Veteran Josh Harrison Opts Out of Minor League Contract With Texas Rangers

Veteran infielder Josh Harrison has opted out of his minor league contract with the Texas Rangers, the New York Post's Jon Heyman reported Friday.

The Rangers were in need of infield help when they signed Harrison on Aug. 15, as rookie sensation Josh Jung had just gone on the injured list with a fractured thumb. 24-year-old utility man Ezequiel Durán has settled in at third base in the meantime, though, batting .347 with a .921 OPS after Jung went down.

Harrison, on the other hand, went 0-for-9 with six strikeouts and a walk in his first two games with Triple-A Round Rock. Even though he went 6-for-18 with a home run, five RBI, two walks and a hit-by-pitch in his next four appearances, Harrison is once again headed to the open market.

Texas likely has a chance to add Harrison to its major league roster in the coming days, as is standard with minor league opt-out clauses, but no move has been announced or alluded to at this point.

The Philadelphia Phillies designated Harrison for assignment back on Aug. 1, and he was released the next day. The former All-Star was fresh off a two-week stint on the injured list, but he struggled upon his return and ultimately lost his spot on the Phillies' 40-man roster.

Harrison hit .204 with two home runs, 10 RBI and a .554 OPS in 40 games with Philadelphia this season.

Including his brief stint in the Rangers' minor league system, Harrison has been a part of seven MLB organizations in the last six years.

Although he hit .291 with a .794 OPS as a member of the Washington Nationals in 2020 and 2021, Harrison has not seen as much success at his other recent destinations. Harrison had a .480 OPS with the Detroit Tigers in 2019, a .637 OPS with the Oakland Athletics in 2021 and a .687 OPS with the Chicago White Sox in 2022.

Prior to his recent journeyman phase, Harrison spent eight seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, making the MLB All-Star Game in 2014 and 2017. Harrison finished ninth in NL MVP voting in 2014, hitting .315 with 13 homers, 52 RBI, 18 stolen bases, 38 doubles and an .837 OPS.

Harrison was a .290 hitter from 2014 to 2017, all while splitting time between second, third and the outfield.

The 36-year-old utility man has until Sept. 1 to sign with a club and make their major league roster if he wants to be eligible to appear in the 2023 postseason.

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