2:12pm: Philadelphia actually will be able to reap some of the insurance benefits relating to Harrison, Salisbury clarifies. The Phils would have been able to save over half of the remainder owed had they kept him on the roster, but instead negotiated a settlement with the carrier that leaves the team with a “lesser payout.”
12:38pm: The Phillies have released lefty Matt Harrison, per a club announcement. Dropping him from the 40-man roster will increase the team’s flexibility this winter.
Harrison, 31, came to Philadelphia as part of the cost balancing in the Cole Hamels trade. He is still owed $15MM through next season, which includes a buyout of a 2018 club option, under the extension he signed with the Rangers.
There were no clear expectations that Harrison would even attempt to pitch this year. Serious back issues have completely derailed his career. Though he was able to return briefly to the majors in 2015, he hasn’t appeared in any competitive action since the trade.
By cutting ties with Harrison now, the Phillies will not be able to collect insurance proceeds to offset the money still owed, Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com notes on Twitter. The policy covering Harrison’s contract appeared to have some possibility of paying out for at least a significant part of the remaining salary, but that either wasn’t likely to occur or wasn’t worth the sacrifice of a roster spot.
Though he was never much of a strikeout pitcher, and tended to overperform his peripherals, Harrison pitched to a 3.34 ERA in 399 innings over the 2011 through 2012 campaigns. That led Texas to ink him to a five-year, $55MM extension, but Harrison was only able to make nine more starts from that point forward.
$15 million for a roster spot – interesting. Wow.
He’ll never pitch again…at least not during the length of his current contract. Why pay him for doing nothing AND waste a roster spot? This is the best move possible.
Either way, Harrison was going to get paid $15M. So, the free roster spot that protects a prospect that could get lost through the Rule 5 Draft and the prospect will undoubtedly end up being much more valuable than Harrison.
Wouldn’t have been all of it. There was some deductible (or however it was framed), then 75% coverage of the remaining salary. And that assumes the policy was otherwise going to pay out, which seems uncertain.
They must have been pretty sure that they couldn’t collect on the insurance….that’s a lot of money to cut bait on.
A team with the financial resources the Phillies have would be foolish to choose an insurance payout over a roster spot for a young player.
They have too many rule 5 eligible players this year to limit themselves with a 39 man roster. There’s still plenty of players they can cut: Asche, Buchanan, Morgan, Severino, etc that they have some flexibility but they also have a ton of guys to protect in AA and above.
Harrison is likely done. for a rebuilding team like Phillies that have the ability to eat a contract this was the right move. Free up roster space for someone that has a future with the team or at minimum can at least provide something this year.
$55M for 9 starts. Good for Harrison to strike it rich at the right time.
Backs are strange, don’t know the physical issue, but….Lefthander with movement. Could come back as a reliever. If he can get healthy.
2018 comeback player of the year
How is he a waste of a roster spot if he stays on the 60 day DL? Not saying this is the wrong move or anything, just figured that decision didn’t need to be made until he was close to returning.
As I understand it, a player can’t remain on the 60-day DL during the off-season. If the Phillies are worried about protecting players in the upcoming Rule 5 draft, they probably decided now was the time to cut Harrison loose.
You are correct.
As an aside, I’d have a fun time with a one-stop-shop that had all 40 teams upcoming concerns on the Rule 5 Draft. Cuz I’m a geek.
Can’t use the 60-day during the offseason. (Think it starts again with ST.)
Leave the memories alone, Matt Harrison. Your time in Philadelphia will not be forgotten!
Seeing five years, $55 million for a pitcher contract really brings back bad memories as a Dodgers fan…
Obviously they worked out their concerns, but… If it came down to the losing the insurance couldn’t they have just outrighted him for the roster spot?
Angels bring him on