MLB trade rumors: Blue Jays, Mets interested in Josh Harrison

The Mets and Blue Jays have both expressed interest in Pirates super-utility man Josh Harrison, as reported by Marc Carig of Newsday and Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, respectively. Brink also adds that the Angels would be a good fit for Harrison, but stops short of saying that the team has inquired with the Pirates.

Both teams are in need of second basemen, with the Mets preferring to play Wilmer Flores against left-handed pitching only, and the Blue Jays currently set to run out oft-injured yet talented Devon Travis. Both teams are also in need of corner outfielders—the Blue Jays losing Jose Bautista to free agency and the Mets unsure of Michael Conforto’s status to begin the season—another spot in the field where Harrison also has plenty of experience.

The right-handed-hitting Harrison has missed time in each of the past three seasons due to injury after breaking out with an All-Star campaign in 2014, but over those four seasons he has nevertheless batted a solidly-above-average .290/.331/.428 with 37 home runs, 118 doubles and 59 steals. In addition to second base and the corner outfield, Harrison has also seen extensive time at third base, and earlier in his career played plenty of shortstop.

Harrison is entering his age-30 season and is due $10.25 million in the final guaranteed year of a contract extension signed in April 2015. However, the contract has two option years, valued at a combined $22 million. In total, a new team could have control over Harrison for a total of three seasons at a total cost of $32.25 million, a fairly reasonable price—and he wouldn’t have to be locked in at one position, of course.

Besides the Mets, Blue Jays and Angels, I’d posit that many other teams would be a fit for Harrison due to his versatility, with the Yankees and Athletics coming to mind as teams who could theoretically use him, though neither has been connected to him as of yet.