Josh Harrison free agent again as Princeton High grad opts out of Cincinnati Reds contract

GOODYEAR, Arizona ‒ Josh Harrison’s hopes of playing for his hometown Cincinnati Reds ended this week as the Princeton High School grad opted out of his minor-league deal with the club after being informed Sunday night he would not make the opening roster.

“Unfortunately, there wasn’t a spot for me. That’s life. That’s baseball,” Harrison said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity.

“I know there’s going to be some options. I’ve got my phone on. I’ve got a lot of baseball left in me.”

Harrison, 36, said he's not shutting the door on the Reds, depending on what happens next in free agency for him.

"I know this team needs help. I know I can help this team," said Harrison, who plays three infield spots and the corner outfield positions. "But, unfortunately, right now. ... Everything happens for a reason."

The Reds break camp in less than a week and have 36 players officially left In camp, after another round of cuts that followed Harrison's decision. Among those was veteran second baseman Tony Kemp, who was reassigned to minor-league camp along with three non-roster pitchers.

At least four of the 36 are expected to open the season on the injured list: centerfielder TJ Friedl (wrist), starting pitcher Nick Lodolo (leg) and relievers Alex Young (back) and Ian Gibaut (forearm).

The Friedl injury in particular creates a big enough issue for the club that the front office has not ruled out adding an outfielder before the March 28 opener. Reds outfielders Stuart Fairchild and Will Benson will get first looks to backfill for what is expected to be an extended absence for Friedl, who suffered a non-displaced fracture in his right wrist on a diving catch attempt Saturday.

Friedl's injury theoretically created additional roster flexibility that might have allowed the club to keep backup outfielder Nick Martini as well as one of the three non-roster veteran infielders in camp: Harrison, Kemp and Mike Ford.

If the Reds are unable to add a desired outfielder, the roster breakdown after Monday's transactions suggest Martini and Ford would fill the final two hitting spots on the roster.

Harrison, a two-time All-Star for the Pittsburgh Pirates (2014, '17), had an opt-out deadline Thursday built into his contract but approached manager David Bell late Sunday to ask about his status.

Josh's older brother, Vince Harrison, is the Reds' manager at High-A Dayton this season after spending a year as the hitting coach for Triple-A Louisville.

Harrison signed just before camp opened and said he was excited to try to earn a spot with his hometown team despite the odds against him with what looked like a hitting roster already filled with young talent.

"Competition's never scared me," he said on his first day in camp. "It's not the first non-roster deal I've signed."

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Josh Harrison opts out of Cincinnati Reds deal, becomes free agent