Braves sign Eric Hinske to a 1 year deal w/an option

[And That]

...says David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

 

So, the Brewers lose out to the Braves on a Wisconsin native.

[Invader3K]

My guess is the Brewers were only willing to give him a one year deal.

[And That]

Yah, probably, though I don't know why that would have been a hangup for Milwaukee. Or Atlanta for that matter.

 

Oh well... more money to throw at a middle reliever!

[JohnBriggs12]

The symbolism for an old guy like me of a Wisconsin native spurning what is essentially his hometown team for Atlanta kind of bothers me a bit, but he wasn't going to make or break this season for the Brewers anyway.

 

I had a hard time seeing a role beyond lefty PH for him if Fielder comes back. Even then, I don't think Hinske is an adequate replacement.

 

At least now Melvin can focus on the real needs of this team.

[dlk9s]

The symbolism for an old guy like me of a Wisconsin native spurning what is essentially his hometown team for Atlanta kind of bothers me a bit, but he wasn't going to make or break this season for the Brewers anyway.

He likely enjoyed his time in Atlanta and feels the Braves have a better chance at a title this year than the Brewers do. I wouldn't let it bother you, even a little bit.

[RockCoCougars]

Doesn't hurt my feelings as Hinske is just a 'guy' at this point. Plenty of them around available without doling out a two year contract and then ending up with a small Jody Gerut-like albatross ($2 million) for 2012 if things go south.

[Invader3K]

Doesn't hurt my feelings as Hinske is just a 'guy' at this point. Plenty of them around available without doling out a two year contract and then ending up with a small Jody Gerut-like albatross ($2 million) for 2012 if things go south.

I agree. It's not like anyone was going to be buying tickets to see Hinske in a Brewers uniform or something, other than his immediate friends and family.

[Vgmastr]

Doesn't hurt my feelings as Hinske is just a 'guy' at this point. Plenty of them around available without doling out a two year contract and then ending up with a small Jody Gerut-like albatross ($2 million) for 2012 if things go south.

I agree. It's not like anyone was going to be buying tickets to see Hinske in a Brewers uniform or something, other than his immediate friends and family.

I don't know about that, I live in the Fox Valley, and Hinske is pretty popular in Menasha. Whenever Hinske visits Miller Park as a visiting player, a bunch of Menasha bars have bus trips to see him. Probably wouldn't translate to a lot of extra ticket sales, but he'd bring in more people than any other backup OF the Brewers sign.

[BrewCrewForever]

Little disappointed, but not really a big deal.

 

I know some people in Menasha, Hinske is HUGE there. When he comes home somtimes he stops in at a local bar and all the drinks are on him.

[TooLiveBrew]

From TH's latest blog post

 

Melvin said he could have had Hinske with a two-year offer, which the Menasha, Wisc., native confirmed in an interview with the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

 

“Milwaukee made a big push,” said Hinske. “I think it kind of boiled down to they weren’t willing to give me a two-year deal. Neither was Atlanta but if neither was going to, my heart was in Atlanta.”