Mets Press Release

The New York Mets today announced that they have signed outfielder Willie Harris, who has hit 30 home runs over the last three seasons, to a minor league contract with an invitation to major league Spring Training.

Harris, 32, hit 10 home runs, six doubles, two triples, with 32 RBI while batting .183 (41-224) in 132 games for the Washington Nationals in 2010. He played all three outfield positions as well as third base last season.

The 5-9, 190-pounder collected 18 doubles, six triples, seven home runs with 27 RBI in 137 games with the Nationals in 2009. Harris’ best season came in 2008 when he established career highs in home runs (13), RBI (43) and games (140) with Washington.

He has a career .239 (516-2157) batting average with 85 doubles, 24 triples, 37 home runs, 101 stolen bases and 187 RBI in 895 games with the Baltimore Orioles, Chicago White Sox, Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves and Nationals.

Harris had a pinch-hit single in the eighth inning and scored the only run in Chicago’s 2005 World Series clinching Game Four 1-0 victory over the Houston Astros.

Harris is also one of three natives of Cairo, GA to play in the major leagues, joining his nephew Earnest Riles and Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson.

Original Post 1/14 1:30 pm

Well, it appears as if the Mets search for a fourth OF may be coming to its end, as Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com has reported.

Outfielder/second baseman Willie Harris, who has tormented the Mets in recent years with his glove, will be joining the Mets, a source tells ESPNNewYork.com. Harris has agreed to a minor league deal with spring training invite, but appears a decided favorite to make the team.

Whether this is a good thing or a bad thing, will be to see in Spring Training. Harris is coming off of a bad year, hitting .183/.291/.362 with 10 home runs, 32 RBI and 25 runs in 262 plate appearances. Last year, he spent most of his time in LF & RF, but backed up Ryan Zimmerman at third and played 4 innings in CF. In 2009 he started 53 games in CF. He has also played some 2B over the course of his career

What strikes me as a major plus, is his ability to get on base and curtail the strikeouts. His versatility gives the Mets a much better defensive backup then anyone short of Jason Pridie.

Plus, if he is on our team, he can stop making game ending catches and great plays AGAINST us.