Former Cubs Prospect Hinske Gets 5-Year Deal
Blue Jays Agree to Five-Year Deals With Wells, Hinske (AP, 3/17/2003) (link via Baseball Primer’s “Clutch Hits“)
The Blue Jays have signed former Cubs prospect and 2002 AL Rookie-of-the-Year Eric Hinske to a five-year, $14.75 contract, buying out his arbitration-eligible years. Meanwhile, the player the Cubs traded Hinske to the A’s for (the A’s traded Hinske to the Blue Jays for Billy Koch and Justin Miller), reliever Scott Chiasson is nowhere near the big leagues right now. After posting a 7.94 ERA for Iowa last year, Chiasson had arm surgery. I have yet to hear anything on a timetable for his return.
Chiasson showed promise in 2001 prior to his arm breaking down. But Hinske had a stellar minor league career before his rookie year with the Blue Jays last year. Though the Cubs had a surplus of thirdbase prospects (David Kelton and Brendan Harris are still on their way), the results of the Chiasson for Hinske trade demonstrates why it is generally not good to trade an everyday player for a relief pitcher. Not only are everyday players (especially ones that have the on-base/slugging combination Hinske has) more valuable than relief pitchers, but young pitchers have a significant chance of developing injuries.