On Friday night, the Texas Rangers will award Matt Harrison their Pitcher of the Year honor. According to MLB.com on Jan. 8, the Rangers might reward Harrison with a new contract shortly after that.
"It's very humbling for many reasons," Harrison said. "Being where I was a few years ago, not knowing if I had a place on the team, struggling with adversity, reading negative things about you. But it made me a stronger person and more motivated."
Harrison is eligible for arbitration and will be a free agent after the 2014 season, but Texas might be looking at a multiyear contract for their pitching star now, hoping to get him locked up early. There is some concern, especially after signing Derek Holland to an extension last year, only to watch his ERA drop a fill run.
However, Texas expects Holland to bounce back. Plus, Harrison had two very similar seasons back-to-back, with an ERA between 3.29 and 3.39 and a combined record of 32-20 over the two seasons. He also finished 2012 with four complete games and two shutouts.
In 2012, Holland got five years at $28.5 million, while Harrison avoided arbitration with a one-year extension with $3.95 million. After his strong performance, it might be time to lock up another pitcher to a nice deal.
If Texas signs Harrison to a long-term deal, that will lock up Harrison, Holland and Yu Darvish. Texas would look pretty good on the mound for the next few years.
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