Eric Hinske has begun an unusually long offseason. After his Atlanta Braves were eliminated by the San Francisco Giants on Monday night, the 2002 American League Rookie of the Year finds himself unemployed yet again as his latest one year contract ended with the Braves hopes of making it back to the World Series for the first time since 1999. He’ll now have to go home and watch the Series on television for his first time since 2006.

Hinske went to the World Series with the Red Sox in 2007 and won his first ring. In 2008 he joined the Rays and traveled with them to their first postseason, but unfortunately Hinske could not repeat his success as Tampa Bay fell to the Phillies. In 2009, he joined the Pittsburgh Pirates, but fate wouldn’t let the beefy utility player miss the playoffs as a midseason trade with the Yankees earned him his second World Series ring.

Hinske has two postseason pinch hit home runs, which ties him with a bunch of other forgettable no name bench players. His World Series charm may have run out, but he’s continually proven himself as a valuable utility player for the five teams he’s played for since 2007. He has 124 career home runs with 475 RBI as a first and third baseman as well as an outfielder. He also hasn’t played a full season since his last full year in Toronto.

Hinske has worked his way into over 100 games a season for the last five years, but has barely averaged 300 plate appearances. He’s the ideal backup player. At only 33 years old, Hinske will surely find a job for 2011, but with who is anybody’s guess. He’s a tremendously affordable player that could be considered a “piece” on a team trying to make the postseason. He’s proved that for four years in a row. In other words, don’t bet against whatever team Hinske plays for next season.