Today, Phillies pitchers and catchers reported to spring training in Clearwater, but their highest paid pitcher was absent. Matt Harrison, the injured pitcher the Phillies acquired in the Cole Hamels-Rangers deal last summer probably won’t pitch for the team at all this season.
The Phillies have excused Harrison, who recently saw a back specialist, from spring training.
“The truth is we are not expecting him to be here anytime soon, if at all, this year,” Phillies general manager Matt Klentak said. “If things go well, we’ll be happy to get him back. But the reality is we’re in a wait-and-see mode.”
This shouldn’t exactly be a surprise since Harrison was put on the disabled list upon the trade completion as the Phillies took on the remained of Harrison’s $32 million contract. Due $13+ million the next two seasons, Harrison’s contract can be bought out in 2018 for $2 million.
The Phillies also have the chance to get back some of the money Harrison’s owed because his contract is insured. Harrison had spinal fusion surgery in June 2014.
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Nick Piccone has covered Philly sports and events for over 14 years. He founded Bleeding Brotherly Love in April 2011, and renamed it Bleed Philly in 2013. In 2015, he joined Sean Brace in launching Philly Influencer, which quickly became a top Philly sports and culture website. He covered professional wrestling for PhillyVoice from 2015-2021, and co-launched The Straight Shooters podcast in 2015, covering the entire pro wrestling industry. He also produces content for Fox Sports Radio Philadelphia and the Villanova Sports Radio Network. He grew up in South Philadelphia and South Jersey, and is a graduate of Neumann University.
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