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January 24, 2013 12-13 Offseason Joe Janish

Cubs Sign Scott Hairston

Apparently, one year, $2M, and a happy clubhouse wasn’t enough to convince Scott Hairston to return to the Mets.

Instead, Hairston opted for two years and up to $6M based on incentives to play in Chicago. For the Cubs. Haven’t the Cubs been in a similar situation as the Mets for the past few years? Aren’t they also in a rebuilding mode? So what gives?

I suppose the Cubs have money to spend. I also suppose that they are interested in providing a Major League product to fans who are paying Major League prices. How in the world, though, can they do such a thing when they’re rebuilding? I thought it’s impossible to rebuild and spend money on a Major League team at the same time? Huh.

But, I never saw any point in the Mets bringing back Hairston. He might be able to repeat his career year with a little luck from wind-aided fly balls in Wrigley Field. Still, it would be nice if they brought in SOMEONE to play the outfield. This is getting a little ridiculous.

Your thoughts? Will the Mets miss Scott Hairston? Will he have another 20-HR year in Chicago? Will the Mets have any MLB OFs by Opening Day?

Joe Janish began MetsToday in 2005 to provide the unique perspective of a high-level player and coach -- he earned NCAA D-1 All-American honors as a catcher and coached several players who went on to play pro ball. As a result his posts often include mechanical evaluations, scout-like analysis, and opinions that go beyond the numbers. Follow Joe's baseball tips on Twitter at @onbaseball and at the On Baseball Google Plus page.
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  1. Joe January 24, 2013 at 12:56 pm
    Potshot at them not spending money AND agreeing they shouldn’t spend it on Hairston. Done!

    They also did bring SOMEONE to play the OF. It would be nice if they signed an everyday player type though there weren’t too many good options.

    After addressing catcher, picking up some possible bullpen arms, 4th OF types, a starting pitcher, resigning David long term and encouraging him to settle down with an official Mets babe that would be the one major thing that would do the trick.

    • Joe January 24, 2013 at 12:57 pm
      and dealing with Jason Bay .. FINALLY.
    • Joe Janish January 24, 2013 at 3:01 pm
      I agree it sounds contradictory to simultaneously bash the Mets for not spending money yet stating that money shouldn’t be spent on Hairston. The point is that Hairston was one of the last free agent outfielders available, and the Mets have passed on every single one of them. They had many opportunities to bid on available outfielders, didn’t sign any, and from what we’d heard, it appeared as though one of the reasons they didn’t bid on anyone else was that they were putting their eggs into the Scott Hairston basket. Well, those eggs hatched and flew the coop, and here the Mets are, still not spending all the money they supposedly have.

      Now their best shot at an OF is calling on a favor from Bud Selig AND hoping a Scott Boras client will take less money than he’s worth. Good luck with that.

      • Mike B January 24, 2013 at 3:44 pm
        If it makes you feel better Morgan has said the Mets came in second, that if he wasnt going to Japan he would def go to the Mets.
  2. Don O'Brien January 24, 2013 at 3:20 pm
    Of course Hairston was worth 2/6 and his bat will be sorely missed. With equal at bats against lefties and righties he had the best SLG on the team, 504. His 20 HRs were 12 vs. Lefty pitchers and 8 vs. Righty pitchers. I would have given him more ABs.

    The Cubs will love him. He and Murphy were the hard nosed warriors of the team. They and Wright were the clutch hitters when a hit meant winning a game.

    • Mike B January 24, 2013 at 5:52 pm
      Yeah he was worth it, thats why there was such a feeding frenzy over his services. You know who is SORELY MISSED? JOSE REYES not scott hairston.
  3. argonbunnies January 24, 2013 at 8:51 pm
    Good luck, Scott! You were fun to root for. I won’t miss seeing you swing through pitches well out of the strike zone, though.

    Honestly, I’d rather give the playing time to Nieuwenuis, Den Dekker, Brown, Cowgill etc. just in case one of them turns out to be more useful than Hairston going forward. If not, then in 2014 we can just sign a new Hairston-type guy.