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http://bluejays.scout.com/2/702602.html

Rotoworld is saying that he's a pretty good left-handed bat who broke his hamate bone last year and will be JF Griffins replacement at Syracuse in 08. Defensively, at best he's a left fielder. We've got a few of those.

I think we picked him up in case we can't get Bonds . Apparently, Bonds has some legal issues he'll have to deal with.

From Baseball Prospectus

2006

The Cards` best outfield prospect, Haerther has shown a little bit of everything thus far: he`s hit for average, some power, and played promising defense. His `04 season ended early with a fractured tibia, which kept him out of the outfield until late May, but he seemed to recover well enough. One scout compares him to a "young Rusty Greer," which hopefully refers to his Greer`s performance and not his injury history. Haerther`s power is a recent arrival; 2006 will be an important indicator of his likely career path. Right now it looks like he could be in St. Louis putting up major-league starter numbers by next year.

2005

The secondary skills are somewhat lacking, but Haerther has a good line-drive swing and makes good contact. He's not a great defender in either outfield corner, but in this organization his bat will carry him. He's worth following as he climbs up the rungs of the system.

I don't see the sense in this (putting him on the 40 man) unless Ricciardi non-tenders Johnson or is actively looking to trade a LF.

I think the whole idea with this pickup is depth.  JFG was going nowhere fast and this guy is the replacement.  He is basically the Jays 6th outfielder with potential to be an everyday player if (make a long list here).  

So Rios & Wells are locks, Johnson is platooning with Stairs to start, Lind if injuries occur to Overbay, Thomas or Stairs occur.  Haerther gets into the mix if Lind falls apart (always possible) or if two injuries occur between Rios, Wells, Johnson, Stairs, Overbay, Thomas, Lind at the same time.  A general rule in baseball is injuries do happen and being prepared is always a good thing.

In the minors he has hit 302/363/474 overall.  '07 was an injury recover season where in AA he hit 289/377/486 over 37 games.  Nothing to sneeze at.  In '06 he played 119 games in AA and hit 275/335/436 which would be basically a replacement level corner outfielder. 

To me Haerther is a solid pickup for nothing.  Entering his age 24 season he could be a steal or he could be a bust but he was basically a trade for JFG (JFG dumped to put this guy on the roster) which means this is good.

Till Lind proves himself or Snider is ready a spare outfielder is a good thing. Stairs is pushing 40 as is Thomas and JFG did not appear to get past a AAA player so I think it's a good pickup and free to boot.

Good pickup for the system.  I don't think he's any closer to the big club than Ryan Patterson, David Smith or Aaron Mathews though.  With Lind at AAA this year, one of those four (Patterson, Smith, Mathews, Haerther) will likely be in AA.  Patterson and Haerther are the youngest at 24.

There's no harm in the move unless you think there's someone better that should be on the 40 man roster that will be lost because of it.  And there's plenty of players on the 40 man roster that wouldn't be a loss if they left (Houston, Machi, Thorpe, Inglett).  Plus, it's pretty close to certain that Towers won't be back.

I like that he's left handed.  If you're going to have a 4th OF for Wells, Rios and Johnson you're better off with a LH hitter.  Plus, RH 4th OFs should be easy to acquire.

According to scout.com, the Jays have outrighted infielder Pedro Lopez to AAA, and removed him from the 40 man roster.  The Jays 40 man roster stands at 39.

Purcey, Yates, Mathews and perhaps Adrian Martin will need to be added to the 40-man roster.

Houston, Machi, Thorpe, Taubenheim, Towers and Inglett are possible deletions.

He's been hot before and then has disappointed, but Purcey's AFL performance should still get him on the 40-man roster. 

I don't think he's any closer to the big club than Ryan Patterson, David Smith or Aaron Mathews though.

Haerther, 24, has a career minor league line of 302/363/474.
David Smith (age 26): 289/339/442
Patterson (24): 286/329/496
Mathews (25): 283/338/411

Haerther seems like a good addition. I agree that there isn't a huge difference among these players, at least offensively, but I like that Haerther is younger than Smith and Mathews and that he gets on base more consistently than the other three.

Blue Jays acquired infielder Marco Scutaro from the Athletics RHP Graham Godfrey and RHP Kristian Bell.

an upgrade over Johnny Mac?  barely but just shows there was no need to give him a multi year deal.

Offensively an upgrade over Jmac - defensively, he is a below average SS.  His splits are all over the place, overall throughout his career he has come up just about even vs. righties and lefties, but they've been wild differences each year.  No way to predict what he'll do in that department.

Over the last 2 years he has had better road splits than home ones, so one can hope that the Oakland park factor was holding him back a bit.  Dunno, decent move for 2 very minor prospects in the Jays system.

I like this acquisition quite a bit.  Reed Johnson is not an acceptable everyday leadoff hitter, but well suited to the platoon role.  Haerther might make a good partner, with Lind moving back to first base.