Indians sign Bryan LaHair to minor-league deal with spring training invite
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The Indians signed 2012 National League All-Star Bryan LaHair on Tuesday, the club announced. It's a minor-league deal with a spring training invite, tweets ESPN's Jerry Crasnick.
LaHair, 31, spent the 2013 season in Japan, where he hit .230/.306/.428 in 111 games, with 16 home runs and 57 RBI.
LaHair was an All-Star in 2012 with the Cubs. He had a 108 wRC+ in 130 games, with 16 home runs and 40 RBI.
During LaHair's All-Star season, he hit .289 (.835 OPS) with 14 HR in 261 1st-half PAs. Faded in 2nd half: .202 (.572), 2 HR in 119 PAs.
— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) February 5, 2014
Bastian, the Indians beat writer for MLB.com, has more on the left-handed hitting LaHair, who can't hit left-handed pitching to save his life:
LaHair has drastic platoon splits in MLB career: .289 (.835 OPS) vs. RHP and .098 (.380) vs. LHP. Career .326 (.914) as pinch hitter.
— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) February 5, 2014
He'll compete for a DH spot with the club this spring, Bastian adds, and a bench role. This a depth signing, not that there's anything wrong with that.
LaHair has a career 105 wRC+ in 195 games, with 21 home runs and 56 RBI. He's struck out in 30.4 percent of his career plate appearances. As for his defense, there's a reason he's a designated hitter and first baseman. We'll leave it at that.
This is a low-risk, high-reward signing for the Indians. We'll give them credit for trying.