
The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed Garrett Atkins to a minor league contract with an invite to Spring Training. Â Atkins played for Colorado for seven years, combining for a .289/.354/.457 line in 2788 at-bats. Â However, he’s been on the decline in recent years.
Atkins had a career year in 2006, with a .329/.409/.556 line and 29 homers in 602 at-bats. Â In 2007 he was strong, with a .301/.367/.486 line, and 25 homers in 605 at-bats. Â He slipped some in 2008, with a .286/.328/.452 line, and 21 homers in 611 at-bats. Â Atkins has bottomed out the last two years, with a .226/.308/.342 line and nine homers in 2009, and a .214/.276/.286 line with one homer in 140 at-bats last year with the Baltimore Orioles.
Atkins could be considered a product of Coors Field. Â He has a career .327/.385/.507 line in 1356 at-bats in Coors Field during his career. Â In his time with Colorado he had a .252/.324/.411 line away from Coors.
Atkins will probably compete with Josh Fields and Andy Marte for the corner bench role in the majors. Â I’m not too high on Atkins, since he’s had two down years in a row, and seems like a product of Coors Field during his time with Colorado. Â He’s bad defensively at third base, and not much better at first base. Â Since he’s on a minor league contract, it’s not that big of a deal, but I don’t expect much out of him in 2011.
UPDATE 8:47 PM: According to Troy Renck of the Denver Post, Atkins will make $800 K in the majors.
I think the Bucs might be gearing up for not only trading Doumit but trading G Jones to whatever team doesn’t get get Lee/Laroche. Padres Nats O’s etc.. and I’m all for that