a little more attractive? I’m curious to see if SB% go up at all with these slight changes that were made.
I think it could make a HUGE difference. Will be fun to see.
I’m pretty sure large bases won’t be implemented til next year. Could be wrong though.
Robbie Ray and now Billy Hamilton. Is Conforto next? Someone hurry up and sign Conforto so we can know the 2022 MLB draft order!
Perhaps late inning wise, I feel the DH in the NL makes him even less desirable because of pinch hitting or running.
No cuz he still can’t steal first base
Billy Hamilton, oh please! He can’t steal first base. Waste of a roster spot.
A roster spot on the Tacoma Rainers? He’s currently not taking up a roster spot as this is a minor league deal
Fantastic club house guy and fan favorite!!
Great glove and blazing speed. Best bunter on the Sox last year, too!
Good luck, Billy!
Billy! Billy!
Fan favorite? Not on any of the teams he’s been on. Most fans want him shot out of a cannon and the GM fired after watching him for a month. He can’t hit. Period. He’s useless.
I wonder if he can skate fast.
He’d probably be an upgrade for the Kraken, regardless of whether or not he can skate.
Seattle beat out Cashman on this dumpster dive. Hard thing to do these days. Congratulations Seattle!
The originality is top notch
If only this guy was actually a good enough hitter, he could have been something that’s for sure
West coast Reds
I miss the stolen base. Analytics has destroyed baseball and removed all the fun. Can’t beat Hugh Nicol!
@Old York. Maybe Nicol is a great grandfather to Hamilton?
Maybe this is his great grandfather:
baseball-reference.com/players/h/hamilbi01.shtml
Nice one. Could be and if not present day Billy Hamilton probably wishes it to be so!
Huh.
Seems like Hamilton would have been a nice finishing piece for the Bronx Slick Fielders.
I gotta say, in some respects, it beats the Bronx What Does This Leather Thing On My Hand Do?
At the very least, we will be a whole lot easier to watch, Joe. For a few reasons. Whether or not that actually translates to actually being a better ballclub remains to be seen.
Yeah Ducky, that’s my main thing. Last year’s team was so hard to watch with terrible defense and all or nothing offense. We’ll see if it translates to Wins.
Also good to see Taillon on the mound today.
Up until the deadline, watching us play almost seemed like a punishment. I probably spent more time tying flies & painting duck decoys during the games than I did witnessing that monstrosity of a ballclub bore me to death.
With me, it was my wife saying “If you’re not going to pay attention to the game, I’m changing it to the Braves game. “
Sounds like a keeper, serious.
The Yankees and Michael Jackson (when he was with us) had one thing in common; they both wear one glove for no apparent reason.
To be truthful though, nobody in the AL East plays defense, except maybe the Rays, and they’re only “meh”. It’s offense first.
I think we will.
Kiner-Falefa, Aaron Judge, Rizzo, & Gallo are all elite defenders. Donaldson is comfortably above average. Higashioka & LeMahieu are a little above average. Hicks…well he has an excellent throwing arm.
We will absolutely bring it with the leather.
But we have traded in some firepower in order to do that. I am still – however – hoping Cash lands us another bat somehow.
Great guy to have especially when the roster size is 28 to start the year. Good glove plus insane speed.
Roster size will be 26 to start the year I believe.
In the past he’s had major issues leading off bases. But he’s so quick. 8th or 9th…man on…he’s an easy call to pinch run. Just has to be sheltered and not shown the bat rack.
It’s impossible. That’s the final stage before he gets released: great pinch runner, just don’t let him hit. Problem is, you need that bat. He’ll end up pinch hitting cuz there’s only so many roster spots. He’d be taking up a roster spot from a more valuable player.
Fun Fact: At age 31, Hamilton has already played 18 MLB seasons for 37 different MLB teams. No seriously, how is he only 31?!?!
Came here to say this same thing… I’m flabbergasted he’s only 31!
Reds rushed him. He couldn’t learn the zone in the minors. Had he got on base at anywhere near a decent clip he’d have been a legend.
Impressive given there are only 30 MLB teams and that he has only played 9 seasons.
Woooosh
Bravo! Quality use of onomatopoeia.
Lofton4daHOF — More important, why are teams still thinking Billy Hamilton has value in the majors?
Pete…he has EXTREME value walled within his skill set. Pinch run him in the 8th and 9th and you have an elite speedster on the path..and a game changer. Thats it. Don’t tell him where the bat rack is. He’s last guy on the roster…need some playoff juice on the bases kinda guy. He has speed like VERY few ever had.
Every team he’s been on has had this idea. It NEVER works. He always ends up pinch hitting in a close game.
Then you’ve gone back around the order after the 8th or 9th. Gotta use him like the Royals used Jarod Dyson. Thing with Hamilton is for some reason teams think his speed leads to ground ball bases….decent logic…but not with him because he has such poor zone judgment.
Trust me. We tried this with the Mets. It didn’t work. That last bat on the bench is always needed. You DON’T want that guy to be Hamilton.
Speed doesn’t go into a slump or something like that.
Something something can’t steal first base something.
Well, they can pinch run and guarantee he gets on once a game…he’s essentially a .300 hitter that way and used in key situations.
At worst he’s a trade chip.
He may not be what he once was, but he can still play D in CF at a higher level than the starting CF’s on most MLB teams.
Surprised the Phillies or Marlins didn’t beat this contract.
Not much a trade chip. He is on a minor league deal.
Trade chip? Who’s trading later for a guy virtually no one wants to sign now?
Yeah I thought that comment was funny that he stated ‘At worst he’s a trade chip’. That is one of the best outcomes from a minor league signing. If a team signs a player to a minor league deal, if they come up and contributes to the team and either becomes a trade chip or stays up with the team then thats the best outcome.
He’s no trade chip. C’mon people.
He’s been on the open market. If he’s a trade chip in Seattle then he’s valuable enough to keep.
Really surprised the Phillies didn’t reach out.
He isn’t a DH so the Phillies had no interest….
The Phillies as a team had -87 DRS saved last season and they proceeded to add two of the worst fielding outfielders in all of baseball… I can only assume, since Castellanos is a RF, that they play Schwarber, who was -13 DRS last season, in left.
Something to think about, the Phillies defense last year was so bad that it completely negated every single one of the NL MVP’s RBI’s.
I’m kind of surprised the Marlins didn’t either. I guess with already signing Delino DeShields and Roman Quinn they filled their quota of speedy CF options that can’t hit or get on base
Where’s the article about the Yankees cheating letter being released?
nj.com/yankees/2022/03/appeals-court-rules-letter-…
@whyhayzee Do we realy think any team is innocent? Sign stealing is an art and a part of the game since signs have been used. From Bobby Thomson to Jose Altuve and beyond, batters have known the pitches coming. Sign Stealing, ball doctoring, bat corking, steroids, it’s all been a part of the game and those that said nothing are just as guilty as those who participated. So again I ask, do we really think any team is innocent?
Wondering if you read the entire article or just the headline. From what I see, you are going to be disappointed with the result.
So…that’s good.
As a mets fan, I am sure disappointment is your homeostatic state. Meaning; as you were, lad.
I’m hoping that whatever the Yankees may have done had some ingenuity! When the stories of Astros players wearing devices came out, it was tough not to tip my cap to the innovation, legal or not, its noteworthy, then it turned out to be trash can banging and it was a bit disappointing. Teams that change their air conditioning flow to help the ball carry when their team is up, genius. Gaylord Perry doctoring up balls in more ways than anyone could imagine, genius. Whatever comes of the Yankee letter, I doubt any team is innocent and I hope it’s something genius that noone else ever thought of.
I was amused by the Yankees lame reason for not wanting it released.
Cute.
I will just go ahead & assume that you don’t spend time around lawyers. Which: good for you, serious. I detest our company’s lawyer. That seems absolutely like something he would allege. Makes it all just stupider.
Wreck the Yankees reputation? That’s just silly. They’re already the most loved and hated team in baseball. No one is going to change how they think based on one stupid letter.
I rest my case; worthless lawyer nonsense.
He will be useful when they realize Lewis is a DH
I believe they have realized that. M’s FO said at the beginning of the offseason they didnt expect Lewis to play much in the OF this season.
If only Billy could steal first base.
Yep. That’s the issue here.
He’s the worst baserunning pinch runner i’ve ever seen
He can’t read pitchers. Seen him get picked from 3rd multiple times. He has very poor instincts. He’s fast. That’s about it. But the greats were also smart.
I do feel that Kelenic will be an above average defender once he gets more experience. Of course, that’s with the assumption that he’s going to hit enough to be an everyday player. Given his prospect pedigree, anything else would certainly be a big disappointment.
If you’re not swiping 75%, best not to run. 1980’s were much more exciting.
Completely agree with you. The Cardinals in the mid to late 80’s were insane on the basepaths with Vince Coleman, Willie McGee and company. That was the golden age of small ball and as much as I like towering home run shots, the game was so much more enjoyable and fun to watch when teams would run to set themselves up in scoring position and lay down the sacrifice bunts to move the runners up.
Herzog style ball is the most fun
Yeah, Coleman, McGee, Herr, Ozzie, Lonnie, Pendleton, everybody ran and caused major disruptions to pitchers and defenses. The good old days, get off my god darn lawn, son lol
All that astroturf.
As lifelong Sox fan, I can honestly say that I and my friends thoroughly enjoyed have Billy Hamilton on the squad.
Fun and exciting player to watch and a great clubhouse guy who has great range in the outfield
Kinda surprised they haven’t signed another outfielder. Hamilton did look better than his numbers last year.
He is an EXCELLENT human. Just wish he was an EXCELLENT human with a .320 obp
Harry “The Hat” Walker made Miguel Dilone into a pretty decent hitter by showing him how to just make contact and utilizing your speed.There has to be some specialized hitting coach out there who could help Hamilton the same way.
I’m sure that’s been tried already
Coach Lou Brown did it with Willie May’s Hayes.
Have run, will travel
“Reads the card of the man. A knight without armor in a savage land”
Hitting .220 to .240 still puts him ahead of most of the Mariners hitters. Adequate journeyman player to help fill in when Haniger gets traded later this year for more pitching.
You gotta look at more than batting average. Factor in power and OBP and you’ll see that Hamilton is AWFUL. You’ll be cursing the sky every start he gets, trust me. He’s awful. He’s minor league depth, that’s all.
If Haniger is traded it will be because Julio Rodriguez is on the MLB roster and hitting good enough to be able to trade Haniger
When all you have to sell is speed, you run into a lot of outs.
He will remain in the minors until late season when rosters expand and some playoff-bound team can afford to waste a roster spot on him.
Or the Mariners just stashed him