Former Astros Righty Will Harris Reportedly Agrees to Deal With Nationals
The Washington Nationals are looking to remain atop the Major League Baseball mountaintop in 2020 after winning it all in 2019. And their latest reported move adds an experienced reliever to the bullpen -- at the expense of the team they recently bested in the World Series.
Free-agent reliever Will Harris is in agreement with the #Nationals on a multi-year deal, sources tell The Athletic.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 3, 2020
Will Harris is switching leagues after spending 2015-2019 with the Houston Astros. The Nationals must have liked what they saw in his five World Series appearances in the fall.
The right-hander is 35 years old and was an All-Star with Houston in 2016. He is coming off a 2019 season in which he made 68 appearances and posted an impressive 1.50 ERA. He also struck out 62 batters in 60 innings of work.
Will Harris' 1.50 ERA last season led American League relievers and was the lowest single-season mark by an Astros reliever in franchise history. He finishes his Astros career with a 2.36 ERA in five years — five years that took him from unknown waiver claim to a $24 million deal
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) January 3, 2020
Nationals fans may also like Harris because he picked up the loss in Game 7 of the World Series. Up to that point, however, he had been one of Houston's best relievers.
The Nats lost Bryce Harper and won it all in 2019 after making smaller moves. Losing Anthony Rendon but continuing to add other pieces this time around may very well work out for the team again.