While the Brewers continue their search for a shortstop, one familiar face that could have filled the role is moving on. Infielder Jerry Hairston, Jr. is signing with the Dodgers for 2 years and $6 million, according to Ken Rosenthal.
Hairston hit .274/.348/.379 in 45 regular season games for the Brewers, following a midseason deal that sent former Brewers Minor League Player of the Year Erik Komatsu to Washington. Hairston got hot at the right time down the stretch, hitting .375/.400/.500 (20 plate appearances) in the NLDS against Arizona and .391/.440/.565 (25 PA) in the NLCS against St. Louis.
Doug Melvin was quoted in the past week as saying his only official offer to any free agent was one to Hairston. Now with Hairston gone, Melvin and the Brewers will have to go back to the drawing board. Not only are they trying to find a starting shortstop, but with Craig Counsell presumably not returning, they’ll also need to find a utility type for the bench. Hairston would have filled that role well, and if the Brewers were unable to sign another shortstop, he would have been a decent option there, too.
Losing Hairston won’t be the end of the world, but considering he was signed away for a very reasonable deal, it will sting a little.
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