LaHair LaSigns with LaCubs

Bryan LaHair ('04) is no longer in the Seattle organization.

The Cubs have signed first baseman Bryan LaHair to a Minor League contract and he'll be one of the non-roster invitees this spring.

FOX Sports first reported Saturday that LaHair, 27, will compete for a spot on the Cubs' bench. The left-handed hitter has spent his entire career in the Seattle Mariners' organization. Last year at Triple-A Tacoma, he batted .289 with 26 homers, 28 doubles and 85 RBIs. He hit .313 and 21 of his total homers against right-handed pitchers.

In 2008, LaHair appeared in 45 games with the Mariners and batted .250 with three home runs and 10 RBIs.

In 2004, LaHair had 73 hits in 256 at bats over 67 games in the second half of the season with the Timber Rattlers. He had 24 doubles in those 73 hits. LaHair led the team in doubles.

According to BleacherReport.com...

LaHair got an invite to spring training to compete for a bench job with Brad Snyder and Micah Hoffpauir both left-handed batters as well.

And he could wind up playing for the Iowa Cubs of the PCL if he does not make the Cubs' roster.

Another most obvious headline ever

LaHair enjoying time with M's

"I've liked a lot of things I've seen from Bryan," Mariners manager Jim Riggleman said. "Bryan has settled in nicely. …

"He's shown good discipline at the plate. He's got good knowledge of the strike zone. He's shown us examples of the ball jumping off his bat

he's got a couple home runs. He plays good defense.

"Really, each day he's making a little progress. We've got seven more weeks to evaluate, and we hope he continues along this path because he'll help us next year if he keeps up this pace."

...
"My goal is to show 'em I can hit," LaHair said of what he's looking to do down the stretch. "My goal is to show 'em I can get on base; hope to play solid defense. As far as all the home runs and doubles and all those kinds of things, I'm not really focusing in on those kind of things. … Being here, being in the lineup, I want to do my part to try to help the team win. That's really my main focus."

LaHair was a Rattler in 2004.

Patience

The Worcester Telegram & Gazette News has this story on Bryan LaHair ('04).

It has been said patience is a virtue. And when the player you’re competing against for a job is a two-time All-Star and is making $15.5 million this season, patience is a must.

Such is life for Seattle Mariners first baseman and Holy Name High product Bryan LaHair.

LaHair was selected by Seattle in the 39th round of the 2002 draft and has risen to become a top prospect in the Mariners farm system. And he has continued his impressive play this spring for the Mariners, batting .400 in 11 Cactus League games, making him one of Seattle’s most successful hitters.

“I really enjoy playing here,” LaHair said. “I’m getting a lot done, and I get better everyday. They really work hard with me in all aspects of the game.

That hard work has put LaHair in a place to be noticed, but here is what the manager thinks.

[John] McLaren said LaHair would benefit more from playing everyday for Triple-A Tacoma of the Pacific Coast League rather than playing in a reserve role this season in Seattle.

“I think he is another 500 at-bats away,” McLaren said. “To be bluntly honest, I like him a lot, and we would love him on this club, but I just don’t see the fit right now. That’s nothing negative about him, it’s really a positive that he needs to go out and play. That way when he comes up he will never go back down.”

Much more at the story.