Willie Harris has two offers, according to MLB.com's Bill Ladson (Twitter links). A Nationals source tells Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post that there's "no chance" the utility player returns to Washington.
Harris played all three outfield positions and backed Ryan Zimmerman up at third base last year. In the process, the 32-year-old posted a .183/.291/.362 line with 10 homers. Harris bats from the left side and generally maintains an above-average strikeout to walk ratio.
mariners?
He is a met killer maybe Sandy signs him as beltran/pagan insurance policy ? worst case scenario he plays good defense and we have another endy chavez and a met killer off the market.
I thought the Mets at first, but the low OBP and the fact that I don’t think Sandy would take the “Met killer” status in to consideration makes me believe that they are not one of the 2 teams. Can he really play CF well anyway?
As big a Met killer as Oliver Perez?
Rather have him than Matt Tolbert on the Twins…
A never was who can “play” a bunch of positions and doesn’t hit for average? I bet Dusty Baker would love to get his hands on him! The first thing he would do is get his walks down.
And then bat him leadoff.
He combined for 3.5 WAR in 2008-9, had a bad year last year although his OBP was still 100 points higher than his BA, for what it’s worth. A 3.5 WAR (over two seasons), for a bench player is pretty good, especially one who can play 6 positions and is an above average outfielder and baserunner.
if the Mets do not sign him let him go to Seattle or Minnesota or the White Sox wherever but not NL.
His greatest value is as a defensive replacement late in games. More of a need for that in the NL. Doubtful he goes to the AL.
Woulda been a good rebound player since keppinger failed for the yankees but hes a lefty! Idk why they just dont stick with ramiro pena? Or christian guzman. But i dont like him for the mets.
These are the kinds of signings that are easy to slag, and Harris is certainly no world beater. But then again, given the small amounts of playing time guys in his role get, isn’t it more instructive to look at his career numbers when deciding if he’s a good get, rather than simply ragging him for a subpar 2010? I think he’s as likely as not to be a pretty good bench guy. In the last five years, he’s been a positive value three times.
And for all of the points we could make about the minor leaguers who probably deserve a chance at roles like the one Harris will get, there is probably something to be said for the stabilizing effect it has on a team to go with a veteran in utility roles, rather than go through the drama of sorting out a mess of minor league guys.
God help anyone who tries to play him every day, though.
Wow. The Mets (fans) must really HATE Willie Harris. That’s awesome!!! LOL.
I didn’t know that there were “Mets killers”…..I thought the Mets took care of killing themselves pretty well.
Perhaps “Mets morticians” who bury the dead?
back to Atlanta? they’re looking for a defensive outfielder and could use depth at 3rd base. i think it’s a good fit, and from what i always heard he was well liked in the blubhouse and is a local to the area….?
I don’t know that I would call him a GOOD defensive outfielder. He’s versatile and probably plays a better CF than Mclouth or a better 2B than Uggla, but those are pretty low bars. But as a Braves fan I wouldn’t be apalled to see Willie come back as the 4th outfielder, so long as it was a 1 year/$700K-ish contract.
Edit: Appalled, I mean.
Slim and none?
Take it or leave it?
I was thinking… retirement or Japan
“backed up ryan zimmerman at 3B” is a little bit of an overstatement. he hardly played 3B for the nats at all. gonzalez got most of the backup at 3B last year. willie got something like 8 starts there in two seasons.
Good point (and it actually was only 6 starts in two years and 9 starts in three years).
Willie in the infield ain’t too pretty in the estimation of this Nats fan.
I know this may sound kinda strange, but do you think one of the teams could be the Athletics? I feel he could be a defensive sub for either Willingham or Kouzmanoff and/or a late inning pinchrunner. With the way Billy Beane heavily pursued Beltre and other FA 3B, it may not be that far of a stretch to see Oakland pursuing Harris as an inexpensive utility stopgap.
I remember Harris from his brief Boston days. This is a marginal bench player at best and if he gets in your lineup on a regular basis disaster must have put him there. Late inning replacement, maybe pinch run or giving a guy a day or two off he can’t do much damage.
Mets, please.
Mets, please.
Maybe the yankees made him a offer. Been after him the last 2 seasons?