Marcus Thames’ playing career is over, as it was announced yesterday that he will become the hitting coach for the Yankees’ high-A affiliate in Tampa.
Thames, who is 35, put up a career line of .246/.309/.485 with 115 homers over 10 major league seasons with the Yankees, Rangers, Tigers and Dodgers. His best overall season probably came in 2006 with Detroit, when he hit .256/.333/.549 with 26 homers in only 390 plate appearances. Which was pretty much Thames in a nutshell: solid platoon left fielder, probably best suited for DH.
Now begins his five-year wait for the Hall of Often Pretty Useful. Though I expect at least some writers are going to be out to sink his candidacy.