Fansided

Breaking down the best of what’s left in the MLB free-agent market

By Joshua Sadlock

PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 12: Atlanta Braves Third Base Josh Donaldson (20) smiles after the first inning during the game between the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies on September 12, 2019 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Kyle Ross/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 12: Atlanta Braves Third Base Josh Donaldson (20) smiles after the first inning during the game between the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies on September 12, 2019 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Kyle Ross/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 15: Will Harris #36 of the Houston Astros pitches during the eighth inning against the New York Yankees in game three of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium on October 15, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 15: Will Harris #36 of the Houston Astros pitches during the eighth inning against the New York Yankees in game three of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium on October 15, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /

10. Will Harris

It’s surprising that right-handed reliever Will Harris hasn’t come off the board yet. He is the last of the elite middle-relief options left to sign a deal. His age may be holding Harris back from receiving the type of offer he’s seeking. Still, plenty of middle relievers in their mid-30s have been able to find two-year deals in the $16-20 million range.

Over the last five seasons with Houston, Harris has emerged as one of the most underrated relievers in baseball. From 2015 to 2019, he made 309 appearances and logged 297 innings with a 2.36 ERA, 0.987 WHIP and 4.38 SO:BB ratio. Last season, Harris was 4-1 with a 1.50 ERA over 60 innings of work.

Harris is a two-pitch pitcher — cutter and curveball — and gets by without overwhelming velocity. The movement on his cutter is what allows him to get by despite throwing only 91 mph. Opponents hit .241 and slugged .393 against his cutter last season and .150 with a .200 slugging percentage against the curve. Those numbers compare favorably to his typical performance over the last five years.

Few middle relievers have been as consistent as Harris over the last half-decade. At a time when most relievers rely on dominant velocity and wipeout sliders, it is refreshing to see a guy like Harris still able to strike out close to 10 per nine with a 91-mph cutter. He gets by with movement and command and would have had a scoreless postseason in 2019 if not for an amazing piece of hitting by Howie Kendrick in Game 7 of the World Series.

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