Koskie's off to the Brewers.

[Chris from NY]

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060106&content_id=1292457&vkey=hotstove2005&fext=.jsp

Well I guess that makes great strides towards solving this influx of corner infielders the Jays have. Koskie goes to the Brewers for minor league pitcher Brian Wolfe, who had Tommy John and missed all of 2004.
In a way it's too bad that Koskie had to go. He was last years big free agent splash for the Jays and in a sense a hometown boy being that he's Canadian. Ideally I would have liked to see Koskie start at third for his defence and have Glaus DH. But Glaus didn't want to DH and that didn't leave room for Shea Hillenbrand. I just wonder how differently things would have played out had Koskie not been injured for much of last season.

[Tinyballer]

Sad to see him go but it had to be done. I believe even if he is canadian he would be happier down there where he can play day to day and i thank him for his efforts of making bluejays a better ball club. In return we got ryan wolfe a pitching prospect. He recorved quickly last year pitching in A AA AAA and did not seem to hit a block he could contribute to our bullpen next year and help us become the contender we are so desperate to see.

[wilkerson_rulz-06]

Damn! I wanted to see Hinske go!
At least Koskie can hit and play defense!

[WinnipegJaysFan]

In reality we gave up two gold-glove infielders in Hudson and Koskie for a couple prospects and Troy Glaus, a fine power hitter but less than average defensively.

You know what they say, pitching and defense win championships....not in Ricciardi's mind though. Don't get me wrong, I am thrilled to have Glaus, I just think the Jays could have got more for Koskie than what appears to be a mediocre minor-leaguer. Salary dump I guess.

[wilkerson_rulz-06]

Why not Hinske?
He just plainly $%#^@!!

[Chris from NY]

Why not Hinske?
He just plainly $%#^@!!

If the Jays were only going to get a minor league pitcher out of the deal it should have been Hinske going instead of Koskie. I think they could have got more for Koskie even if they were just trying to dump his salary.

[KingJ]

They open up more salary room trading Koskie instead of Hinske which is a positive.

[Chris from NY]

True. But that isn't as big of a factor for the Blue Jays now than it was before when they didn't have money to burn.

[Tinyballer]

i think dumping koskie was right thing to do first he is older second he is injury bugged third he has never been great hittter. the thing intriguing about hinske is how ezily he made the adjustment from first to third now since he has pretty good speed he is being taught how to play left field. Either he is going to be an a three position back up or he actually going to play a whole lot of left. The reason they value hinske so much is because he has shown in his rookie season that he can be a great hitter. Problem is he had injuries and tinkered with his once productive swing. I think hinske will end up regaining form and giving us 30HR and make you who keep saying dump him bite ur own words

[WinnipegJaysFan]

I think hinske will end up regaining form and giving us 30HR and make you who keep saying dump him bite ur own words

Don't see that happening. And Hinske playing OF? He's slow and his arm was always weak from third compared to most other third-basemen. Just what we need, another Shannon Stewart arm in left, but with MUCH less speed.

[Tinyballer]

You are very mistaken about hinske's defence and speed adjustments this is what it sayz on espn http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/player...g?statsId=6645 it says he almost got the gold glove at third once. And it sayz he has exceptional speed for a man of his size so i think he'd fare ok. he'd still be better than cat out in the field.

[WinnipegJaysFan]

His defense at third was good in '04, I agree. But his arm is, in my opinion anyways, not strong enough to be in the outfield. Just like Shannon Stewart's wasn't. Difference being Stewart had very good speed. I shouldn't have said Hinske was slow.....he may be quick 'for a big guy', but I don't think he's speedy enough for the outfield. If he sticks around he may prove me wrong, and I hope he does of course. But with Cat, Vernon and Rios in the outfield, and Reed Johnson just signing on for another year, I honestly don't believe the Jays will keep 5 outfielders on the big-league roster.

[Big_Mac]

here is a few points from stuff i have read.

In reality we gave up two gold-glove infielders in Hudson and Koskie for a couple prospects and Troy Glaus, a fine power hitter but less than average defensively.

You know what they say, pitching and defense win championships....not in Ricciardi's mind though. Don't get me wrong, I am thrilled to have Glaus, I just think the Jays could have got more for Koskie than what appears to be a mediocre minor-leaguer. Salary dump I guess.

It was a salary dump it looks like and they probably could have got more but we got what we need. I don't care if Hudson went, we have Aaron Hill and Koskie struggled last year big time offensivly. Lets also not forget the Glaus will help out more people around him, including Vernon Wells who struggled last year with Koskie 'protecting' him. When pitchers see Glaus on deck, they will give Wells a little more too hit, not like they did last year. Glaus is no Delgado but he'll provide the same level of protection.

Damn! I wanted to see Hinske go!
At least Koskie can hit and play defense!

Yes, Koskie is better then Hinske right now but I think a few things happened here as why Koskie went and Hinske stayed. First off, Hinske can play first and third and to contrary someone said here, I can see him play outfield. I can think of many more outfielders slower then Hinske would be. Hinske could steal 20 bases if the Jays let him. Koskie can only play third, grant it, great 3rd base defensivly but Hinske is more versitale defensivly. Second, Koskie is 31 i believe and is starting to regress in his career. He can't hit lefties and is starting to lose power. Now Hinske, has struggled and is getting worse but he is still young and there is always hope that a good hitting coach and get him to be better at the plate.

i think dumping koskie was right thing to do first he is older second he is injury bugged third he has never been great hittter.

i agree with that complete statement.

I think hinske will end up regaining form and giving us 30HR and make you who keep saying dump him bite ur own words

i don't agree with that complete statement.

Don't see that happening. And Hinske playing OF? He's slow and his arm was always weak from third compared to most other third-basemen. Just what we need, another Shannon Stewart arm in left, but with MUCH less speed.

Hinske is very fast for being bulky. He is probably just as fast as the Cat in terms of speed. Getting jumps on the ball might be the only problem for him. I think he would have a better arm then Stewart and if we are looking for an outfielder, i don't think it would hurt to give him a chance.

But with Cat, Vernon and Rios in the outfield, and Reed Johnson just signing on for another year, I honestly don't believe the Jays will keep 5 outfielders on the big-league roster.

I don't believe the would either but the Hinske-OF think is just speculation. I think it would be something we will see in 2007 if he is still around, maybe late this year. The first thing with Hisnke will be too find consistentcy offensivly. I also think this is Rios' make-or-break year. he has impressed me a whole lot and this will be his third season in the bigs. I don't think he'll ever have '40-hr, 100 rbi' power

just my two cents