Jerry Hairston Jr.

[jellis]

just read he is a FA and another name to consider can play SS,2B, or 3B in limited time thanks to being a call up and injuries he hit 326, 20 doubles, and had 15 SB. He could be a cheap option for next year on a 1 or 2 year deal who at worst could be carrolls replacement for next year in terms of a util guy

[MadThinker88]

It could be argued that his stats last season are the 'best' one could expect, that it was his career season.

[jellis]

I could be argued that his stats last season are the 'best' one could expect, that it was his career season.

i agree but I would totally take a guy who could project out to be a 290 hitter, who doesnt strike out, steals 25-30 baseballs and hits 30-35 doubles a year

that would be a be decline in average and slight declines in speed and pop

[TheWord]

His numbers outside of last year are just awful.

I would pass.

[Hermie13]

yeah, he'll likely want at least what Carroll is making. I'd rather just keep Marte as the second utility guy on the infield if anything. If you could get him for $2M or less maybe, but even then I'm not sold on the idea...

[MickS]

yeah, he'll likely want at least what Carroll is making. I'd rather just keep Marte as the second utility guy on the infield if anything. If you could get him for $2M or less maybe, but even then I'm not sold on the idea...

Utility infield guys need to be able to play more than one position. I can't think of a guy more poorly suited to a utility role than Marte.

[Hermie13]

Marte plays 2 right now. With Peralta and Cabrera able to play mulitple positions, marte makes sense (unlike Aubrey who only plays 1B).

[jellis]

what is marte's other position, and if its 1B that means he is not a util guy, most major leaguers can play 1st

[Hermie13]

It's 1B. He's actually played it in a game unlike most guys. And yes, it still does count as a position. Barfield and Aubrey can only play 1 position....

[jellis]

It's 1B. He's actually played it in a game unlike most guys. And yes, it still does count as a position. Barfield and Aubrey can only play 1 position....

I agree none of them are util guys to me, Carroll is he can play all over. Aubrey is a 1B amd barfield 2B, marte a 3B at least thats how I view them

[Hermie13]

Is Blake not a utilty guy since he can only play corner spots? Almost any MLer can play LF (and if you can play LF, you can play RF). It's practically as easy as 1B (Tribe has played Branyan, Sexson, and Broussard in LF for example). I view Marte as a decent utility guy. Plays solid D and hit lefties 'ok' last year, plus hit better the last month+. Obviously Carroll is a MUCH better option.....which is why I said keep Marte as the 'second' utility option.

[jellis]

Blake to me is because he plays more than 2 positions, neither Marte or Bafield have played more than 2 positions in the majors

[Hermie13]

Blake hadn't either til we decided to move him to RF one year. I could see Marte being able to learn LF or 2B pretty easily. Again, no ones ideal choice. I'd just rather keep him on the bench for $400-430K than sign Hairston for $1.5-2M, since we have Carroll for $2.5M already. If Carroll wasn't here, I'd be all for Hairston....

[jellis]

Blake hadn't either til we decided to move him to RF one year. I could see Marte being able to learn LF or 2B pretty easily. Again, no ones ideal choice. I'd just rather keep him on the bench for $400-430K than sign Hairston for $1.5-2M, since we have Carroll for $2.5M already. If Carroll wasn't here, I'd be all for Hairston....

really 2B? I dont see that maybe OF but not sure about that one either

[carnegie44115]

Well when I orignally was reading this thread, I was thinking of Hairston being one of the starting infielders, not a utility guy. I don't support this idea, unless it is a incentive laden deal, because Hairston did have a remarkable season last year, and the rest of his career before that was way below last year.

As for Marte playing 2B, I am not so sure about that, he has never played outside of 3B, LF was tried on him last year in ST, and the Indians quickly threw that out the window. I will take Casey Blake at 2B before Andy Marte anyday.

[Hermie13]

Marte played 1B last year in a ML game...so he can play outside of 3B. And when did they try him in LF last spring? Never saw or heard that (though they may have). They did move him to 1B where he played a decent amount in the spring.

Marte has good feet over at 3B and ok range for the position. Wouldn't be an ideal 2B, but could handle it as well (defensively at least) as a guy like Baerga or more recently Belliard (who actually would be a nice fit for this team this year....but that's for another thread, lol).

[carnegie44115]

Talks about him shagging flyballs in the OF, but the second article after the season had started, talks about his problems in the OF.

http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080313&content_id=2424684&vkey=news_cle&fext=.jsp&c_id=cle

http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080404&content_id=2492264&vkey=news_cle&fext=.jsp&c_id=cle