While the Pittsburgh Pirates managed to make a prudent roster move on Wednesday, a number of other clubs were forced to put some of their players on the disabled list.
The Pirates signed third baseman Josh Harrison to a four-year, $27.3 million contract earlier today and the deal could keep the 26-year-old in Pittsburgh through the 2020 season. The two sides avoided arbitration this offseason with a one-year, $2.8 million deal and have tacked on three seasons to that pact.
Here's the breakdown of the contract provided by Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:
$1 million signing bonus
2015: $2.8 million
2016: $5 million
2017: $7.5 million
2018: $10 million
2019: $10.5 million team option with a $1 million buyout
2020: $11.5 million team option with a $500,000 buyout
The total value of the deal could eclipse $50 million. Harrison was rewarded the new contract after earning his first All-Star honors in 2014 thanks to a .315/.347/.490/.837 stat line with 77 runs scored, 13 home runs, 52 RBIs and 18 stolen bases in 143 games.
But other clubs around the league didn't have such good news in the past 24 hours.
The San Francisco Giants placed starter Matt Cain in the 15-day disabled list (retroactive to Apr. 4) on Tuesday night because of a flexor tendon strain in his right forearm, which was described by team trainers as a "two-week thing." An MRI on Monday revealed the injury and Cain will deal with a setback after undergoing elbow surgery last season.
Fellow starter Jake Peavy could also land on the DL after experiencing continue soreness in his back during a bullpen session on Tuesday.
In Detroit, the Tigers have officially placed starter Justin Verlander on the DL on Wednesday for the first time in his 10-year career as the right-hander is dealing with a right triceps strain. Verlander will not be able to start on Sunday, which is what the team had hoped for if they waited it out the roster move as long as they possibly could. Kyle Lobstein will replace the veteran for the time being.
The New York Mets did the same with one of their relievers. Closer Jenrry Mejia hit the DL
(retroactive to Apr. 5) on Tuesday after an MRI found posterior elbow inflammation. The right-hander felt stiffness and pain in his elbow when warming up in the ninth inning of Monday's game against the Washington Nationals and was then unavailable to pitch.
New York now has some issues with their bullpen considering Josh Edgin was forced to undergo Tommy John surgery and Bobby Parnell isn't ready to return until May.
We'll be keeping updates on all these injury issues and what moves each team makes to adjust.
