Milwaukee Brewers: Matt Harvey claimed by unknown team?

Cincinnati Reds starter Matt Harvey has been claimed by an unknown team. Could Harvey end up in a Milwaukee Brewers’ uniform?

Matt Harvey could join another team in the next 48 hours…or he could stay with the Cincinnati Reds. It’s believed that the team that claimed Harvey isn’t the Chicago Cubs. Would Harvey make sense for the Milwaukee Brewers?

What’s going on with this transaction?

Well, it’s past the non-waiver trade deadline, and the Cincinnati Reds placed Harvey on revocable waivers. The Reds have options here. They could pull Harvey back and keep him, work out a trade with the team that claimed him, or just tell the team that claimed him to take the rest of his contract.

Harvey is a free agent in November, so it makes zero sense for a non-contending team to claim him. It’s also unlikely that he’ll get claimed by an American League team. National League teams get priority since Harvey plays in the NL.

Could the Brewers have claimed Harvey?

It’s possible. Harvey was on the Milwaukee Brewers radar at the trade deadline. It’s unknown if Brewers GM David Stearns was just doing due diligence or had legitimate interest.

Is Harvey a fit for the Brewers?

He’s a capable starting pitcher, and the Milwaukee Brewers have a few issues with their starting staff.

First, Freddy Peralta has thrown about 130 innings between Triple-A and the Majors this year. He threw exactly 120 last year. He might get to 140 or 150, but it’s unlikely that Peralta works much more than that.

Also, Wade Miley is a regression candidate in waiting. Miley owns a 2.18 actual ERA, but carries a 4.54 xFIP. He has a .239 BABIP against. That’s 70 points below his career average. Miley is going to blow up at some point.

Lastly, Junior Guerra has a 5.18 ERA since the All-Star break. He’s about one more rough start away from losing his rotation spot.

How has Harvey looked with the Reds?

Well…he hasn’t been much better than Guerra. Since the All-Star break, Harvey owns a 5.88 ERA in five starts. He’s managed to strikeout 20 and he’s only walked six, but he’s been tagged for seven homers. However, he has been much better away from the Great American Ballpark. 10 of the the 14 homers he’s allowed in a Reds uniform have come in Cincinnati.

Harvey really isn’t much better than what the Milwaukee Brewers currently have on the roster, but they’ll may need another arm for the final weeks of the season. Harvey is, technically, another arm. If the choice is adding Harvey or dipping into Triple-A, the Brewers should put a claim in on Harvey.