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May 31, 2006
Nevin Traded
Texas traded DH PHIL NEVIN to the Chicago Cubs for utility guy JERRY HAIRSTON JR..
Hairston earns $2.3 million annually this season to Nevin’s $10 million plus, and Texas has emptied a cash-filled dumptruck onto Wrigley Field to consummate the deal.
Nevin batted .204/.287/.382 as a Ranger. He could have continued to provide a useful lefty bat, but his public pouting upon being benched last year probably hastened his exit. It didn’t matter much last September with the Rangers virtually eliminated from postseason play, but now, with the team in first place and two-thirds of the season remaining, his disposition matters. “Marginally useful� plus “potentially troublesome� does not equal “helps team win division.�
Hairston presumably makes D’Angelo Jimenez superfluous. He can play second, short and any outfield spot. He’d offered respectable on-base skills until this season.
Finally, when Texas releases Hairston or declines to offer arbitration at season’s end, the Chan Ho Park saga will reach its merciful end.
Posted by Lucas at May 31, 2006 05:09 PM