In an update on the market for Pirates second baseman Josh Harrison, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune Review writes that a “handful” of organizations have at least reached out to gauge the asking price. Indeed, there’s some indication that he’s the Bucs’ most heavily pursued trade candidate.
Among the teams to have reached out are the Yankees, Mets, and Blue Jays. The Yanks were tied recently, albeit somewhat speculatively, to Harrison in relation to a potentially larger move involving Gerrit Cole. Interest from the latter two was reported a few weeks back (see here and here), though it’s notable to hear they’re still in pursuit.
Though further pursuers haven’t yet been identified, it isn’t difficult to imagine quite a few other clubs having interest. Harrison, after all, can play all over the diamond and would fit quite comfortably on a number of rosters.
His contract rights are also rather appealing. The 30-year-old will earn a reasonable $10MM in 2018 and can be controlled by successive club options. At $10.5MM and $11.5MM apiece, they won’t exactly come at a bargain rate, but the flexibility is plenty desirable in its own right.
Harrison likely won’t replicate his excellent 2014 campaign, but was plenty productive in 2017. He ended the year with a solid .272/.339/.432 batting line and career-best 16 home runs to go with a dozen steals. As usual, Harrison rated as a quality defender and baserunner, making him an approximately 3-WAR player despite only carrying league-average production at the plate.
At this point, it does not seem that any team has emerged as a clear favorite to acquire Harrison — or even that the Pirates are more likely than not to move him. While the organization could fill in from within should it deal Harrison, there’s also little question that he improves the team’s outlook for 2018. Just how inclined the Pirates will be to move him may hinge on whether they end up dealing Cole and/or long-time franchise face Andrew McCutchen.
Pirates Breakdown also reporting Rockies have interest, though that’s not a real natural fit
Hate to see him go because he is really fun to watch him play the game. That said, he can only keep this up for another year or so the way he plays. If they can package him and Cole to the Yanks for what is being banter about, Frazier, Adams, and Andujar, would take it in a heartbeat.
Let Pittsburgh have Betances too.
Pittsburgh gonna lose both Harrison’s…ouch.
Josh is more fun than James. He can still play too:)
James wasn’t a loss. Their was a reason he was third string.
There is a reason you’re talking about sports on the internet and not 3rd string. It might be since you don’t know there and their that you couldn’t possibly know the playbook.
Are you replying to me? If you are can you please explain what you are talking about?
Could replace him with Pablo Sanchez
If the Yankees DO acquire him, at least he’ll be forced to shave his beard. While some players can grow a great beard, Harrison’s just makes him look homeless or like some hobo.
Disagree. He looks awesome and I hope he never shaves.
Lol i agree with SundownDevil
You say he look like Habeeb? Habeebo? Habeebo no hobo! That is pickle-nose statement, Habeebo a hobo, ha!
Harrison isn’t worth $10MM plus the cost of prospects to the Yankees even as part of a package for Cole..
Zach Cozart a career .254 hitter and .305 obp just got 13mil for 3 years. I think you underestimate the value. If he was overpaid as you seem to think their wouldn’t be a market for him
Yep. Harrison is worth Clint Frazier, straight up right now.
IMO I wouldn’t trade Frazier for Harrison straight up.and I don’t think the Yankees would either.. Again the Yankees don’t need Harrison. The ONLY reason he’s even being mentioned in the conversation is because the Yankees like Cole.
Eh, you might not be wrong, based on value, but it’s a sucky trade for the Yanks ultimately since they’re moving a valuable asset in Frazier to replace Castro, who was cheaper and more productive than Harrison. Which is why Harrison isn’t going to be playing on the Yanks. Basically a dead end the way I see it.
Lmao. Harrison is worth Frazier? Not on Earth.
Harrison is more productive than Castro. He has been worth 4 wins more than Castro since 2014 (Harrison’s first year as an everyday guy).
Castro 11M next year with a 1.9 war. Harrison 8.5m 2.6 war
Looking back at it, Harrison for Frazier + some filler is more fair
As I said he’s not worth it to the Yankees. The Yankees don’t need him when they have Torres and Andujar who are ML ready to join the Yankees at league minimum and highly regarded. No need to spend the money and prospects on a 30 year only who prior to 2017 who’s highest HR’s total was 13 and nothing special in OBP or OPS+.
there, not their!
Nothing wrong with league average offense. Especially if it’s backed up by good defense, baserunning, and intangibles. 10M with an option is a good rate.
Yankees are better off with Todd Frazier if this is the alternative. How don’t they have room to get Todd at this point?
Agreed. I could see Frazier falling back and taking a one year $10mm deal with the Yanks.
He’s holding out for a multi year deal. Probably something in the $15 MM per year range
Doesn’t mean he’ll get that
Harrison would actually probably out produce Frazier by a lot. All of his HRs would have been HRs at Yankee Stadium last year. I bet he would hit 20+ in Yankee Stadium while giving you excellent defense at 2B or 3B. He will likely cost about the same as Frazier too. I don’t know why you would rather have Frazier.
Perhaps the following:
Mets acquire RHP Gerrit Cole and 2B Josh Harrison for SS Amed Rosario, LHP David Peterson and 2B Luis Guillorme.
I bet Pirates would take Harvey. Mets want rid of him. Pirates love has-been pitchers.
That’d be interesting. I could see Harvey reinventing himself in PIT like so many others have before. I was hoping Michael Pineda signed with PIT so that they could work on getting the most out of him.
What an awful trade for the Mets.
I would say I’m glad you don’t run the Mets franchise, however, you’re basically the same as Sandy Alderson with that, so.
Pirates would get a better return on all of their players if they wait closer to the trade deadline. Happens every year. The contending teams get desperate.
Had even looked at the numbers until I read this. He’s not cheap at all. I don’t know why, but I was under the impression he would cost somewhere in the range of $7 or $8mm over the next two years. I was way off. That said, I don’t see the Yanks being a match at all. Castro was more productive offensively and actually cheaper. The Yanks don’t have the payroll for both him and Cole. And referencing “2014” is not a good thing when talking about a player in 2018.
He’s not overpaid, just the anything with the Yanks makes sense at this point.
Castro and Harrison were pretty close offensively last year and Harrison was better on the bases and on defense. Castro put up a 1.9 fWAR and Harrison put up a 2.6. All while factoring in Harrison plays in a place that heavily favors pitchers and Castro plays in a place that heavily favors hitters.
Josh Harrison is a good ballplayer but only a piece. He is not a core guy or an allstar just a reliable piece that can contribute. He won’t make or break any playoff run and isn’t worth an elite and/or ready prospect, perhaps a couple of good to very good AA guys.
Well he’s an 2x all star, so you’re wrong there. Hes not an elite player, but he’s above average with term and position flexibility… he’s worth more than a couple fliers. People over value prospects that are more likely to flop. Proven value is worth more than projected value
I know it seems I’m picking on u but a lot of what ur saying does not make much sense. First u say Brad Hand and Solarte should net u Bichette, Alford and Pearson but Harrison would only net the Pirates fringe prospects? Harrison was an all star last year. IMO Harrison has a ton of value. He can fill in at multiple positions and provide a team with above average production. For a team like the Yankees he is certainly a player that can put them over the top. For a team like the Jays no he isn’t going to put them over the top but also imo he has more value than Hand/Solarte combined
Waiting for “If the Yankees want Harrison they have to give up Torres” comments.
I LIKE TORRES for Jordy Mercer straight-up
The only one that said that is you.
Personally speaking, I would like the Jays to trade Donaldson, Pillar, Smoak, Happ, and Osuna and get some nearly ready prospects for them. I would make a trade for Harrison to man 3b for this year only while they give Vlad Guerrero Jr another year to develop and then Harrison can be a super utility player for the next 2 years after that. Borucki could replace Happ in the rotation and they have some good depth in relief pitching and one of them could replace Osuna. Teoscar Hernandez would take over in RF, Anthony Alford would take CF, and Pompey/Pearce/Carrera would fight over LF and extra OF positions.
Dam Blue Jays ! Seems every team has had some sort of Minor League signing or Major league signing ! Jays seem to be sitting on their hands and will get left out in the cold ! I think Boras has a lot to do with the slow market too because of how he likes to wait a long time for the market and interest in his players before signing ! I get the Impression that the Red Sox wanted to sign JD but Boras was/is waiting for more money/Years for a contract for his clients ! Maybe January will be a busy Month but I don’t see/hear about the Jays doing anything to improve the team for 2018! I certainly hope I am wrong come spring training !
Yankee fans please tell me what I’m missing about Frazier. He didn’t hit well in triple a . And didn’t hit at all in majors. Yes it’s a very small sample size in majors. But the way he’s being talked about, he’s in hof already. Unsure you got Stanton as good as Frazier is supposed to b.
via Twitter, I saw some comments that said Frazier wasn’t liked very well around the scouting world. Of course, these are baseball writers, so what would they know lol?
More than people posting on baseball blogs do
of course, I was being sarcastic
As was I, Maybe it was a little too dry
He’s a Yankee prospect so therefore he’s automatically a future hall of famer.
Haha
Harrison, McCutchen, and Cole to the Blue Jays with a package surrounding Bo Bichette.
I seriously doubt they would even finish that conversation before the Pirates hung up.
Sandy and the “Coupons” will offer a lame package and wonder why someone else gets him. Kansas City Mets
Right? Smh
Statistically, Harrison is better at 2B. I think you could move him to the Padres to start over Spangenberg. Harrison to the Padres for Michael Baez (SP #7 prospect) & Hudson Potts (3B/SS #23 prospect)
oh ok
I’d love to add him to Mets. Great glove who provides a lot of speed and overall spark, which we desperately needed past two years. That would be cool to have him and Rosario up the middle. Would compliment Cespedes, Conforto, and hopefully D. Smith