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**DodgerBlue32** · 03-05-2008, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Reds sign Hairston Jr., Patterson to minor league contracts

CINCINNATI -- The Cincinnati Reds signed two players on Monday who used to play for Dusty Baker in Chicago.

Jerry Hairston Jr., who was named in the Mitchell report, signed a minor league deal as did Corey Patterson.

The Mitchell report says former New York Mets clubhouse attendant Kirk Radomski said he sold human growth hormone to Hairston on two or three occasions during 2003 and 2004. Radomski said he had one check from Hairston.

Reds general manager Wayne Krivsky said the team talked to Major League Baseball about Hairston's situation before offering the contract.

"I can't get into specifics," Krivsky said. "It's a situation we're comfortable with now, based on what we were told."

Hairston, an infielder who played with Baker in 2005-06 with the Chicago Cubs, spent the bulk of his 10 seasons with the Baltimore Orioles, from 1998 to 2004. He played for the Texas Rangers in 2006-07 and batted .189.

Hairston is the son of Jerry Hairston, grandson of Sammy Hairston, brother of Scott Hairston and nephew of Johnny Hairston -- all major leaguers.

If added to the 40-man roster, Hairston would get a contract paying him $500,000 in the majors and $62,500 in the minors. He could earn $100,000 in performance bonuses: 25,000 each for 75 and 85 games, and $50,000 for 95 games.

Patterson, who batted .269 with eight homers, 45 RBIs and 37 stolen bases for the Orioles last season, played for the Cubs from 2000-2005 and for Baltimore in 2006-2007.

Both players are expected to report to camp Tuesday.

Full story.

Will either Patterson or Hairston see significant playing time? Both players were added to significantly crowded positions...

Both play outfield - the Reds already have Dunn, Freel, Griffey, Hopper, and super prospect Jay Bruce fighting for playing time. Hairston can also play the middle infield, but the Reds already have Castro, Keppinger, and Phillips... as well as Freel and Gonzalez should he be able to play.

**simpleman424** · 03-18-2008, 04:26 PM

Playing time is the big question with these two...but I liked Patterson with the O's so I hope that he's at least given a fair chance to contribute with the Reds as well.

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