Los Angeles Angels: This may be the end for Matt Harvey

The Matt Harvey Experience may be over, now that he has been released by the Los Angeles Angels.

Heading into the season, the Los Angeles Angels were hoping that Matt Harvey would be able to stabilize their rotation. He had returned to some semblance of the pitcher he once was during his time with the Reds, as he was once again a viable major league arm. The Angels placed an $11 million bet on a one year deal that Harvey could continue to resurrect his career in Los Angeles.

Those hopes came to an end on Friday.  Harvey was designated for assignment, and have since released Harvey outright.

Harvey seemed to be over the issues that plagued him during his final couple of years with the Mets. Although he was not the Dark Knight of old, he posted a respectable 4.50 ERA and a 1.250 WHiP in 128 innings with the Reds in 2018, striking out 111 batters with just 28 walks. Harvey was a worthwhile gamble to take.

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Instead, he bombed with the Angels. While he had his moments, Harvey struggled overall, posting a 7.09 ERA and a 1.542 WHiP, striking out 39 batters with 29 walks in his 59.2 innings. Perhaps even more concerning, Harvey’s steadily declining velocity took another hit, as he averaged only 93.68 MPH on his fastball this year.

At this point, one has to wonder what, if anything, Harvey has left. He had three excellent seasons at the beginning of his career, but has not been the same pitcher afterwards. From 2016 on, he has posted a 5.65 ERA and a 1.468 WHiP, one of the multitude of pitchers that have not been the same since thoracic outlet syndrome surgery.

Chances are, some team will give Harvey a chance. He is a former All Star and was once viewed as one of the bright young pitchers in the game. It is also possible that a team could consider moving him to a bullpen role, where he may be able to find that lost velocity once more. At the prorated minimum, Harvey could be worth a gamble once again.

However, one must wonder if Matt Harvey has anything left. If his time with the Los Angeles Angels is any indication, the Dark Knight will no longer rise.