As expected, the Padres have decided to non-tender both Tony Gwynn Jr. and Scott Hairston.
San Diego locked up its fourth outfielder for 2011 by signing Chris Denorfia to a one-year, $800,000 deal, making Gwynn and Hairston somewhat superfluous.
In addition to his fantastic, beloved-in-San Diego bloodlines Gwynn has proven to be an elite defensive center fielder, but he’s struggled to hit or stay healthy and the Padres acquired Cameron Maybin to be their starter there for 2011 and beyond.
Hairston’s value is mostly at the plate, but at this point he’s a 30-year-old with a mediocre .737 career OPS and looks like little more than a platoon player despite plenty of power.