Pittsburgh Pirates Sign Josh Harrison To Four-Year Contract Extension
By Larry Snyder
The Pittsburgh Pirates announced Wednesday that they and Josh Harrison reached an agreement on a long-term contract.
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The 5-foot-8, 195-pound third baseman inked a four-year pact that overrides the $2.8 million deal for 2015 to which he had originally agreed. The new deal includes a pair of club options that extend through 2020.
The contract is guaranteed for $27.3 million, and the Cincinnati, Ohio native will make $50.3 million if both options are executed. The deal calls for $2.8 million in 2015 plus a signing bonus of $1 million.
It escalates to $5 million in 2016; $7.5 million in 2017; and $10 million in 2018. The breakdown on the pair of options are as follows: $10.5 million with a $1 million buyout in 2019, and $11.5 million with a $500,000 buyout in 2020.
Harrison, who will turn 28 in July, is the third member of Clint Hurdle’s starting lineup signed to a long-term agreement. General manager Neal Huntington has outfielders Andrew McCutchen and Starling Marte in the fold, too.
The 2014 All-Star was second among all National League hitters with a .315 batting average. He contributed 13 home runs, 52 RBIs, and 18 stolen bases in 520 at-bats. Harrison put up a .372 batting average with runners in scoring position, and was second on the team to McCutchen with 164 hits.
Here is a quick rundown of tonight’s match-up between the Bucs and Reds along the Ohio River in Cincinnati.
When: Wednesday, April 8
First Pitch: 7:10 p.m. ET
Site: Great American Ball Park
Playing Surface: Natural Grass
Television Coverage: ROOT Sports Network
Radio Coverage: KDKA-FM 93.7 – The Fan
Announcers: Greg Brown, Tim Neverett, Bob Walk, Steve Blass and John Wehner
Live (Pay) Streaming: MLB.TV
Sirius XM Satellite Radio: XM Internet 861
Odds: Pirates +1.5 According To Bovada Online Sportsbook with the Over/Under at 7.5.
Weather Forecast: According to the Weather Channel, the forecast for Cincinnati is cloudy with thunderstorms possible. Low tonight of 60. Chance of rain is 100%.
Starting Pitchers: The Reds will send send 27-year-oldMike Leake to the hill this evening. The 5-foot-10, 190-pound right-hander went 11-13 last season with a 3.70 ERA and posted a 1.246 WHIP. The San Diego, Calif. native struck out 164.
Pittsburgh will go with 24-year-old Gerrit Cole. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound right-hander put up a 11-5 mark last season with 3.65 ERA and 1.210 WHIP. The Newport Beach, Calif.,native struck out 138 over 138 innings.
Up Next: Pittsburgh concludes its three-game road trip to Cincinnati Thursday, April 9 at the Great American Ball Park. The first pitch set for 12:35 p.m.
The Reds will send right-hander Anthony DeSclafani to the mound, while the Bucs will counter with righty A.J. Burnett. The game will be broadcast on ROOT Sports Pittsburgh.
Next: PODCAST: Pirates questions and expectations for 2015