The New York Mets have yet to place outfielder Scott Hairston on waivers this month, but the team should look to deal him before the end of the month, writes Ken Davidoff of the NY Post.
Now is not the time to shop young players under control, such as Ike Davis, Lucas Duda, Daniel Murphy and Josh Thole. Those are winter trade possibilities; you want to engage all teams in players like that.
As an impending free agent, Hairston is different. He can parachute in to a contender and help — enough, the Mets can hope, that a claiming club would be willing to give up a lower-tiered prospect. A warm body with potential.
The 32-year-old Hairston attracted several teams at the trade deadline, but the Mets were not interested in parting with him at the time. Hairston has performed particularly well against left-handed pitchers this season, hitting .304/.338/.587 with nine home runs.
Batting .264/.305/.516 with fourteen home runs overall, it is unlikely Hairston would make it through the waiver process unclaimed. With Hairston owed just $1.1 million in salary, Davidoff believes the outfielder will be an ex-Met come September 1 unless the claiming team offers nothing in return.
____________________________________________________________________
Will Scott Hairston still be a Met on September 1st?
____________________________________________________________________