Mets to cut Harvey after 5-plus seasons
Matt Harvey, once seen as a premier pitcher who could join Tom Seaver and Dwight Gooden among the Mets’ greats, refused a minor-league assignment and will be designated for assignment by New York on Saturday.
The 29-year-old right-hander lost his spot in the rotation last month and had a 10.50 ERA in four relief appearances.
“We’ve tried to find some other solution over a fairly long period of time,” Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said. “This was a long time coming. This is not someone who hasn’t pitched well recently. So I mean this is something we’ve tried to address, we’ve struggled with, we’ve wrestled with over two managerial regimes.”
After Harvey is designated, the Mets have seven days to trade him or release him. Because of Harvey’s $5,625,000 salary, a trade might be difficult to make unless the Mets agree to send cash as part of a deal.
Harvey is 0-2 with a 7.00 ERA this year, leaving him with a 34-37 record and 3.66 ERA in five-plus major-league seasons.
Selected by the Mets with the seventh overall pick in the 2010 draft, Harvey made his bigleague debut in July 2012 and became a major sports figure in New York — both at the ballpark and at night spots. He started
the All-Star Game at Citi Field in 2013 and was 9-5 with a 2.27 ERA when he tore an elbow ligament during a game against Detroit that Aug. 24, which led to Tommy John surgery.
Harvey returned in 2015 and went 13-8 with a 2.27 ERA as the Mets reached the World Series. He had disappointing, injuryshortened years in 2016 and ’17.
The New York Post reported this week that Harvey was out partying last week in Los Angeles the night before pitching in San Diego. Alderson was asked if he was upset. “Usually I get upset if a report is unexpected,” Alderson said. “So I guess the short answer is no.”
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Ichiro dominated Japanese
TV talk shows, news shows and social media Friday. National broadcasters showed historical footage of Ichiro playing with the Orix Buffaloes — his team before he joined Seattle in 2001 — and his news conference in Seattle to explain his decision. Cabrera on DL: The Tigers placed designated hitter Miguel Cabrera on the disabled list with a right hamstring strain. Cabrera singled in the sixth inning in Kansas City on Thursday night and left after he tried to advance to second base on a single by Nick Castellanos.
Farquhar recovery: Minnesota players Logan Morrison and Jake Odorizzi were encouraged after visiting former teammate and current White Sox reliever Danny Farquhar in the hospital, where he is recovering from brain surgery. Morrison said he was “really blown away” at how well Farquhar was doing after collapsing in the dugout with a
ruptured aneurysm April 20. Odorizzi said Farquhar stood from a couch and hugged him when he entered the room. Davies out: Pitcher Zach Davies, who led the Brewers with 17 wins a year ago. says he expects to miss just one start after being placed on the 10-day disabled list with right rotator-cuff inflammation. Davies, placed on the DL retroactive to Monday, says he first felt tightness in the shoulder during his start against the Cubs on Sunday. He rested two days before beginning a throwing program Wednesday.
Swanson sidelined: Atlanta shortstop Dansby Swanson was placed on the 10-day DL with left wrist inflammation. He was removed from Wednesday’s game against the Mets in the sixth inning and did not play Thursday. He is hitting .298 with two homers and 13 RBIs but .171 in his past 35 at-bats.