Josh Harrison had a year to forget in 2018, leading the Pirates to buy out the veteran infielder after the season and end a relationship that began in 2009. Nevertheless, no fewer than five teams have shown interest in Harrison this offseason, according to Fancred’s Jon Heyman, who lists the Astros and Giants among clubs that have at least considered the 31-year-old. Heyman previously reported interest from the Yankees, Reds and Nationals.
Harrison’s coming off an up-and-down tenure in Pittsburgh, where he debuted in 2011 and managed to reach the 2.0 fWAR in two individual seasons. He was at his best during a 4.8-fWAR showing in 2014, which led the Pirates to award him an extension worth a guaranteed $27.3MM early in 2015.
Harrison went on to combine for an unspectacular 5.4 fWAR during the rest of his stint with the franchise. He was especially disappointing in 2018, when he totaled 0.3 fWAR and batted .250/.293/.363 (78 wRC+) with minimal power (eight home runs, .113 ISO) across 374 plate appearances. While Harrison only logged a .285 weighted on-base average in 2018, he posted an even less inspiring .275 xwOBA, per Statcast. Of course, it’s worth noting Harrison’s season began in terrible fashion when he suffered a fractured left hand – an injury that sidelined him from mid-April to mid-May and could have played a role in his drop in production.
Harrison, to his credit, is just two years removed from a 2017 campaign in which he was among the Pirates’ most valuable players. He also comes with vast experience at second and third base, two positions where he has been a plus defender for the majority of his career. But it could be difficult for Harrison to garner playing time at either position in Houston, which boasts superstars Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman at those spots and also has Aledmys Diaz and Yuli Gurriel on hand as versatile options. Like the Astros, the Giants feature established players at second and third – Joe Panik and Evan Longoria – but those two joined Harrison in struggling last season. The Giants’ new president of baseball operations, Farhan Zaidi, seems to be looking for infield help as a result.
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swag
Farhan Zaidi has said he is looking for versatile players. Harrison can play 2B, 3B, SS and the corner OF. Future giant?
While Harrison has played SS, LF and RF, he has looked mostly terrible at those 3 and should be considered an emergency option only there He’s really only going to possibly help a team at 2B or 3B.
I agree, he would be a very Giants type player, potential completed tapped and on the steep decline.
@Ejemp2006, I was about to say the same thing. I really don’t want the Giants to get this guy, and maybe the old Giants would’ve done it. Hopefully Zaidi knows to stay away
Step decline? Ridiculous. He’ll only be 31 in 2019, he was an all-star in 2017 and his numbers were suppressed by injury in 2018.
Doesn’t make any sense for the Astros, at all.
It makes sense for anyone missing a plug-in guy who’s bat isn’t damaging as the next not ready call up replacement.
The Astros have too many plug-in guys, that’s why it wouldn’t make sense for them to be interested in him. The money could be better allocated in other areas of true need. He doesn’t offer any replacement value over in-house options.
Realistically a good chase for Yankees skip Marwin’s asking price, sign Harrison. You get decent utility plus have $$$ to spend on both sides.
Marwin is a good ball player, but someone is going to massively overpay him. I like him back in Houston, but not at $12-15M per year like some reports say.
I agree if Gleyber shifts to ss while Didi is out Josh Harrison as a starting 2b for 3 to 4 months is fine with me than he fills in where needed
Giants need a right handed second baseman. To hit lefty’s. They have Pablo for third. But need also a right hander for short. . . This Guy ? Maybe. . . . . . .
Joe Panik + Alen Hanson. Pablo started a couple games at second in 2018 too. They don’t need Harrison.
If I recall, Hansen’s defense at short was suspect. And he hit .183 vs Lefty’s so there’s that. Also .215 after the break. . . I like Hansen. I think he could possibly be in the mix as starting against rightys if Panik faulters. But it’s Joe’s to lose. As for Harrison. More of a track record. And trade bait if they can get him for a good one year deal. I wouldn’t pay over 5 mil for 2019. At two years. I’d pass. Also, Pablo at Second?. . . Laughable. Enough said…….
5, i was thinking more like 3-4mm
No team, given the choice, is taking Hanson over Harrison. Hanson just isn’t that good. People see the potential in a few flashes of productivity, but overall he’s a career below average hitter: 76 OPS+, and 72 wRC+. Compare to Harrison: 97 OPS+, and 98 wRC+. There’s a reason why the Pirates kept Harrison and let Hanson go.
Pablo and Hansen are terrible Right Handed hitters,Harrison makes sense! a broken hand slowed him up last year
To be fair Josh Harrison was a terrible hitter last year. I think the giants should just ride it out with Panik and Hanson. Slater can also play second base, so he’s a good platoon option.
Well if you go by just last season, which IMO is a mistake, then Hanson was a better hitter than Harrison. But you’re comparing Hanson’s best season to one of Harrison’s worst. By their career numbers Harrison is at least close to league average whereas Hanson is far below it,
By WAR Harrison’s 13.9 career dwarfs Hansen’s 0.5. And for a utility guy you want the better glove. Hanson’s dWAR is -0.8, and Harrison’s is 4.6. Same story looking at DRS at 2B and 3B. Harrison has a 20, and a 19, respectively and Hanson has a -3 amd a 0. Harrison is clearly the better choice of the 2.
Phillies?
Mariners – he is extremely versatile and could possibly handle SS if Crawford isn’t ready. Not to mention, he is tradeable for a prospect at the deadline if he produces.
i second this
Think would be a great place for a one year deal to try and restore his value while being a versatile piece for a semi-rebuilding club.
Padres?
Third base for the Padres makes sense. 1 year pillow contract would be sweet for both sides.
Even if several teams are interested in Harrison, there probably wont be a bidding war over him as there’s so many other options available to teams. Have to imagine he gets a one year deal for about 6 million or maybe a two year deal for 10ish and I think he would fit most clubs at those rates but particulary for the A’s, Twins or Angels who plan on contending and could use a capable utility player but also could easily pivot to trading off short term veterans at the deadline if they fall behind in the standings.
Lowrie is too expensive for the A’s to resign. Harrison could make some sense there.
The A’s seem to really like those kinds of versatile guys; he does make a lot of sense for them. His bad season is almost certainly the result of injury; he still runs well despite not stealing much in 2018 and is a better defensive player than Lowrie. If he could actually handle the outfield that would be a plus too, because the A’s probably don’t have many ABs at 3B for him.
I would prefer him to yairo munoz on the cards
Except Yairo Munoz has a better bat and will be way cheaper considering he will be around league minimum and Harrison will likely get in the range of $5M or even a little more.
I can see the Cardinals get him and trade Gyorko, who makes more then Harrison.
This is the kind of positional depth the Mets desperately need. If the Mets could somehow sign both Josh Harrison & Marwin Gonzalez, depth would no longer be an issue.
At first glance scrolling through the app I thought it said “at least 5 teams disinterested in Josh Harrison” haha I was like wait what
Anyways , he would be a great pick up for the jays but I doubt he’s willing to go there.
We already have a glut of middle INF and 3b players
3b. Drury / Vlad Jr
Ss. Guerriel / Bichette / Tulo /Urena /Smith/Groshans
2nd Travis / Biggio / Warmoth
Vlad has a lock on 3b so Drury shifts to 2nd and guerriel has SS on lock
Bichette Biggio are the other 2 most likely to get promoted during the season.
Smith Groshans and Warmoth are still a year away but also play MID INF mainly SS
Urena is a natural SS
Tulo thinks hes still a SS but might see 1B this year if his bat still plays
And at 1b we still have Smoak with Tellez due to make the roster
Harrison doesn’t play much OF which is where we currently really lack.
We have had to ask prospects like Biggio and Conine to abandon their INF roles and they started playing OF in the minors this past year
I just dont see a scenerio where the Jays are in on Harrison even if he agreed to play OF, we still have McKinney Pillar and (SO machine) Teoscar starting with Alford and perhaps Pompey coming off the bench. (I can see Alford getting the nod over Teoscar to start putting teoscar on the bench)
What the Jays need is supremely talented SP and OF prospects to match up with the new core on it’s way. Not 30 plus y/o fillers, at least not this year
At first I read that as if a player was named “Bichette Biggio”
Harrison could play of and spell anyone in the IF that needs a day off.
And it’s not even gonna happen , thanks for the hardcore insight though
Pretty sure Pompey was dfad or non tendered
Always liked Josh Harrison. Despite his age and probable decline, I’d like the Giants to take a flier on him. See if they can squeeze a little more value out of him
White Sox would be a good fit. He can play 3rd or move Moncada to 3rd and let him play 2nd until Madrigal is ready.
Heyman links every free agent he discusses to the Astros and Giants
Brewers could use him
I think he would fit our needs well. Lower payroll with pretty good upside after a down 2018 season. He has been a Brewer killer in the past, too.
3 WAR season in 2017. Deserves another chance. May need to sign with a non-contender to rebuild value prior to the trade deadline.
It doesn’t make that much sense on paper, but I think he is going to end up on the Reds. Every time the Pirates played the Reds, the Cincinnati announcers would gush over Harrison being a Cincinnati kid and they would even interview him after the game a lot of the time.
I just don’t get it… the Tigers have at least 5 guys on their 40 man roster that could be DFA’d and no one would have any interest in them…. yet there are many players waived that the Tigers could sign cheap and make them a better team. (Billy Hamilton, Harrison, Colome,Alex Wilson, Dan Jennings….) The Tigers are obviously looking for another top draft pick. Heck, they could choose rule 5 guys that would be better than Mike Gerber, Ronnie Rodriguez, Mikie Mahtook, Brandon Dixon, Buck Farmer, Daniel Stumpf, Ryan Carpenter, Jose Fernandez. None of these guys should be on a 40 man roster. This is year 3 of their rebuild… I hope we start to see some improvement. In 2017 we had 98 losses and got the top pick. in ’18 we had 98 losses again and we’ll have the 5th pick. Teams are tanking and getting the top pick is getting competitive. Looks like Avila is trying for that top pick. I hope he knows what he’s doing.
The Tigers are hamstrung for years to come until Miguel Cabrera contract is over. Meanwhile, they build the system.
A good utility player who can bolster any contending team overnight. He’s a pesky hitter and will occasionally hit a bomb or two and is pretty good glove at 2nd, 3rd and perhaps a little corner outfield. Just a good guy, as well. Plays hard, no BS. Have to think he’d be an asset in the clubhouse
He’s a Cincinnati native, just a thought.
Craig Counsell would looooove thus guy let’s get it done, Stearns.
I know it is wishful thinking, but I would love to see Harrison in a Tigers uniform. Not sure how much he will command, but he could be very helpful for a young team, while very versatile and playing many positions. Not to mention a great trade chip at the deadline.
The fact that I know you meant “2-win plateau” shows it’s probably getting a little cliche.
I’m sure more than 5 teams are interested. He’d round out any roster, on let’s say a 2 year $10M deal..
Some teams might even be interested in him to start at second. Reds come to mind (I know the Reds are not a particularly sensible organization, but still, it would make a lot of sense for them to flip Gennett this winter).
I think they use Harrison as a utility guy. Plenty of at bats to be had there and a lot of young guys that need leadership