So, the Brewers Were the Team That Claimed Matt Harvey – Today is the Deadline for a Deal (UPDATE: No Deal)
Well, here we go. This has double implications for Cubs fans, since it not only directly affects the rotation of an NL Central contender, but it’s also the very guy who is supposed to take the mound against the Cubs today in Chicago.
Sources: Brewers are the team that got the claim on Matt Harvey. They have 5 hours, 18 minutes to go before their deadline for this trade (deadline is 1:30 et)
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) August 24, 2018
The Reds have undoubtedly prepared in case they have to make a last-minute rotation change, and sometimes that can actually work against the team that was otherwise preparing to face a certain starting pitcher. Just because it’s some fill-in guy taking the mound, that doesn’t mean he can’t surprise (hey, the Cubs have one of those guys going today in Alec Mills!).
Given the opportunity to save some scratch, the Reds seem very likely to just let Harvey go, and, since the Brewers are now the only team with whom they can negotiate, the Brewers can take advantage of that leverage. In these waiver deal situations, as we saw with the Cubs and Daniel Murphy, the price tag can be much lower than it would be at the traditional trade deadline, as the dealing team is left with the choice of getting nothing at all for the player and eating the salary, or taking a pittance and at least saving some salary.
If the Brewers get Harvey, it’s not like he’s an impact guy at this point, but he has been perfectly solid as a starter with the Reds – and the Brewers could use that.
Stay tuned.
UPDATE: Incredibly, for the second time in as many months, the Brewers are not going to trade for Matt Harvey:
Hearing Matt Harvey will NOT be traded and will start vs. the #Cubs today. #Reds
— Matt Martell (@mmartell728) August 24, 2018
It’s fine by me either way, but man, I just don’t see how the Brewers could let this happen (unless the Reds were being utterly insane in demanding a legit prospect or something). I guess they could have just been blocking the Cardinals and Cubs, but even still … wouldn’t you want Harvey for $1 million and minimal cost?
