Texas Rangers starting pitcher Matt Harrison is a rich man.
According to ESPN.com, the 27-year-old reportedly signed a five-year, $55 million contract and passed his physical on Wednesday. The contract will take up Harrison's final two arbitration-eligible years and his first three years of free agency, giving the Rangers some control of a player they feel is a key to keeping the team a winning ball club.
The report also states that the contract has a $13.25 million option for 2018 that could go up by as much as $2.5 million depending on incentives for pitching stats. "The option includes a $2 million buyout. Harrison can vest the option if he pitches 200 or more innings in each of the final three years of the contract. Harrison will make $13 million combined in the first two seasons of the deal and then $13 million in each of the final three seasons."
According to USA Today, "The deal came a day after the 27-year-old left-hander filed for salary arbitration. Harrison could have become a free agent following the 2014 season."
Harrison was an All-Star in 2012 and likely will be the second starter for the Rangers behind Japanese phenom Yu Darvish. He led the team in wins and went 18-4 with a 3.29 ERA and 133 strikeouts while pitching in 213 innings. Over the past two seasons, Harrison has been the most consistent pitcher for Texas, putting up a 3.34 ERA in nearly 400 innings.
Harrison has quietly put together some impressive numbers of the past few seasons. According to ESPN and MLB Stats & Information, Harrison was one of the most consistent and quality pitchers in baseball in 2012, ranking fourth among pitchers by Wins Above Replacement and placing second in highest percentage of pitches in strike zone by left-handers, coming in behind Cliff Lee.
Harrison also has worked to improve his percentage of pitches in the strike zone over the past three years, finishing fourth among pitchers in 2012 after bringing it up from 28.8 percent in 2010 to 34.7 in 2012. According to ESPN, Harrison has a "5.59 ERA in his first three seasons with a -0.8 WAR in 225 1/3 innings"
ESPN reports that Harrison will not pitch in the World Baseball Classic this season to help focus on the upcoming 2013 campaign. The signing of Harrison continues a trend by the Rangers of locking players, especially pitchers, up early and making sure they do not hit the open market. The report also says that Harrison will use spring training to work on his slider, something he calls his "fourth pitch."
The team did the same thing with 26-year-old Derek Holland, who is signed through the 2016 season and could finish it in 2018 at a maximum value of $45 million. Darvish was signed as a free agent and has a $56 million deal that goes until 2016.
The Rangers have made a number of moves this offseason to improve the team, including signing Lance Berman to help with the loss of superstar Josh Hamilton, who signed a free agent deal with the Los Angeles Angels.
Texas has made the playoffs in three straight seasons and is coming off of back-to-back World Series appearances in 2010 and 2011. The Rangers have locked up most of their young talent and will have a foundation on the pitching staff for a number of years with Darvish, Holland and Harrison now signed.
The rotation still includes fireballer Alexi Ogando, who is just 29-years-old and will be under club control for multiple years. Holland had a down season last year, but was essential in helping the team to the World Series the previous year. The team also has depth in the minor leagues in pitching with arms like Justin Grimm, Martin Perez and Robbie Ross.
Other players signed to long-term contracts with the team includes second baseman Ian Kinsler as well as third baseman Adrian Beltre, who have provided both stellar offensive and defensive play while in Texas. Last season, Beltre had his best performance in years, hitting .321 with 36 home runs and 102 RBIs while also winning a Gold Glove for the second straight time.
During the offseason the Rangers went after free agent Zach Greinke, but lost out to the Los Angeles Dodgers, who gave him a record contract. Two years ago the team tried to retain Cliff Lee after acquiring him from the Mariners, but he opted to sign with the Phillies.
Last season the Rangers went 93-69, finishing second to the Oakland Athletics in the AL West after leading the division all year. The team lost in the Wild Card round to the Baltimore Orioles to complete a historic collapse at the end of the year.
The Rangers were ranked first in runs, third in batting average, fourth in on-base percentage and second in slugging, but that wasn't good enough to hold off the A's or to beat the Orioles in a one game playoff.
The window for Texas to win the World Series seemed to be closing after the team was beaten twice in the championship in three years, but after signing all their young talent, it appears the Rangers will be an AL force for years to come.
