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NASHVILLE -- Okay, it’s not the Tim Lincecum deal we’ve all be waiting for, but the Blue Jays are finally on the board here at baseball’s winter meetings.
The American League club completed their first deal, acquiring outfielder/infielder Buck Coats from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations.
Coats, who the Blue Jays believe has a chance to make the major league roster, appeared in 20 games with the Reds last season, batting .206 in 34 at-bats.
The 6’3”, 195-pound left-handed hitter, posted a .308 average with 11 home runs, 63 RBIs and 20 stolen bases in 127 games at the AAA level.
The native of Fort Benning, Ga., was an 18th round pick by the Chicago Cubs in the June 2000 draft and spent the first six seasons of his career in the Cubs organization, prior to being claimed on waivers by the Reds last September.
Day three of baseball’s winter meetings and the effects of 16-hour days hanging around the lobby bar trying to buttonhole executives and agents for information about possible trades is starting to wear on some reporters.
As I write this, a member of the Japanese reporting contingent who is seated behind me in the media room is resting his head on the table beside his laptop, eyes closed and snoring contentedly.
Bad form no matter how you cut it.
If you don’t believe me, check out the accompanying picture. Sorry about the quality; it was taken with my cell phone camera.
