原文:http://ppt.cc/9Mqv
Pirates Extend Josh Harrison
By Jeff Todd [April 8, 2015 at 11:03am CDT]
The Pirates have announced a four-year extension for infielder/outfielder
Josh Harrison. Pittsburgh will guarantee the super-utility man $27.3MM over
the next four seasons and will also hold two club options that could bring
the deal’s total value to $50.3MM.
MLB: Pittsburgh Pirates at Philadelphia Phillies
Harrison, who is represented by MSM Sports, will take home a $1MM signing
bonus. After earning his previously agreed-upon $2.8MM salary this year, he
will earn $5MM (2016), $7.5MM (2017), and $10MM (2018). The options are worth
$10.5MM ($1MM buyout) and $11MM ($500K buyout). The options can each increase
by up to $1MM depending upon escalators based upon MVP voting, accounting for
the rest of the achievable value.
Harrison, 27, broke out last year for the Bucs after several years shuttling
between the big leagues and upper minors. Despite previously carrying a
sub-.700 OPS, Harrison slashed .315/.347/.490 in 550 plate appearances in
2014, adding 13 home runs and 18 stolen bases.
Playing excellent defense at multiple infield and outfield positions not only
helped enhance Harrison’s overall productivity, but makes him a highly
versatile piece moving forward. In the aggregate, Harrison posted 5.3 rWAR
and 5.0 fWAR last year.
That elite contribution came at an opportune time, as it landed Harrison a
$2.8MM contract in his first year of arbitration eligibility. In exchange for
promising away the rest of his arbitration years and three seasons of free
agent eligibility (two via options), Harrison now pockets an additional
$24.5MM in guaranteed money.
MLBTR’s Steve Adams took a look at Harrison as an extension candidate back
in September. After a detailed breakdown of his surprising emergence, Steve
explained the difficulties that the two sides might encounter in valuing a
new contract. A new factor was introduced when the Bucs landed Korean
infielder Jung-ho Kang.
But with Harrison showing no signs of slowing down over a solid spring, team
and player were able to bridge any differences and find common ground. In the
end, Pittsburgh will commit slightly more than the Indians did last year for
Michael Brantley but will pick up an additional season of control in the
second option. The club will now enjoy the wide flexibility that Harrison
offers in planning their next several offseasons, while hoping that his
contract pays off as much as Brantley’s has.
Detractors will note that Harrison benefited from a .355 BABIP last year. But
he has traditionally carried a high mark in the minors and still would have
had plenty of value on offense — to say nothing of the other elements of the
game — had that number been lower. If Harrison can remain even a slightly
above-average hitter, he ought to justify his contract and then some.