FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal just reported on Twitter (@Ken_Rosenthal) that the Washington Nationals and 34-year-old, 13-year MLB veteran IF/OF Jerry Hairston had agreed on a 1-year/$2M dollar deal with incentives that could earn the one-time Orioles, Cubs, Rangers, Reds, Yankees and Padres' an extra million this season. Hairston, who put up a .244/.299/.353 slash line in 119 games and 430 at bats for San Diego last season, was mentioned last week in an article by MLB.com's Bill Ladson as a possibile replacement on the bench when the Nats decided that Willie Harris would not return.
Over the course of his career, the Orioles' 11th Round pick in 1997, has average a .257/.325/.370 slash line with 27 doubles, 8 HR's and 43 RBI's per 162 games played. The right-handed bat is expected to come off the bench granted he does in fact make the Nationals' Opening Day roster. The signing is one of several the Nationals have made in the last few days as they've added infielders Adam LaRoche and Alex Cora, reliever Todd Coffey, starter Tom Gorzelanny and now Hairston, Jr. and signed all of their arbitration eligible players. They still have not, however, announced any changes to the 40-man roster though an announcement of some sort should be made in the near future. The Nationals, with the addition of Hairston, now have 43 or 44 names on their major league roster, depending on whether or not Coffey's given a major league deal.