Pro Baseball News

Padres, CF Hairston avoid arbitration (AP) (sports.yahoo.com)

Scott Hairston and the San Diego Padres avoided arbitration, agreeing Thursday to a $1.25 million, one-year contract. Hairston, San Diego's opening-day center fielder in 2008, hit .248 in a career-high 112 games. His 17 home runs and 42 runs scored were career bests. He made 30 starts in left field and 45 in center before missing the last month of the season with a torn ligament in his left thumb.