4
2012
From Left Field: Is Scott Hairston The Answer For A Corner Outfield Spot?
An article by 
It was great to see Scott Hairston hit a home run yesterday to reach the 20-home run plateau in a Mets victory on the final day of the season.
Hairston was a consistent performer this season as he set a new career-high in games played with 134.
He hit extremely well against left-handed pitching so he earned time as a platoon player, but based on the Mets lackluster offense, Hairston found himself in the lineup often regardless of the opposing pitcher.
As the Mets begin their search for outfield help, where does Hairston fit in the mix?
Yes, he had a nice season, but he’s really not an everyday player at this point in his career. He will be 33 next May, and his .239/.281/.457 line against right-handers in 188 at-bats isn’t too impressive.
He would definitely be a cheap option, since it seems the Mets won’t be pursuing B.J. Upton, Michael Bourn or Shane Victorino (who would even want Victorino anyway?).
But he’s not an everyday center fielder, which is really what the Mets needs.
Here’s a scenario to consider. The problem is Jason Bay will be on this team Opening Day and will be given every chance to succeed (or fail miserably). The team still appears to have hope for Lucas Duda as well.
It seems as though Bay and Duda will platoon in left field to start the season. If the Mets do decide to bring back Hairston as a platoon player, maybe a Hairston/Mike Baxter platoon in right field could work. Baxter isn’t exactly Roberto Clemente in right field, but he can be a decent complimentary player if given the chance. Before he made that stellar catch in Johan Santana’s no-hitter, he was hitting well and playing great defense.
Of course, having two platoons going on in the outfield with basically the same cast of characters may not be considered a he upgrade. But if everyone involved understands their roles and the Mets somehow bring in a good center fielder, maybe it all can work.
As of this moment, it looks like Andres Torres is long gone, leaving Kirk Nieuwenhuis as the only somewhat-MLB-ready candidate to take over in center. It’s looking like Jordany Valdespin will be looked at as solely an infielder from now on.
This team has so many needs and not enough funds to fill all those needs, so as Sandy Alderson has been saying, the team needs to be creative. Maybe they can pull off a trade with the Red Sox for Jacoby Ellsbury or (more of a long-shot) Justin Upton. But for now, we need to be thinking of cost-effective options that can get the job done.
Duda/Bay and Hairston/Baxter platoons are certainly not ideal, but if they can all settle into their platoon roles and the Mets bring in a new center fielder, maybe it can all work out.
Hairston may not be the sole solution to be an everyday corner outfielder, but he can be part of the overall solution, especially if the Mets can improve in other areas.
About the Author: Jim Mancari
Jim Mancari hails from Massapequa, N.Y. He recently earned a Master's degree in Journalism at Hofstra University. He is a devout Mets fan and takes pride in his team, despite their lack of success over the last few years. Like all Mets fans, Jim has plenty of hope. He also writes as the sports reporter for the Brooklyn Tablet newspaper and the senior editor of metroBASEBALL Magazine. Click my name to view my personal website.
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NL East Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braves | 42 | 28 | .600 | - |
| Nationals | 34 | 35 | .493 | 7.5 |
| Phillies | 34 | 37 | .479 | 8.5 |
| Mets | 25 | 40 | .385 | 14.5 |
| Marlins | 22 | 47 | .319 | 19.5 |
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Is Scott Hairston The Answer For A Corner Outfield Spot?
NO!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anybody want to bet a week ban with me on the TIGERS vs OAKLAND??? Please step up and let me know… and if you all know me, you know exactly who i am trying to have a bet with…
He makes our bench better. I still do not see him or Baxter as a full time starters.
http://risingapple.com/2012/10/01/predicting-the-new-york-mets-outfield-for-2013/
As part of a platoon he’d be fine. But a starting OF hitting from both sides of the plate? Not in my book.
I know Hairston had a quite a year, including hitting an all time high 20 HRs. I still don’t see him as a starting OF though. His splits are stark.
Re-signing him for one year is going to be difficult. I’ll be surprised if we spring for a multi year deal and I’m assuming that’s what Hairston is looking for.
Agreed.
Only as a part of a platoon, but I read that he’s not signing up for any platoon roles next season and expects to play everyday.
As a partner for Duda if we can’t improve on LF? Sure but certainly not as a starter. Sorry.
at this point, go with bay and duda.. he’ll demand starter money probably. get rid of this guy if so. go with Kirk in CF and try to acquire a RF via trade or maybe one of those low cost guys we get every year, pour some sandy kool aid and tell us how good he’ll be and finish punting 2013 accordingly
Duda will be at first base.
The numbers Hairston put up are largely the product of being protected from RHP earlier in the season.
His BA might have ended higher if they had kept platooning him the entire season.
Vs Lefties he is a .270-.280 Hitter, vs Righties he is a .240 hitter.
He has roughly the same HR pop vs LHP and RHP though it’s what he does between those HRs with righties compared to lefties that kills him.
He is not really an everyday player in my mind but he will probably get enough of an offer that we won’t get a sniff at retaining him.
He’s 32 and going to want to guarantee to be an everyday guy and want a 2-3 year deal minimum to make sure he gets that.
I don’t see Sandy signing him for more than 2 years. Sandy is hoping by then he will have better options to play out there.
Bay won’t be on the opening day roster. Unless he can find the fountain of youth (ask A Rod, he knows where it is), and can show in ST he is the Boston Bay again, he will be lopped off before opening day.
A Duda platoon though is possible, it just won’t be with bay. Hairston could be the guy if he will sign a deal befitting a platoon type.
Bay won’t be on the opening day roster”
Based on what?
I would assume he is citing the examples of Luis and Ollie.
His name is jason… not luis or oliver. Can you Please let HIM answer? i get you gotta STICK out for your desert contributors but damn..
Ah yes, Alex with the subtle hint of racism again, that lacks subtlety.
Now that that is out of the way, ideally much like Luis Castillo and Oliver Perez, Jason Bay is dead weight on the roster. And one would be hopeful that seeing it as the last year of his deal, much like Castillo and Perez, the same protocol will be followed if he shows nothing in Spring Training.
Ideally Bay retires or the front office doesn’t even give him the chance to reach Spring Training, though Sandy has already said Bay won’t be released over the offseason. However, is he’s on the opening day roster it’ll be a travesty unless he absolutely tore it up during Spring Training.
I don’t see Hairston signing with the Mets until late January. I expect he will get a better deal from another team. Sandy won’t offer alot of money, maybe 5 million over two years. Hairston will shop around before settling cheap.
I can see him testing the free-agent market thinking some team will make him a starter…when they don’t, he will re-sign with the Mets because he will ultimately get more playing time with the Mets than any other team even if he isn’t a starter.
He is a quality platoon player. Some of the best avaliable outfielders are late in their careers. Ibaniez signed this year for only 1 million. I feel Sandy would rather play some rule 5 guy and pay him the minimum;. but would give Hairston “Torres money”
The timing, duration, and cost seem about right. I would do it, with Baxter, Duda, and a new CFer in tow.