A better Atlanta Braves Rumor: let’s start one about Josh Harrison

Today it’s still all about third base… but with the Pirates dealing away two major pieces this weekend, it’s fair to ask about Josh Harrison.

First things first:  thus far we’ve heard nothing from any industry sources about whether the Atlanta Braves might have an actual interest in acquiring Josh Harrison from the Pirates to play third base for them.

But it’s not a terrible idea, either.

A lot of the stop-gap kind of options that have been suggested here definitely have their flaws – whether that being Moustakas and his need for a 3+ year deal with much attached greenery or Todd Frazier and his hitting issues… there hasn’t been a really attractive ‘safe’ option.

But we might have found one.

Sure – why not?  Gerrit Cole is an Astro.  Andrew McCutchen is now a Giant.  Why not also try and move Harrison since he’s the remaining Buc with a salary at or above $10 million?

Frankly, I would expect that he’s in another uniform before Friday.  The question, though, is ‘which one’?

The Yankees make good sense… so do the Mets (except for the money part).  Toronto and others would also be in on the bidding.  I’d argue that the Braves should be as well.

Numbers Game

For a team that might be concerned about making space for Austin Riley, Harrison’s contract is absolutely perfect.

He’s under team control for the Pirates’ choice of 1, 2, or even 3 more seasons.  So any team acquiring him will inherit that same level of flexibility.

Barring a setback, Harrison would probably be just as valuable today as he would be in another year… or year-and-a-half… whenever Riley is deemed ready to take the hot corner.  So Harrison could be flipped to another club without contractual concern… while still providing a useful amount of team control to another club.

Even if Harrison flops completely, the Braves would not be obligated for anything further than a single year via an option decline next November.

Harrison hasn’t been used on a full-time basis by Pittsburgh… but it’s been close to that.  He’s averaging roughly 125 games each season since 2015 as a smattering of odd injuries have plagued him.

These have included a broken finger, torn thumb ligament, ankle, and calf.  Nothing chronic… just a lot of ‘baseball injuries’, it seems.  He also got whacked by pitches twenty-three times in 2017... a number sharply higher than his previous season high of 7 HBP’s and second only to Anthony Rizzo in all of baseball.

When fully healthy, he’s a high-700’s/low 800’s OPS guy.  When something is bugging him… more like around .700.

Defensively, Harrison seems better around second base, but he plays third at a pace close to league average… maybe a tick above, so that certainly fits Alex Anthopoulos’ mantra.

What Would it Take?

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This is tough.  I’m thinking two players,  Rio Ruiz being one of them (while Johan Camargo stays behind to be the Super Utility guy).

Beyond that, the Pirates clearly need another pitcher, and my knee-jerk reaction here is Lucas Sims.  I’d hate to trade somebody away whose home town is Lawrenceville, GA, but maybe such a deal might get him a chance to pitch… since it will be difficult for him to break through with the Braves at this point.

But that pair, plus perhaps a lower-minors wild-card player not among the Top 30 prospects might get it done for Harrison.  It might take a little more due to competition, sure:  as always, your mileage may vary.

Next: Speculation that makes less sense

If nothing else, this is worth exploring for the sake of both the 2018 season and for the chance to let Riley get ready without any time constraint (whether real or imagined).