Pirates utilityman Josh Harrison has cleared revocable trade waivers, per Jon Heyman of Fancred (via Twitter). That means the veteran can be traded freely for the rest of the season — though he’d need to be moved by the end of August to be eligible for postseason play with a new organization.
Of course, clearing waivers hardly indicates a player is likely to be dealt. In this case, there’s no particular indication to this point that the Bucs are expected to find a taker for the 31-year-old.
It’s still notable, though, that Harrison is now among the players known to have cleared waivers. Those and others are still available for contenders in need of further upgrades.
There’s always a reason when a player does make it through waivers. Sometimes, it’s because no contending teams expect that player to be traded, as with some younger/more controllable players. Quite often, it’s simply a value proposition: placing a claim means you’re willing to take over a player’s entire contract, as the team that sought waivers has the option of revoking the waiver request, working out a trade, or simply allowing the claiming team to step into its shoes in the agreement.
This case, surely, is one of the latter variety. Harrison is earning a $10MM salary this year and is owed $1.5MM in buyouts on successive club options that are priced at $10.5MM and $11.5MM.
At times, those prices have seemed reasonable for Harrison, who at his best adds value in all facets of the game. He has appeared in the rumor mill as a possible trade candidate quite frequently in recent years. Unfortunately, his bat has been inconsistent in recent seasons and has never produced anything like the output he showed in the breakout 2014 campaign that preceded his extension with Pittsburgh.
Thus far in 2018, Harrison is hitting just .257/.299/.365 with seven home runs over 343 plate appearances. There’s not a lot to love in the underlying numbers, either. Statcast, for instance, suggests that his contact quality has merited exactly the middling output that has resulted (.288 wOBA vs. .291 xwOBA).
It’s fair to note, too, that defensive metrics have soured on Harrison, who normally grades as a clear positive. That said, he’s still receiving only slightly below-average marks and it’s hard to read too much into those figures. While he isn’t stealing as many bags as he has in past seasons, Harrison still rates as a quality overall baserunner.
All things considered, it’s still reasonable to imagine contending teams liking the idea of adding Harrison down the stretch, though clearly they’ll need some help with the salary — especially, the option buyouts — to make it worthwhile. If the Bucs decide they won’t pay Harrison in 2019, then perhaps the club will be willing to hold onto the option obligations and work out a deal. While the Pittsburgh organization made some buy-side moves at the non-waiver deadline, after all, it has since faded out of contention.
I think the Indians would be a good landing spot for Harrison. They could use a RH option in the outfield and at 2B
Anything to keep Guyer off the field and out of the lineup!!!
No thanks, overrated IMO.
He’d be cheaper than Kipnis.
But they’re already stuck with Kipnis’s contract no need to take on another.
Not if the Pirates take Kipnis since they love busts.
Kipnis is a better hitter. End of discussion
Josh could help a contender with his versatility. And the only way to get Hurdle to play the kids is to remove the vets from the roster. He wouldn’t cost much.
Adam Frazier should be given the rest of the season to prove himself. I know his name isn’t featured on Seinfeld, but Frazier and Newman might be their best middle infield combo for 2019. He keeps getting overlooked.
The thing about Frazier is his value is almost entirely found in his hit tool (doesn’t really draw walks, he is a below average defender and surprisingly average on the bases) so he has to hit over .300 to have value. But, he’s shown in multiple stretches now that he might be able to do that and possibly exceed that. He needs a real look.
If he shows himself capable, he should be given a steady defensive spot so he has a chance to improve. Make him the 2B and let Kramer (who can play 2B, SS and 3B) be the utility guy.
I agree with this, but I honestly wonder if Frazier is ever going to be able to handle any INF position defensively. I guess there’s only one way to find out, but I’d almost rather see them stick Kramer and/or Newman out there and see what happens. Frazier’s best chance down the road might be either LF if they decide not to keep Dickerson (and I’d prefer they did keep Corey) or for the Bucs to trade Frazier and get something for him.
If his recent power surge is a permanent thing, I think you love the bat and live with the defense.
Nobidy wants a gimpy, declining vet.
I would love for the Tribe to get him but given how lackluster the front office has been since the Hand trade I highly doubt it. Such a shame to watch this window of contention pass us by because our front office won’t help this team get over the top
10mil is to much money for the Tribe, Brantley is going to get a raise. Tribe already spending a lot for them.
They did really well getting Hand to replace Allen tho.. Great move consider performance vs future cost
They’re 13 games up in the Division and Harrison isn’t going to make them better than any of the other current likely Playoff teams. The postseason is a crapshoot anyway, so why waste the prospects and money for a guy who probably won’t make an impact?
See you say that but let’s not forget what happened just 2 years ago to the indians…
Game 7 of the World Series, bottom of the 9th, two outs and the winning run on base. And who steps up to the plate? Michael Martinez. Perhaps the worst major league hitter I’ve witnessed in my lifetime. The Indians ran out of bench bats and had to send Martinez to the plate in the most important at bat in Indians franchise history. This is why you should ALWAYS acquire talent whenever you can.
Overrated and overpriced
The Pirates probably won’t get much of a return via prospects unless they eat a lot of Harrison’s contract. The Bucs usually don’t come out on the winning end of trades with their veteran players because of their history of dumping salaries.
Grilli for Melancon, Melancon for Vasquez/Hearn, Hearn was flipped for Kela, McCutchon for Crick and Reynolds. Crick doing very well in the pen as the set up guy and Reynolds is hitting over .300 in AA, Cole for Musgrove who has been very solid (plus now a clubhouse leader from what I have read), Moran, the 3rd baseman that they needed badly and has been playing pretty decent for a rookie. Martin who was tearing up AA and doing decent in AAA after a rough start and Feliz has promise but has been ugly after a pretty good start to the season.. That is just to name a few
Neal, is this you? Amazing anyone would defend them after the Archer deal. The Cole trade can’t be classified as good, although I would agree it needed to be done.
Its been 6 starts numnuts. And I wouldn’t be surprised if you were some1 saying to trade for Archer. People that do this smh smh
It wasn’t Grilli for Melancon. It was Hanrahan in 2011 who then went on to pitch MAYBE 10 more innings in the majors.
They’ve made one bad trade (though it’s only been six starts) over the course of seven years. I’d say that’s a pretty solid track record.
one bad trade, ever hear of jonathan niese?
huntington is an average gm at best and he needs to win 3/4ths of the deals because of bob nuttings tight wallet, aside from melancon, he has failed on the big trades for the most part
he doesnt, so thats not good enough IMO
yeah its been 6 starts but obvious that glasnow will be an integral part of the rays going forward. so if meadows or baz are anything, then thats a bonus. decent chance they both will be
archer wont even be their best starter next year, MARK MY WORDS
This has got Brewers written all over it.
Yeah they’re short on infielders
Lol, I see what you did there.
i hope jhey goes to a contender. id say cubs, but they already picked up murphy. good luck jhey. now i guess that means more of sean rod!! whooooo!!!
I thought j hey was Jason Heyward?
Harrison has always gone by the nickname “J Hay” as a Pirate; his Twitter handle is “jhay_da_man”.
Jason Heyward debuted in 2010 so he has seniority. Harrison must immediately come up with a new nickname or he will be traded to the Orioles.
There is a difference between J-Hey and JHay even if they sound the same. More than one person can have the same nickname.
Well since T-bone is already taken we’re just gonna have to go with Coco.
“Your Delta Chi name is Flounder.”
“Excuse me, brother Bluto, but why Flounder?”
(BURP) “Why not? It’s a great name!”
Did we give up when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbour?
Harrison could help a number of teams. He isn’t a $10 million a year player but he has a number of intangibles you want in a clubhouse this time of year. One thing I will say is that while Harrison is versatile, he’s really only ever been worth playing at 2B or 3B. He doesn’t have the range for SS and he has next to no instincts in the OF (he’s prone to misreading the ball off the bat or taking a terrible route to the ball).
And he j those course or of weeks he’ll have a tremendous impact in the clubhouse.
He’s gotta be better than Shane Robinson. Surprised Cash didn’t claim him.
Thats because Cash is the manager of the Rays and nas no say with what the Yankees do.
If you are going to troll, don’t suck at it so much.
“Cash” as in Cashman.
Then he should say Cashman. Three more letters aren’t hard.
The irony of “three letters not being hard”.
You should probably go with “has” and not “nas” if you’re going to beat someone up over something like that.
Also, it was clear he meant Cashman. Why would a manager place a claim on a player? Did he get promoted to GM?
So right back at ya, if you’re going to troll, don’t suck at it so much.
Typos and wrong names aren’t the same thing.
I hope you also freak out when someone calls Mccutchen “Cutch” or Severino “Sevy”
HIS NAME IS SEVERINO, NOT SEVY. Get it straight.
Yeah…. one of you was lazy and the other was too dumb. Try to figure out which one you are.
If there are others named Sevy and Cutch.
cmon Joe YOU can troll better than that and his is a valid response but in reality i think this would have put them too close to the cap and wont let them reset if i remember right after you adjust for any bonuses and things like that.
He has 2 more years so they’re not going to give him away. The Yankees always get the short end of trades with Pittsburgh. The best prospects for the Yankees are pitchers now that Torres, Andujar et al have moved up. The Yankees can ill afford to move pitching prospects for average at best players like Harrison. Walker has batted over .300 since the all star break and has played well enough in right. Robinson can defense sub late in games. In no way does it make sense for the Yankees to go after him.
I could see the Braves working out a trade for him.
I can’t think of even one logical reason the braves would add him.Where would he fit on the 25 man roster? What would he add? With the positional flexibility of Culberson and Camargo (plus Albies could play SS and Freddie third in an emergency) they don’t need another utility guy. The only bench spot they could improve would be over Rio Ruiz and that would be left handed bench bat.
But you’ve thought of illogical reasons?
Pirates are not letting him go, they are gonna make the playoffs, they got Chris Archer
I see another Francisco Liriano deal happening. Luplow, Osuna, and Harrison for a minor leaguer who will be released a year later.
sadly, i think you are probably on the right track
he will get “dumped” in the offseason
It feels unlikely a deal would be made now for Harrison, especially with him gimpy, but a lot can change by Friday. Freese seems like a logical late August sell off piece. Mercer probably as well without the injury. The pirates aren’t paying echavaria, so I doubt he would go anywhere. Freese does have a team option next year so that probably is a drawback.