Hairston, Jr. signs 2-year pact with Dodgers

MILWAUKEE You can cross another item off Doug Melvin's off-season shopping list.The Brewers had hoped to re-sign Jerry Hairston, Jr. for 2012 but the veteran infielder signed late Monday night with the Los Angeles Dodgers, who offered a two-year contract believed to be worth 6 million.Melvin had previously extended a contract offer to Hairston, who hit .274 with 10 doubles in 45 games with Milwaukee, which acquired him at the trade deadline to fill the hole left by Rickie Weeks' injury. He was moved into the starting lineup for the postseason, in place of the struggling Casey McGehee, and performed well, hitting .385 with six doubles and four RBI."We'll have to try to find somebody else," Melvin told Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "That's his decision. He's a free agent and they get to decide that."The Brewers envisioned Hairston to fill the role held over the past few years by Craig Counsell, who Melvin said last month didn't fit into the team's plans moving forward. A 14-year veteran, Hairston could play most infield positions and also could make spot appearances in the outfield.