Hairston signs with Padres, no offer from Yankees

Jerry Hairston Jr., the Yankees’ 2009 utility player, signed a $2.125MM contract with the Padres yesterday, joining his brother Scott Hairston. Buster Olney tweeted the Yankees didn’t even make an offer, and have “no recent contact with Johnny Damon.”

All three news bits were a bit surprising to me. Come on Cashman, the Padres went $125K over your budget and you didn’t even make an offer? Now the free agent market lacks a player who can play both infield and outfield at a decent level, so the Yankees will most likely settle for an outfielder. Dan LaTorraca of Bronx Baseball Daily listed six possible options.

Also, if the Yankees haven’t contacted Damon, then who has? His list of suitors shrink by the day along with his price tag.

Another news item for you: Chad Gaudin and Boone Logan signed one-year deals with the Yanks, avoiding arbitration.