Categories: News

Phillies release Matt Harrison

The first casualty of the Cole Hamels trade is Matt Harrison, who the Phillies released Tuesday, per Jim Salisbury.

Harrison, who has suffered severe back injuries over his career and never pitched an inning for the Phillies, is owed $13 million in 2017 and, at least, a $2 million buyout for 2018. By releasing him, the Phillies will still have to pay Harrison but won’t get back insurance that would’ve offset the money owed on his contract.

In essence, the Phils released Harrison to free up a 40-man roster spot. They need them to save prospects from being selected in the Rule 5 Draft.

The Phils may make more moves to free up spots before the deadline to put Rule 5-eligible players on the 40-man roster. That deadline is Friday.

Tim Malcolm

Tim first found the Phillies as a little infant at Veteran’s Stadium, cheering on a Juan Samuel game-winning home run in his very first game. With the pinstripes in his blood, he witnessed Terry Mulholland’s 1990 no-hitter, “Steve Carlton Night” at the Vet, game three of the 1993 World Series, countless games during the charmed 2008 championship season and various road excursions. Since November 2007 Tim’s been writing about them daily at Phillies Nation, becoming one of the world’s most popular Phillies scribes. You can catch him on Twitter and Facebook, as well. When he’s not talking about the Phils he’s relaxing with a St. Bernardus ABT 12 or one of his many favored brews.