For those who still give management the benefit of the doubt, here is more evidence to wonder:
the Cubs are now collecting platoon players like former GM Jim Hendry did with second basemen.
The Cubs signed 33 year old reserve outfielder Scott Hairston to a two year contract. He only really hits left handed pitching and has never played full time in his career.
Last season with the Mets, he had 398 PA, hit .263, 20 HR, 57 RBI, 8 SB, .299 OBP, 1.5 WAR.
It is hit or miss for Hairston. He had a .994 fielding percentage for the outfield positions; he has only played second twice since 2009.
So technically, Hairston is now the second best outfielder on the roster after Soriano.
His signing means that two-thirds of the opening day outfield roster will be in a platoon situation:
DeJesus/Sappelt and Schierholtz/Hairston. It is sort of Little League: everyone plays.
But this is another signal that the Cubs are going to sign marginal part time journeymen for the next several seasons. It is called "Rebuilding While Standing Still." Epstein and Hoyer are putting all their competitive eggs in their draft choice basket, hoping that the young players they have signed will be a collective of Mike Trouts in 2015.
