MLB Trade Rumors is reporting that the Oakland A's have claimed infielder Brandon Hicks off waivers from the Atlanta Braves. This seems like a very odd move by the Braves to put Hicks on waivers this early in spring training.

Hicks is 1-for-10 this spring with 7 strikeouts. He was considered a candidate for a backup infield spot on the roster by many, but I guess not the Braves.

Interesting move, though I doubt it's a precursor to any other move or trade for the Braves. The best logic I can come up with is that the Braves were trying to sneak him through waivers at a time when he's not hitting real well, in order to keep him in the organization, but open up a spot on the 40-man roster. Though that is also strange since there were already four open spots on the 40-man roster.

I will always remember Hicks as the player who scored 8 runs in the Majors before he ever got his first Major League hit -- he was used as a pinch runner a lot. I wish him luck with the A's; that might be a good spot for him. He's got some potential as a third baseman if he can ever stop striking out.