Last day for vets?
Harrison, Mercer might not be back
CINCINNATI — Some time ago, manager Clint Hurdle informed Jordy Mercer and Josh Harrison of his plans for them in September. He was going to play them one game a series, he was going to play them together and he was going to instruct the young middle infielders to take notes.
Neither played during Sunday’s season finale, meaning their starts Saturday could have been their final games as Pirates. Mercer is a free agent this offseason. The Pirates hold a $10.5 million club option on Harrison. No Pirates currently on the roster reached the majors earlier than Harrison and Mercer did.
“That’s what we reflected on a little bit earlier [Sunday], the fact that it’s crazy how he ended up on my couch and yet we’ve stuck this long together,” Mercer said.
Harrison crashed on Mercer’s couch in the low minors. They had success there, asking each other, Why can’t we turn this thing around in Pittsburgh?
“Lot in common,” Harrison said. “Both had girlfriends at the time, ended up marrying and having kids. Our kids grew up together and our wives get along.”
Harrison went to two AllStar games and endeared himself to the fans with his charisma and Houdiniesque escapes on the bases. Mercer, an organizational lifer who spent 11 years with the club, turned himself into a reliable shortstop.
“I would have never thought I would [spend] this many years in the big leagues,” Mercer said. “Just very fortunate, very blessed.”
The veteran middle infielders present something of a contradiction: The Pirates have more of a need for Mercer, but cannot control what he does.
“Jordy and I jokingly even said, depending on the role, because he can find a team that needs a shortstop next year,” Hurdle said. “We could find an opportunity to bring him back as a mentor.”
They can bring back Harrison if they wish, but have less of a need to.
“I don’t want to focus anything on the offseason when there’s still two more days here with these guys,” Harrison said Saturday.
“When the offseason gets here, whatever happens, we’ll address that when it happens.”
Since Adam Frazier returned from the minors in late July and brought his old swing with him, he has played well enough for consideration as the starting second baseman. Defense, once an issue, improved in August and September.
“It’s really encouraging that he he continues to get better there, really encouraging that he gets better the more he plays,” general manager Neal Huntington said.
Harrison, meanwhile, finished the season with a .293 on-base percentage, .363 slugging percentage and .250 average. He battled a hamstring injury for most of the second half.
“My main goal is to go into the offseason healthy,” Harrison, 31, said. “I’ve played banged up pretty much all year. I think at the forefront of my mind is just going into the offseason healthy and take it from there.”
Given Frazier’s production — .277/.342/.456, with an .890 OPS since returning July 25 — and the fact that he’ll earn about $10 million less than Harrison — could cause the Pirates to move on.
“We certainly will keep the door open to Jordy and Josh, and see where their markets go,” Huntington said.
With Mercer, 32, possibly gone, Kevin Newman becomes the primary option at shortstop. The 25-year-old rookie has hit .209/.247/.231 in 91 at-bats and struggled defensively in his first month in the major leagues.
Mercer talked to David Freese and Neil Walker about the free agency experience, which previously was foreign to him.
The double-play tandem walked off the field together arm in arm Sunday, uncertain of their next steps but appreciative of the time spent together.