Josh Harrison

[MadThinker88]

Well, its official. Josh would prefer to be dealt..

 

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2754428-josh-harrison-trade-rumors-pirates-if-wants-move-after-andrew-mccutchen-deal

[KCBrewerfan34]

Harrison moves from a pitchers park to Miller Park and 2 of the 3 years have options. He only costs prospects not the draft pick.

[trwi7]

OPS+ by year

 

83

73

96

133

97

86

101

 

Why do we want this guy again?

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

OPS+ by year

 

83

73

96

133

97

86

101

 

Why do we want this guy again?

 

Sogard

92

64

68

Minors

103

 

Hernan

76

91

81

 

Villar

117

72

 

That's why

[pacopete4]

The more you dive into his stats, you really have to wonder where the value lies?

[trwi7]

OPS+ by year

 

83

73

96

133

97

86

101

 

Why do we want this guy again?

 

Sogard

92

64

68

Minors

103

 

Hernan

76

91

81

 

Villar

117

72

 

That's why

 

So because we have three crappy options we should willingly go trade for a fourth crappy option?

[KeithStone53151]

There is no single stat that defines a player. Pointing solely to OPS+ isn't enough. I suspect many on this board want a guy that makes contact and doesn't strike out much to offset much of our strikeout-heavy offense. Harrison has a lower OBP than one might like, but also a higher average and doesn't strike out much. A single > a walk, and the career 280ish avg he has is pretty good even though it's fairly empty. Harrison is probably a marginal upgrade over a perez/sogard platoon, and his best year doesn't even touch what Villar might do. Since trading for Harrison likely means he's getting significant PT at 2b, I'd probably prefer to roll with Villar and have Sogard/Perez as the fallback than trade for Harrison.

 

I also generally don't see that much of a gap between Harrison and Walker. Walker might be a small notch higher than Harrison due to slightly higher OBP and SLG, but he also gives up some ground with a lower avg, less speed, worse defense. I personally don't see a reason to make a move at 2b at all.

[Boomer5]

OPS+ by year

 

83

73

96

133

97

86

101

 

Why do we want this guy again?

 

Sogard

92

64

68

Minors

103

 

Hernan

76

91

81

 

Villar

117

72

 

That's why

 

Scooters

 

127

107

84

91

124

 

We have no reason to trade a prospect(s) and spend $10M on another second basemen who isn't elite. This is insane because we aren't a 2B away from anything.

 

Oh and we just spend a first round pick on a college 2B who is maybe a year away if that.

[reillymcshane]

OPS+ by year

 

83

73

96

133

97

86

101

 

Why do we want this guy again?

 

Sogard

92

64

68

Minors

103

 

Hernan

76

91

81

 

Villar

117

72

 

That's why

Neil Walker's OPS+ the last five years:

 

114

126

106

121

111

[MrTPlush]

People are really overblowing the “giving up prospects” thing. It would likely take...well not a whole lot. I don’t think Harrison is a bad option. He gives you average offense(maybe a little upside for more at Miller Park) and pretty solid defense. Seems like an expensive stop gap. I could see it if Neil Walker would take too many years they don’t want to commit to.

[wallus]

 

Oh and we just spend a first round pick on a college 2B who is maybe a year away if that.

 

Maybe a year away? He made one defensive play in A-ball and you have him possibly being the team's starting 2nd baseman at some point this season?

[Boomer5]

 

Oh and we just spend a first round pick on a college 2B who is maybe a year away if that.

 

Maybe a year away? He made one defensive play in A-ball and you have him possibly being the team's starting 2nd baseman at some point this season?

 

5 players from the first 9 picks in the 2015 draft played in 2017 with 3 of them being very significant. That is what is supposed to happen when you draft a college player in the top 10.

 

https://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/?year_ID=2015&draft_round=1&draft_type=junreg&query_type=year_round&from_type_jc=0&from_type_hs=0&from_type_4y=0&from_type_unk=0

[MrTPlush]

 

Oh and we just spend a first round pick on a college 2B who is maybe a year away if that.

 

Maybe a year away? He made one defensive play in A-ball and you have him possibly being the team's starting 2nd baseman at some point this season?

 

5 players from the first 9 picks in the 2015 draft played in 2017 with 3 of them being very significant. That is what is supposed to happen when you draft a college player in the top 10.

 

https://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/?year_ID=2015&draft_round=1&draft_type=junreg&query_type=year_round&from_type_jc=0&from_type_hs=0&from_type_4y=0&from_type_unk=0

 

How many of them were questionable defensively in the infield and have played almost zero defense the last two years? You can’t just compare guys like that when they have huge differences. He has essentially proven nothing in the minors with his bat or glove.

 

If you are that confident in Hiura then Harrison would make more sense. Our current options are not good(or extremely not trustworthy) and Neil Walker likely costs a 3 year commitment. Josh Harrison can be a one year guy who can either be traded or have his option declined if Hiura is ready for 2019. Sure he is pricey, but we have a ton of payroll space and it would make the prospect cost close to zero.

[Eye Black]

Just a quick look comparing Harrison and Neil Walker in wRC+ shows them as significantly different offensive values. Harrison has finished below league average in weighted runs created in 5 of his 7 seasons. Neil Walker on the other hand has not only finished over 100 in wRC+ every season since 2010, but he has averaged a stellar wRC+ 115. His 114 mark last season ranked 8th among second baseman with more than 400 plate appearances.

[homer]

I think he'd be a marginal upgrade at 2B. Depends on what you have to give up (which wouldn't be much). Won't be upset if it doesn't happen.

[reillymcshane]

Just a quick look comparing Harrison and Neil Walker in wRC+ shows them as significantly different offensive values. Harrison has finished below league average in weighted runs created in 5 of his 7 seasons. Neil Walker on the other hand has not only finished over 100 in wRC+ every season since 2010, but he has averaged a stellar wRC+ 115. His 114 mark last season ranked 8th among second baseman with more than 400 plate appearances.

I think it's pretty clear that Walker's bat is superior to Harrison's. Harrison's glove is better - but not by leaps and bounds. In all, Walker a better player. But like I said earlier, Harrison is two years younger - so there's less danger of him falling off a cliff compared to Walker.

 

One other note about Walker and Harrison. Walker is a switch hitter, but he doesn't hit lefties that well. His career OPS against lefties is .691 (vs .809 against righties). So some platooning may be in order.

 

As for Harrison, he hits lefties better (.777 OPS vs .721 OPS). So as you compare the two - their a lefty/righty splits might affect who you really want.

[NOMAAM]

Trading for Harrison seems more like a Mets move to me for some reason.

[MadThinker88]

Trading for Harrison seems more like a Mets move to me for some reason.

 

Especially if the Mets are willing to include Brandon Nimmo in the trade package (hinted at on MLBTR)..

[adambr2]

Harrison still sounds like he wants out of Pittsburgh.

 

Would Villar for Harrison straight up make any sense? Pittsburgh sheds salary and gets some upside and control.

 

We get a safer veteran 2B with a big defensive upgrade in the middle of the IF.

 

I just don't think Harrison has a ton of trade value. He's good, not elite, and his salary is about the going rate for his production this off-season.

[bill hAll Star]

Harrison still sounds like he wants out of Pittsburgh.

 

Would Villar for Harrison straight up make any sense? Pittsburgh sheds salary and gets some upside and control.

 

We get a safer veteran 2B with a big defensive upgrade in the middle of the IF.

 

I just don't think Harrison has a ton of trade value. He's good, not elite, and his salary is about the going rate for his production this off-season.

 

They probably still would rather go younger than Villar. If his value is truly that low, they should just sit and hold unless they’ve got a Rays-esque salary cutting request.

[TJseven7]

Harrison still sounds like he wants out of Pittsburgh.

 

Would Villar for Harrison straight up make any sense? Pittsburgh sheds salary and gets some upside and control.

 

We get a safer veteran 2B with a big defensive upgrade in the middle of the IF.

 

I just don't think Harrison has a ton of trade value. He's good, not elite, and his salary is about the going rate for his production this off-season.

 

They probably still would rather go younger than Villar. If his value is truly that low, they should just sit and hold unless they’ve got a Rays-esque salary cutting request.

 

Player options on Harrison are nice but I think in the current market walker would be cheaper. I see no need to give up something for him... and blocking villar now kills any shot at him reclaiming value. He frustrated me last year too but I dont hate him batting 7th or 9th.

[KeithStone53151]

Harrison still sounds like he wants out of Pittsburgh.

 

Would Villar for Harrison straight up make any sense? Pittsburgh sheds salary and gets some upside and control.

 

We get a safer veteran 2B with a big defensive upgrade in the middle of the IF.

 

I just don't think Harrison has a ton of trade value. He's good, not elite, and his salary is about the going rate for his production this off-season.

 

They probably still would rather go younger than Villar. If his value is truly that low, they should just sit and hold unless they’ve got a Rays-esque salary cutting request.

 

I would like to think the Pirates could at minimum trade Harrison while eating most of the salary and net a decent prospect. You'd think they'd try to do something like that. I suspect Harrison would accept a QO if offered, so not like they can count on that compensation by keeping him...