Utility player Josh Harrison has opted of his minor league deal with the Reds, per C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic. He signed with the club last month on a deal that allowed him to opt out if not on the roster by March 21. He was informed that he would not be making the team and will be returning to free agency.
The path for Harrison to make the club was not smooth, as the Reds are loaded with talented young position players. That depth has taken some recent hits, as infielder Noelvi Marté was hit with an 80-game PED suspension while outfielder TJ Friedl is set to miss significant time due to a wrist fracture.
But even with those issues, the club still has plenty of options for filling out its lineup and roster. Jeimer Candelario, Elly De La Cruz, Matt McLain and Christian Encarnacion-Strand can handle the infield duties most of the time, with Spencer Steer, Jake Fraley and Will Benson in the outfield and Tyler Stephenson behind the plate. Jonathan India can have a regular role, serving as the designated hitter or rotating through various defensive positions. Luke Maile and Stuart Fairchild figure to have two bench spots accounted for while the club also has Bubba Thompson, Nick Martini, Rece Hinds and Jacob Hurtubise on the roster. Non-roster invitees such as Tony Kemp, Mike Ford, Mark Mathias and Erik González are around if the club wants to add someone into to its roster.
Harrison would have been in that latter group but hasn’t been in good form recently. He hit just .204/.263/.291 for the Phillies last year and got released in August. He then signed a minor league deal with the Rangers, hitting .222/.323/.370 in six games before opting out of that pact. In eight spring games with the Reds this year, he’s hit .250/.250/.350.
But he’s not too far removed from being a solid utility option in the big leagues. He played 290 games from 2020 to 2022, hitting .270/.332/.390 in that time for a wRC+ of 102. His 5.4% walk rate wasn’t strong but he limited strikeouts to a 14.7% clip. He also bounced around the diamond, playing every position except catcher.
He’ll now look for another opportunity on the open market, with that versatility perhaps helping him find his next gig. He’s not much more than an emergency option at first base, shortstop or center field, having played just one inning in his career at first, just three innings in the past two years at short and 10 innings overall in center. But he has plenty of experience at second base, third base and the outfield corners. There will likely be plenty of roster shuffling in the next week or two as clubs around the league finalize their camp cuts and other veterans trigger opt-outs.
As a Pirate fan, I’ll always have great admiration and appreciation for J-Hay!
He was one of the core to bring a winning record to Pittsburgh. I will always admire him myself and the hustle he brought nightly. Legging out plays and managing to reach safely in a run down, will always be in my memory.
Hard to believe he was told he wouldn’t make the team after the injuries, but I would put nothing past this front office. Otherwise it is hard to believe he wouldn’t want home cooking.
When homecooking is skyline chili, Maybe not.
I know he’s a Cincinnati native but considering all the Red’s infield talent, I thought it was an odd signing.
Would be a great addition for the Giants as a utility player imo. Not sold on Fitzgerald, and Harrison can play everywhere. We need versatility desperately
You would do better grabbing back someone like Donovan Solano, who may still have something in the tank, than Josh Harrison.
Josh gave his all, wherever he was needed, for years and years. But he isn”t the Josh he was pre-2020..
Love the guy and respect his drive, but time waits for no one, and it has caught up to him.
I’d love to have Donny Barrels back! He was our best hitter for about 2 seasons. Just don’t know if he has the defensive versatility
I miss the days when J Hay was a complete player with 5 tools and can play all over the diamond.
Squeezing the last drops out of his professional career. Don’t blame him one bit. Good luck JHay, hope you find an employer this year.
Yanks need him
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DJ LeMahieu has “a pretty significant bone bruise” on his right foot, according to Aaron Boone, who is not sure if LeMahieu will have enough time to be ready for Opening Day.
Not a bad choice, but I think there may be better pickings in the next week.
It just may be Josh’s time to hang them up.
Agree with most. He belongs in the Bigs
No clue if he can still play, but…good dude.
He should plan on NYC – either the Yankees or Mets…
Josh has always been a BABIP person. Assuming he isn’t as quick as he used to be that would be huge hit to his offensive production. To stick around much longer he may have to ‘reinvent’ his approach.
He was and hopefully still is an amazing player to watch. I still go back and watch highlights.
I’d like to seem him sign on with the Pirates again to finish out his career with Cutch. Them two are just a joy and could provide an uplift to any dugout. But with all the younger guys around probably not a place for him.
If it were me, I’d sign him for league minimum and get him into a game as catcher even for just one out in a blow out.
Nothing to see here. My take is the Reds told Josh where he stood so he had a better chance to find another club. Reds have better talent , mostly young talent that need playing time. Harrison can no longer move the needle enough to justify possibly stifling a Strand, Steer, etc. At least not for this team.
Cmon. They brought him in as a veteran bench guy who would maybe teach the young guys something. He wasn’t going to make any of those guys sit except for an occasional rest.
It looks like they are keeping Mike Ford over him, which is amusing when they didn’t have room for Votto, who is virtually the same guy. But I’m sure those who worship at the alter think that is a great move.
Actually there WAS something to see here earlier, but that whole string got deleted.
Yes, Harrison doesn’t bring enough to the table for an above average team, which the Reds are shaping up to be. Though he can certainly be an asset to many teams. And no, the Reds aren’t keeping Mike Ford over Joey Votto. JV would not be satisfied riding the pine. Votto would want regular playing time, and that time should go to CES and Candelario. Mike Ford is more than happy to be on the roster.
As much as I love Joey V, this is yet ANOTHER in the long list of solid moves by this Reds FO.