Utility player Josh Harrison has decided to decline his minor league contract with the Reds, as reported by C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic. He had joined the team last month under an agreement that allowed him to opt out if he wasn’t on the roster by March 21.
After being informed that he wouldn’t be included in the team, he will now re-enter free agency.
Harrison faced obstacles in his bid to secure a spot on the team, given the Reds’ abundance of talented young players in various positions. However, the team’s depth has suffered recent setbacks, with infielder Noelvi Marte receiving an 80-game suspension for PED use and outfielder TJ Friedl sidelined with a significant wrist fracture.
Despite these challenges, the club still possesses a plethora of choices to round out its lineup and roster. Jeimer Candelario, Elly De La Cruz, Matt McLain, and Christian Encarnacion-Strand can handle infield duties for the most part, while Spencer Steer, Jake Fraley, and Will Benson are available in the outfield, with Tyler Stephenson behind the plate.
Jonathan India is poised to play a regular role, either as the designated hitter or rotating through various defensive positions. Luke Maile and Stuart Fairchild are expected to secure two bench spots, and the club also boasts Bubba Thompson, Nick Martini, Rece Hinds, and Jacob Hurtubise on the roster. Non-roster invitees like Tony Kemp, Mike Ford, Mark Mathias, and Erik González are also present if the club opts to add someone to its roster.
Harrison would have been part of this latter group, but his recent performance hasn’t been promising. He batted just .204/.263/.291 for the Phillies last year before being released in August. Subsequently, he signed a minor league deal with the Rangers, where he hit .222/.323/.370 in six games before opting out. In eight spring games with the Reds this year, he’s posted a line of .250/.250/.350.
However, despite his recent struggles, Harrison’s past suggests he’s not far removed from being a reliable utility option in the major leagues. Between 2020 and 2022, he appeared in 290 games, hitting .270/.332/.390 during that span, with a wRC+ of 102.
While his 5.4% walk rate was not particularly strong, he managed to keep his strikeouts relatively low at a 14.7% clip. Additionally, he demonstrated versatility by playing every position except catcher.
Now, he’ll seek another chance in the free-agent market, and his versatility may aid him in securing his next opportunity.
While he’s primarily an emergency option at first base, shortstop, or center field—having played minimal innings in these positions throughout his career (one inning at first, three innings at short in the past two years, and 10 innings overall in center)—he boasts ample experience at second base, third base, and the outfield corners. As clubs across the league finalize their camp cuts and other veterans trigger opt-outs, it’s likely there will be significant roster movements in the next week or two.