After the past few days, the Pittsburgh Pirates made it clear that the team plans to undergo a rebuild. With two trades already, another one could happen soon with utility player Josh Harrison.
After ending a 21-year playoff drought in 2013, the Pittsburgh Pirates made the playoffs three straight seasons. However, they never made it past the NLDS. In both 2016 and 2017, the Pirates missed the playoffs, and it looks like the team plans to rebuild.
On Jan. 13, the Pirates traded their ace Gerrit Cole to the Houston Astros for four players, including Joe Musgrove, Colin Moran, Michael Feliz and Jason Martin. Then two days later, the Pirates traded Andrew McCutchen to the San Francisco Giants for Kyle Crick, Bryan Reynolds, and international slot pool money.
With the team trading their two best players, they’ve made it clear that they are ready to begin rebuilding. And with that, the Pirates’ utility man Josh Harrison wants out if the team doesn’t plan to compete the next two seasons, according to The Athletic reporter Ken Rosenthal.
Josh Harrison (@jhay_da_man) has STRONG words for Neal Huntington & the @Pirates front office. via The Athletic #Pirates pic.twitter.com/J8zes0HewL
— Chase Williams (@chasepwilliams) January 16, 2018
It doesn’t look like the Pirates plan to compete for the next few seasons. Therefore, they’ll more than likely trade Harrison next.
In seven seasons with the Pirates, Harrison hit .281/.321/.414 with 44 home runs, 232 RBI, and 322 runs. The right-hander doesn’t possess much power, but he is a gap-to-gap hitter that produces.
The utility man gives teams a guy that can play multiple positions both in the infield and outfield. Harrison’s made two All-Star teams, including in 2017.
In last season’s All-Star campaign, Harrison hit .272, .339/.432 with a career-high 16 home runs along with 47 RBI and 66 runs. His bWAR reached 3.3 in 2017.
As a utility player for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Harrison could fit with almost any team, but here are three teams that could end up as possible trade destinations for the 30-year-old.