Pittsburgh Pirates: Trade destinations for Josh Harrison
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.
Pittsburgh Pirates destinations: New York Mets
The New York Mets made the World Series back in 2015 but ultimately lost to the Kansas City Royals. Since then the Mets made the Wild Card game in 2016, losing to the Giants and later in 2017, they finished fourth in the NL East.
However, the Mets can blame their poor performance in 2017 (70-92) on numerous injuries, especially to their starting pitchers. Heading toward the 2018 season, the Mets look healthy and ready to go.
One spot on the roster that is lacking is second base. If the season started today, Gavin Cecchini would start at second base, according to MLB.com’s depth charts.
In 2017, Cecchini played in 32 games; he hit .208/.256/.273 with one home run, seven RBI, and four runs. Apparently a small sample size, but Cecchini doesn’t seem like the answer for the Mets at second base.
Perhaps the Mets can make a deal for Josh Harrison and solidify the second base spot. Harrison remains under contract for next season and then has a team option for both the 2019 and 2020 seasons. The Mets could have Harrison for three seasons, or at any time during that span, they feel they can’t compete and need to rebuild, Harrison remains expandable.
Earlier this month, the Mets and outfield free agent Jay Bruce agreed to a three-year, $39 million deal. Adding an outfielder to their roster, the Mets could use 24-year-old outfielder Brandon Nimmo as a piece in a trade for Harrison.
The Mets have the pitching to make a push for the postseason, but their offense still needs a bit of work. Upgrading their second base status with Josh Harrison would prove significant for them.
Pittsburgh Pirates destinations: Milwaukee Brewers
Last season, the Milwaukee Brewers took the league by surprise and competed in the NL Central eventually falling to the Chicago Cubs for the division title. The Brewers finished with an 86-76 record, despite many expecting them to finish below .500. They missed out on the second Wild Card spot by just one game.
One of the main reasons the Brewers did so well was due to the surprising play from guys like Eric Thames, Travis Shaw, and Corey Knebel. With nearly the same roster as last season, there is no reason why the Brewers shouldn’t compete in 2018.
Although, the Brewers did lose one key player from last season. Neil Walker, who the Brewers acquired from the Mets at the trade deadline, entered free agency this offseason. It doesn’t look like the Brewers plan to resign Walker. That leaves the team with Eric Sogard as the current second baseman.
In 2017, Sogard played in 94 games where he hit .273/.393/.378 with three home runs, 18 RBI, and 37 runs scored. Sogard doesn’t appear to fill the void at second base for the Brewers.
However, the Brewers have some interest in Harrison, according to Elizabeth Bloom of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Harrison would add some depth to an already potent Brewers’ offense.
The only downside for the Brewers is that they play in the same division as the Pirates, that could hinder a trade between the clubs. But if the Brewers can send the right offer, the Pirates might not refuse.
Pittsburgh Pirates destinations: New York Yankees
The New York Yankees made the biggest splash of the offseason when they traded for superstar power hitter Giancarlo Stanton from the Miami Marlins in exchange for Starlin Castro and two prospects Jorge Guzman and Jose Devers.
The move gave the Yankees one of the most powerful lineups with the combination of Stanton, Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez in the heart of the order. However, losing Castro left a bit of vacancy at the second base position.
Now the Yankees lineup is already deep and one of the best in baseball. That hasn’t stopped the Yankees from adding more in the past.
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The Yankees tried to trade for Cole but lost out to the Astros in that race. Could Harrison be the next target for the Yankees? As it stands right now, the starting second baseman is Ronald Torreyes. They also lost third baseman Chase Headley to free agency, so the current third baseman is Miguel Andujar.
Andjuar had just seven at-bats in 2017, although 22-year-old made the most of them with four hits and four RBI. As for Torreyes, he played in 108 games. He hit .292/.314/.375 with three home runs, 36 RBI, and 35 runs.
The Yankees will remain one of the best in baseball even without any other moves made because of their depth. But if they can acquire Harrison and rotate him between third and second base, that would make the Yankees that much better.
Harrison’s contact bat would mix in nicely with all of the power that the Yankees contain. And with the team options for the 2019 and 2020 seasons, the Yankees could build up a solid group and chemistry over the next few seasons.
Next: Four reasons the Giants make the 2018 postseason.
Any of these three teams could land Harrison or another team for that matter. One thing that’s almost for sure, he won’t suit up in a Pittsburgh Pirates uniform next season.