Matt Harvey’s just under two weeks into his time with the Athletics organization, and the union between the two sides might not last much longer. The right-hander told Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle that the minor league contract he signed with the team Aug. 14 includes a chance to opt out this Thursday. It’s unclear how interested Harvey is in taking advantage of that opportunity, but Slusser posits that the club might not have room to call him up in the coming days.
Harvey made his third start for the Athletics’ Triple-A affiliate in Las Vegas on Tuesday, when he surrendered four runs on seven hits and four walks in five innings. Harvey was much more effective in his previous two outings, combining for 10 frames of five-hit, two-run ball with 11 strikeouts against no walks. That was unquestionably one of the best two-start stretches of 2019 for the 30-year-old Harvey, who limped to a 7.09 ERA/6.35 FIP with 5.88 K/9 and 4.37 BB/9 over 59 2/3 frames with the Angels before they released him July 23. The Halos ate the rest of the former Mets ace’s $11MM salary in the process.
With roughly a month left in the regular season, Harvey would like to showcase himself in the bigs before another trip to the open market in the winter, Slusser notes. Ideally for Harvey, he’ll be able to enter some team’s rotation before the season’s out. It’s in question whether he’ll be able to do that as an Athletic, though, with Slusser pegging him as a relief candidate for the club.
The wild card-contending A’s are riding with a rotation of Mike Fiers, Chris Bassitt, Tanner Roark, Brett Anderson and Homer Bailey at the moment, and rehabbing left-handers Sean Manaea and Jesus Luzardo may be above Harvey on the starting pecking order when they’re healthy enough to return to the majors. Meanwhile, the A’s might prefer righties Paul Blackburn and Daniel Mengden to Harvey for a bullpen spot, per Slusser, which could help influence him to exercise his opt-out clause.
Why would you bring a match to the gas can. The guy is done
Phillies should sign him so he starts against the Braves. Easy outs and he can guarantee at least 2 K’s against the Braves pseudostar!
No one cares about hitters striking out, dude.
And if it was reversed, you’d complain that pitchers aren’t good anymore.
Can’t win with types like you.
Acuna is a superstar whether you like it or not. I hope he K’s 300 times and has a 1.000 OPS and 10 WAR just to ram it down your throat how dumb you are to think hitters striking out is bad or “pseudo”.
Grow up.
actually striking out is a negative outcome that also shows you are pitchable. Once pitchers stop grooving their first pitch to him, he will continue to put out bad at bats.
What does pitchable mean? Every hitter fails 60-70 percent of their at bats so they are all pitchable. Every Mlb team would take acuna and his pitchable issues right now. Smh.
You really think the only thing between him hitting and not hitting is a pitcher thinking, “Maybe I shouldn’t throw this ball middle-middle?
Mike trout led his league in strikeouts also. Guess he is a pseudostar also! Do you wake up each morning with a sole purpose to complain about acuna and the Braves?
Yeah but he more than made up for it with a .377 OBP and hitting 36 homers. Strikeouts definitely matter.
Acuna has 36 bombs and a .372 obp. Not far off from trout with another month left. So he is close to trout that year. Was not meant as a rip on trout just a response to that other guy,
Strikeouts do. not. matter. At. All. Ever.
Actually they do, they waste pitch counts, so they’re a productive out now. Have a nice day.
Astros should sign him
It would be intriguing. They are one of the few teams who excel at “fixing” pitchers who have careers trending in the wrong direction.
Ah yes, “fixing”
Lets ask Trevor Bauer about that take…
Trevor Bauer himself could benefit from joining the Astros. He made a ridiculous claim that had zero validity, but it’s not surprising given his personality. I put fixing in quotes because the pitchers excel after joining Houston, but it doesn’t always translate when they leave.
Houston’s pitching coach is amazing and it showed recently when he misses time for a medical issue. Their pitching was rough for about a week when he was out.
Gotta agree.
– Ken Giles
I said that it doesn’t always translate. Giles doesn’t apply here anyways as he was terrible in Houston. Kudos to Toronto for fixing his brain, as that was his biggest issue when he struggled.
Don’t the A’s have a similar reputation of fixing (or at least, getting the most out of) discarded pitchers?
No Mets stank.
No Mets stank? Or do you mean, “No, Mets stank.”? That little comma means everything. Haha yes, I had to be that guy.
after his start tonight, see ya!
opt out of baseball. you’re done.
What was the point in signing him if there was no role for him to take on the major league club unless he really doesn’t want to come out of the pen
Depth. The A’s are in playoffs contention so Harvey’s feelings aren’t a priority. He may stick around waiting for a call-up. It’s a gamble for a potential WS ring/money or showcasing/earning a guaranteed contract for next year.
Are you not aware of these things called “injuries”? Literally any pitcher can be out for a year on any given pitch.
If not longer.
He needs to play for a team with good defense and nothing to lose. Royals or DBacks would be okay choices.
I do not see how he would be a benefit to any team be it contender or also ran over the final 6 weeks. He should just stay in minors and pitch regularly and show something that may get him a non roster invite to spring training
Minor league season is ending this weekend, if he wants to pitch somewhere it has to be the majors.
I can’t see any contender picking up except out of utter desperation (as in, we played a 26 inning game last night and have no one available for tomorrow). His best shot is a non-contender who, due to injuries or innings limits, needs someone just to fill innings.
how much money do the angels owe Harvey, Upton and pujols combined?
Less than the Mets still owe Bobby Bonilla.
thats not even close to being true, but a fun joke
Pujols has 2 years at I believe $34 million each. Harvey is done after this year but will collect about $2 million in remaining salary.
Upton has 3 years and about $70 million to go.
Add in the dumpster fires of Cody Allen, Trevor Cahill, and the injury to Zack Cozart and this is the worst free agent run I can remember. Even Lucroy was DFA’d although that was partly due to Holy Saint Jake trying to avoid contact be stepping directly towards him.
Protect yourself at all times. Words to live by.
Still doesn’t hold a candle to Blanton/Madson/Burnett signings for 2013.
Blanton was $15M/2 yrs, and was released in ST 2014.
Madson was $3.5M for 1 year and never threw a pitch.
Burnett was $8M/2 yrs and appeared in relief 16 games over two seasons, with most of the time on the DL.
While the numbers are lower $ amounts, they represented significant outlay for 1 SP and 2 RP in 2013. The 2013 club was also closer to competing than 2019’s, so the lost opportunity stung worse.
Tommy Hanson was another $3M+ SP, but he came in trade and his fate is too sad to contemplate. Let’s just say 2013 wasn’t a good season for him.
Bullpen?
I’d normally feel bad for a guy in Harvey’s situation.
Normally.
Possibly make him a reliever? Trivino isn’t exactly lighting it up.
Side note, Liam Hendricks trade by the Blue Jays was idiotic at the time. Made less than Chavez, had more team control. Guess that narrative wasn’t useful for Atkins/Shapiro back then.
Harvey refuses to be used in relief.
As if Harvey deserves to choose his role….spare me. He’s a hiccup away from the Korean League.
“Harvey refuses to be used in relief”
– What a difference a day makes.
Yes and thank you for saying thats “slagging” in the other thread, you absolute clown. Go play this “gotcha” crud on twitter, where people are stupid.
Maybe he should sign with the Pirates…couldn’t hurt!
Uncle Ray has been know to fix a guy or two. Bucs rotation is real bad. I think it’d be fun.
I’m amazed he was able to get $11M in the off-season. He should probably reconsider and be happy he even has a contract to begin with and work out the mechanics. He certainly has the talent, but I believe his attitude is what needs to be worked on.
The Angels like to throw money away.
Dear Mr. Harvey,
Homer Bailey is above you on the depth chart. Might be food for thought.
Baltimore or Kansas City should add him.
Harvey could still put up okay numbers as a reliever pitching one or two innings. Negotiating a contract would be a problem. (Why he left the Mets in 2018)
He needs to Hang up his shirt. It’s a shame because he was a great pitcher with a bright future before his decline. He hit the Lincecum, Ankiel, and Eaton bug. His arm is toast
Angels didn’t release him because of numbers. He has no work ethic.