Headlines

  • Red Sox Likely To Activate Alex Bregman Tomorrow
  • Astros To Promote Brice Matthews
  • Phillies Reportedly Targeting Controllable Relievers
  • Yankees Prioritizing Pitching, Also Searching For Infield Help
  • Orioles Trade Bryan Baker To Rays
  • Yankees Release DJ LeMahieu
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

Remove Ads
  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2025 Trade Deadline Outlook Series
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Pitching Notes: Harvey, Hunter, D. Norris, Nicasio

By Connor Byrne | April 22, 2018 at 9:23am CDT

The Mets informed right-hander Matt Harvey on Saturday that he was moving to the bullpen, after which the 29-year-old told Tim Healey of Newsday and other reporters, “On a scale of 1 to 10, obviously I’m at a 10 with being [ticked] off.” The former ace went on to acknowledge that he has struggled, though, and both Harvey and manager Mickey Callaway are hopeful he’ll work his way back into the club’s rotation. “It’s inevitable that he’s going to make more starts for us this year. That’s how baseball goes,” Callaway said. “As of right now, we think that indications are that he’s going to go down there and try to be the best Matt Harvey he can be.” Harvey, whose descent from top-of-the-rotation status began in 2016, has pitched to an ugly 6.57 ERA/6.07 FIP in 113 2/3 innings since last season.

  • The Phillies optioned left-hander Hoby Milner to Triple-A on Saturday, paving the way for right-hander Tommy Hunter’s activation from the disabled list on Sunday. Hunter, whom the Phillies signed to a two-year, $18MM deal in the offseason, opened the year on the DL because of a hamstring strain. The 31-year-old will join a bullpen that has been effective thus far (3.21 ERA/3.70 FIP in 67 1/3 innings) despite a lack of contributions from him and fellow free-agent pickup Pat Neshek, who’s on the DL with shoulder inflammation.
  • Tigers southpaw Daniel Norris has only made one start in three appearances this year. For now, the team will continue deploying Norris as a reliever in the majors, as opposed to having him start in the minors, manager Ron Gardenhire told Jason Beck of MLB.com and other reporters. The former high-end prospect’s lone start so far came Friday, when he only allowed one run in 4 2/3 innings against the Royals. However, Norris’ fastball velocity – which was in the low-90s in previous years – averaged just 88.6 mph, per Beck. The 24-year-old’s above-average spin rate helped make up for it, Beck notes, and Norris expects that to serve him well if his missing velocity returns. “I haven’t thrown this slow since I was a sophomore in high school, so I’m figuring something out and I’m learning how to pitch,” Norris said. “And when it does come back, I’m going to be a lot better for it.”
  • As is the case with Norris, Mariners reliever Juan Nicasio has dealt with a decline in velocity early this season. While Nicasio insists he’s not having any health issues, it’s nonetheless alarming that the offseason investment’s fastball velocity is averaging 93.2 mph after clocking in at 95.7 in 2017, Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times writes. Nicasio’s velo did increase last season, which is cause for optimism, though it also started out at a higher level (upward of 95 mph), Divish points out. In 2017, his first year as a full-time reliever, Nicasio was terrific with three clubs (the Pirates, Phillies and Cardinals). The Mariners then awarded him their richest contract of the winter in free agency (two years, $17MM), but with five earned runs allowed in 9 2/3 innings, he has gotten off to a slow start.
Share 0 Retweet 6 Send via email0

Detroit Tigers New York Mets Philadelphia Phillies Seattle Mariners Daniel Norris Juan Nicasio Matt Harvey Tommy Hunter

AL Notes: Manaea, Red Sox, Bogaerts, Rays, Twins
Main
Yankees Designate Jace Peterson, Select David Hale
View Comments (30)
Post a Comment

30 Comments

  1. Sheev Palpatine

    7 years ago

    It seems like a lot of pitchers are dealing with a decline in velocity to begin the season. Isn’t this sort of normal?

    Reply
  2. darkstar61

    7 years ago

    Matt should be happy it was solely a move to the Pen with truly good intentions behind it. It could have been a lot worse.

    2
    Reply
    • Vedder80

      7 years ago

      He would have been picked up to start somewhere. How could it have been worse?

      Reply
      • darkstar61

        7 years ago

        The team is telling him they are trying to improve his chances to be a ML starter with this move.

        He could have been sent to the Pen with no promised help of getting back to the rotation – that would be dramatically worse

        Being optioned to the minors would have been much worse too. As would being released, as it’s unlikely he would have easily found another suiter who knows him and is promising to be so helpful for his career. In fact, since a starting gig quite likely wouldn’t have been offered, and if he isn’t willing to go to the pen and minors, he might have been forced to be pitching in an Indy league or over seas to finish the year

        What he got is the best thing for him, whether he’s smart enough to grasp it or not

        1
        Reply
  3. chesteraarthur

    7 years ago

    Don’t want to get moved to the pen? Pitch better as a starter…

    3
    Reply
    • Blake Camden

      7 years ago

      He can’t

      1
      Reply
    • coachdave2

      7 years ago

      Bingo

      Reply
  4. Blake Camden

    7 years ago

    If all goes well Harvey might get a minor league contract next year

    Reply
  5. Blake Camden

    7 years ago

    The college picks dont learn to pitch as much. If Harvey was a high school pick it would be completely different career trajectory.

    Reply
    • jimmyz

      7 years ago

      I understand your point (so far as I interpret it) that college pitchers are viewed as more seasoned and sometimes, if not often times, rushed through the minors as opposed to high school draftees who are tempered more and given time to grow and mature. In this instance however, Harvey had very significant success and has no plausible understanding both personally and organizationally as to how to replicate that succees.

      To a degree, I absolutely agree that Harvey got by on great stuff and now that is failing him and he can’t pitch his way out of his shortcomings like a 40 year old Jamie Moyer throwing 89-91 mph was able to still produce average results and keep a big league starting gig. Hope he turns it around and regains some success but flat and straight gets hit even if its 94-98 in modern baseball.

      Reply
      • Dag Gummit

        7 years ago

        Minor correction that’s off-topic to the Harvey discussion:

        Moyer in his forties didn’t throw 89-91. It was literally about 78-81 — “fast”ball velocity. And heck, he was even *above* average for a few years into his forties. My eyeball guess would say he was probably around average for his age-40-47 years, but peaked at 40 and re-emerged with his league switch to Phillie at 45 for a last hurrah.

        Sorry for the tangent. We may now continue discussing Matt Harvey and his hissy fit and blaming the org for his well-deserved demotion.

        Reply
  6. Blake Camden

    7 years ago

    Matt Harvey: 34 major league wins. Collin Mchugh: 48 major league wins

    Reply
    • angels fan 3

      7 years ago

      Because wins are the best way to compare pitchers

      1
      Reply
      • miggy4prez

        7 years ago

        Lol seriously

        Reply
      • Blake Camden

        7 years ago

        Yes I’ll take the guy who wins. And please dont launch into a spiel about sabermetrics and how wins are team dependent

        Reply
        • majorflaw

          7 years ago

          “ . . . I’ll take the guy who wins. And please don’t launch into a spiel about sabermetrics and how wins are team dependent”

          IOW, you know you are wrong but just don’t care. That is special.

          1
          Reply
        • deweybelongsinthehall

          7 years ago

          Winning trumps everything but sex and matzoh ball soup on a cold day. As Al Davis once said, “just win baby”.

          Reply
        • Dag Gummit

          7 years ago

          “IOW, you know you are wrong but just don’t care. That is special.”
          _____

          This just about sums it up for everyone. It truly is ‘special’…

          Reply
      • Blake Camden

        7 years ago

        The likes of Chris Archer, Luis Severino, Jimmy Nelson, and Aaron Nola had higher WAR last year than Justin Verlander. So ok, have fun with those guys and I’ll take Verlander. 🙂

        Reply
        • angels fan 3

          7 years ago

          Not sure how this was brought up but I never said I would or wouldn’t take a certain pitcher over another.

          Reply
        • Cubguy13

          7 years ago

          Yeah and Verlander went to the Astros who’s offense helped Verlander record wins. A pitchers “wins” are greatly affected by the team whether you want to realize it or not

          Reply
        • MLBTRS

          7 years ago

          So, Miggy, Upton, JD, V-Mart, Kinsler & Castellanos wasn’t enough offense for Verlander?

          Reply
        • mrbrklyn

          7 years ago

          That is bull = It is the opposite if anything. The Astro’s win because Verlander pitchs and pitches DEEP in to games, because he is a winner.

          It doesn’t hurt that his ERA has been close to 1. How about Madison Bumgarner.

          I Bet Jacob Degrom would trade in his 7 ishutout innings for a win 2x this season.

          The more the statistic revolution moves forward, the more it becomes clear that it iscrewed up. The most important thing for a pitcher is to win and to reassert the competition.

          Reply
  7. coachdave2

    7 years ago

    On a scale of of 1-10 on Met fans being upset at Harvey’s selfishness and lack of production…we are at 100

    1
    Reply
  8. Roll

    7 years ago

    I would say he is selfish but in the end his agent and doctor recommendation of cutting him off during the playoff run after tj surgery may have been prudent but definitely the start of his decline. So he may have been right.

    Atleast the mets are willing to work to bring him back as a starter with a guy that has not only done it once but twice.. Could be worse, could be Oliver Perez again where he was asked to the bullpen and refused and eventually cut then came back to be a a solid reliever when no one would give him a starting job.

    Reply
    • mrbrklyn

      7 years ago

      >I would say he is selfish but in the end his agent and doctor recommendation of >cutting him off during the playoff run after tj surgery may have been prudent but definitely the start of his decline. So he may have been right.

      That is a wives tail.. He was pitching fine and if anything, he should have pitched more, and never been pulled in the WS. That whole emotional drama should never had happened. Playing baseball, and pitching is fleeting thing. When you get a chance atg the Brass Ring, you have to ride the tiger.

      Reply
  9. BigFred

    7 years ago

    Just because he was terrible so far this year and terrible last year and terrible the year before that, the Mets quickly jumped to the conclusion that he shouldn’t be in their starting rotation. No respect.

    1
    Reply
    • miggy4prez

      7 years ago

      Reply
  10. DannyQ3913

    7 years ago

    Harvey needs to shut and accept his role. He hasn’t be relevant in 3 years

    Reply
  11. Blake Camden

    7 years ago

    Harvey after opening day: “This team is going to surprise a lot of people. We sent a message we’re competitive.” Harvey three weeks later: “I’m a starting pitcher.”, Harvey is demoted to the bullpen.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.

Log in Register

    Top Stories

    Red Sox Likely To Activate Alex Bregman Tomorrow

    Astros To Promote Brice Matthews

    Phillies Reportedly Targeting Controllable Relievers

    Yankees Prioritizing Pitching, Also Searching For Infield Help

    Orioles Trade Bryan Baker To Rays

    Yankees Release DJ LeMahieu

    Trevor Williams To Undergo UCL Surgery

    Nationals Fire PBO Mike Rizzo, Manager Dave Martinez

    Brewers Activate Brandon Woodruff

    Clarke Schmidt Expected To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    Bobby Jenks Passes Away

    Braves Release Alex Verdugo

    Top 40 Trade Candidates For The 2025 Deadline

    Rays Reinstate Ha-Seong Kim

    Yankees Have Shown Interest In Ryan McMahon

    Royals Interested In Bryan Reynolds

    Rangers Option Josh Jung

    Kevin Pillar Announces Retirement

    Braves Place Spencer Schwellenbach On IL With Elbow Fracture

    Giants Exercise 2026 Option On Manager Bob Melvin

    Recent

    Trade Deadline Outlook: New York Yankees

    Trade Deadline Outlook: Atlanta Braves

    Which Other Relievers Might The Orioles Shop?

    Lee Elia Passes Away

    Red Sox Likely To Activate Alex Bregman Tomorrow

    Poll: Which Teams Should Make The Biggest Push For Jarren Duran?

    MLB Finalizes Home Run Derby Field

    Astros To Promote Brice Matthews

    Giants Outright Sergio Alcántara

    Joe Coleman Passes Away

    MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Sandy Alcantara Rumors
    • Luis Robert Rumors
    • Alex Bregman Rumors

     

    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android App Store Google Play

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Remove Ads, Support Our Writers
    • Front Office Originals
    • Front Office Fantasy Baseball
    • MLBTR Podcast
    • Trade Deadline Outlook Series
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Guardians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • RSS/Twitter Feeds By Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

    hide arrows scroll to top

    Register

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version