Chicago Cubs, Scott Hairston agree to 2-year deal

The Chicago Cubs have signed outfielder Scott Hairston to a 2-year deal, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports. The deal is pending a physical.

Hairston will earn up to $6 million over the next two years, including incentives.

Hairston, 32, enters his 10th season in the Majors, having played for the Diamondbacks, Padres (twice), Athletics, and Mets. He had been in negotiations with the Mets, but the team was not willing to give him 2-years and $8 million.

Hairston slugged 20 home runs last season, which is a career high for him. Hairston is viewed as a strict platoon player and backed that up last season batting .239 versus right-handed pitchers as opposed to .286 against left-handed pitchers. Al Yellon of Bleed Cubbie Blue makes a good point, though:

He won't likely be expected to play against righthanded pitching, as the Cubs have two outfielders (David DeJesus, Nate Schierholtz) as platoon partners.

He can play both corners, and he can also play centerfield for short stretches of time.

His signing with the Cubs comes as a surprise, as the team had not been previously mentioned in reports regarding Hairston's free agency. This falls in line with the approach Chicago has taken to this offseason, which is signing low-risk players who should be very productive.