VET OUTFIELDER HAIRSTON HEADS TO NATS
The Washington Nationals acquired outfielder Scott Hairston, cash and a player to be named later from the Chicago Cubs for pitcher Ivan Pineyro and a player to be named later.
What does it give the Washington Nationals
As a still-contending team the Nats are clearly looking for some organizational depth options in the outfield. Enter Hairston, who has some pop in his bat and can fill in at all three outfield spots if needed. Down the stretch, it won't be surprising to see Hairston called up to play meaningful minutes. He should steal some at-bats from the struggling {P Roger Bernadina}, at the very least. However, he was clearly acquired to help the bench.
What does it give the Chicago Cubs
The young and rebuilding Cubs make a nice little move here in dropping Hairston's solid salary for the rest of this season and next. Young righty Pineyro isn't a top-tier pitching prospect but he is relatively promising and has been good in the low minors this year. He seems to have solid control, a fairly live arm and a mature makeup for his age. Hairston was in a platoon in right field but the Cubs did well here to move out some salary.
Fantasy impact
Even if Hairston manages to win Washington's fourth outfielder job the rest of the way he isn't a passable fantasy option (since he doesn't play everyday and probably isn't likely to with the Nationals). Meanwhile any fading fringe fantasy value Bernadina had will now probably vanish. On the Cubs side, Pineyro is too far from making his major league debut to be on the fantasy radar anytime soon.
