Josh Harrison‘s tenure at second base for the Pittsburgh
Pirates is over.
Pittsburgh declined 2019 options for Harrison and third
baseman Jung Ho Kang.
The Pirates opted to pay Harrison a $1 million buyout rather
than the $10.5 million he was scheduled to make next season. The 31-year-old, a
key part of Pittsburgh’s run of three straight playoff berths from 2013-15, hit
.250 with three home runs and 37 RBIs in 97 games in 2018. His playing time
diminished near the end of the season while Pittsburgh gave prospect Kevin
Newman a look.
Kang was a star in South Korea when the Pirates signed him
to an $11 million, four-year deal in January 2015. He finished third in NL
Rookie of the Year balloting in 2015 after hitting 15 homers and
driving in 58 runs as Pittsburgh won 98 games. It would be the high point of
Kang’s time with the Pirates.
The 31-year-old Kang didn’t play in North America between
September 2016 and June 2018 because of visa issues connected to
three DUI arrests his native South Korea. He made it back to the majors with
Pittsburgh in September, collecting two hits in six at bats during the final
weekend of the season.
Pittsburgh will pay Kang’s $250,000 buyout. He was slated to
make $5.5 million next year. Kang’s contract specified he must be
released at the end of the deal.
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