The Phillies announced that veteran utilityman Josh Harrison has been designated for assignment. The move opens up roster space for Michael Lorenzen, whose acquisition from the Tigers is now official.
Harrison signed a one-year, $2MM free agent deal with Philadelphia last winter, as the club looked to shore up its bench depth and provide a bit more veteran experience behind Bryson Stott at second base. However, playing time was relatively scarce for Harrison, as Stott has established himself at the keystone, and Edmundo Sosa has gotten the bigger chunk of playing time at third base when Alec Bohm was moved over to first.
Harrison also didn’t do a lot to carve out a greater role for himself, hitting only .204/.263/.291 over 114 plate appearances. His career splits have already been relatively even, but the right-handed batter had only a .433 OPS over 60 PA against left-handed pitching this season. Harrison has played only a handful of games in the outfield in recent years, but his lack of production against lefties is one reason the Phillies have been looking to add right-handed hitting pop to their outfield as the deadline approaches.
Given how rosters shake out in the deadline aftermath, Harrison might be a candidate for a DFA claim, perhaps on a non-contender just looking for a player to fill a roster hole. Perhaps the likelier scenario is that Harrison clears waivers, putting the Phillies on the hook for the remainder of his owed salary — a team could sign Harrison and owe him only the prorated MLB minimum salary.
Bryce Harper’s ability to play first base has given the Phillies some flexibility with their infield picture, as while Harper will need some DH days, Philadelphia can settle into a regular alignment of Harper at first, Stott at second, Trea Turner at shortstop, Bohm at third, and Sosa as a utilityman. The Phils also have Kody Clemens and Drew Ellis in the minors for further depth, and perhaps another new face could join the roster between now and 5pm CT.
Good now stott can play everyday
PREACH….Topper giving Stott “rest days” @lhp drove me nuts….
End of an era
Obviously wanted Harrison to do well in PHI but he just couldn’t do it, he could be a great coach/manager in the future though
Addition by subtraction.
Came her to post this comment.
I still don’t understand how Harrison was retained on the 26 man roster, and played far too often. He had one productive game all season, in a double header at the White Sox. He was awful in the field, and can’t hit anymore. Mercifully, he is finally gone!!
Wow, Josh Harrison still getting a paycheck?! Good for him!
Sad. Dude will rebound if someone can give him a few more starts.
pirates can use him at 3B for a welcome ending
No, he won’t.
why not? pittsburgh loves J-Hey
need infield depth, so why not ?
I’d actually bet that they do.
He won’t rebound, but he also won’t be unemployed for long.
oh ic .
ya agreed . obviously I don’t expect much , but Pirates fans would come out a lil to see Cutch reunited with J-Hey
Rough year for Josh.
White Sox still trying to fill that 2B hole?
They’d be better off with the hole.
DD done or no?
Harrison recently passed the 10yr threshold for service time.
Am happy for him, but man this is the second time he was bad in Philly (spring training thing a couple years ago). I don’t think he’s 100% cooked. Best of luck for him.
So that means another hitter up from aaa…
And wonder whose MLB spot does he take….Covey???
Watching J-Hay against the Bucs this past weekend I was afraid this might happen. What fond memories of him during his Pirate years!
thats why I think they should bring him back
he was such a great story from schmo to pro in Pittsburgh, and almost won a batting title in 2014
Nice Guy got cut! Good career as a Ham and Egger, as most players are.
Harrison probably done now. Had a decent career
Too bad, Josh is a very likable dude. Best of luck to him.
He might be likeable, but he has been “finished”for three years now.
The ghost of Alex Rios will latch on somewhere
would love the pirates to pick him up but really would be playing.
another guy from the winning pirates I miss. He was just so much fun to watch. seeing him in the last series gave me a smile.
Congratulations Josh on reaching ten years of MLB service time and earning a full pension! Well done.