Call to the pen
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Toronto Blue Jays wisely passed on Matt Harvey Experience

By David Hill

ANAHEIM, CA - MAY 23: Matt Harvey #33 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim walks into the dugout after giving up six runs in the first inning to the Minnesota Twins at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on May 23, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA - MAY 23: Matt Harvey #33 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim walks into the dugout after giving up six runs in the first inning to the Minnesota Twins at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on May 23, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /
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The Toronto Blue Jays had Matt Harvey in for a workout a few weeks back. Wisely, they decided to pass.

Remember Matt Harvey? Back in 2015, he looked like a potential ace for the Mets, another excellent young arm that the team could build around. The Dark Knight was the toast of the town that year, winning the NL Comeback Player of the Year award and pitching well in the postseason. He was ready to be a star, until injuries and attitude problems derailed his career.

Since becoming a free agent this offseason, Harvey has vanished from the radar. As it turns out, the Toronto Blue Jays had Harvey in for a private workout, but decided to pass on the experience.

Those glory days of 2015 are forgotten, having disappeared in the rearview mirror. Harvey has become a shell of his former self these days, hampered by injury and ineffectiveness.

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Since undergoing thoracic outlet surgery in 2016, he has not even been close to the same pitcher. Over the past three years, Harvey has combined for a 5.89 ERA and a 1.467 WHiP, striking out 237 batters with 113 walks and 61 homers over 307.1 innings. Aside from his time with the Reds to close out 2018, Harvey has not looked even remotely close to being a major league caliber pitcher.

And yet, to Harvey, he was still The Dark Knight. He refused to go to the bullpen despite his struggles, saying that he was a starter. That attitude, at least in part, led to his being sent to Cincinnati for Devin Mesoraco. Amazingly, he managed to turn 128 innings of somewhat competent pitching into an $11 million contract from the Angels.

Harvey simply is not worth the headache. At this point, he is likely looking at a minor league contract if any team is willing to take the chance that he can return to form. Even then, the hope would have to be that he can replicate his time in Cincinnati because he is no longer the burgeoning ace that the Mets had in 2015.

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The Toronto Blue Jays passed on Matt Harvey. It was the right move.

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