Billy Hamilton is also expected to remain a Red for the remainder of the 2018 season. #Reds
— Jamie Ramsey (@Jamieblog) August 24, 2018
Matt Harvey expected to be with the #Reds for the remainder of the 2018 season.
— Jamie Ramsey (@Jamieblog) August 24, 2018
Ramsey is the Reds director of communications.
Since being acquired in May, Harvey has been widely expected to be traded because he is a free agent at the end of the season.
National baseball writer Jon Heyman tweeted a source told him Reds owner Bob Castellini did not want the team to trade Harvey.
Sources: ultimately, reds owner bob castellini did not want to trade matt harvey. which may well mean reds try to sign him as a free agent
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) August 24, 2018
Even if the sides couldn't agree on a trade, Reds could have just given Harvey to Brewers and saved more than a million bucks. Reds GM Nick Krall: pic.twitter.com/CsZ4XPM7p0
— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) August 24, 2018
Castellini has previously gone on record saying he wants Hamilton to be a Red forever.
ORIGINAL STORY:
The Cincinnati Reds might not be done selling off parts from their current squad.
National baseball writer Jon Heyman reported pitcher Matt Harvey was claimed on waivers while The Athletic’s Robert Murray reported centerfielder Billy Hamilton was as well.
#Reds’ Billy Hamilton claimed on revocable waivers by unknown team, sources tell The Athletic.
— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) August 23, 2018
Sources: Brewers are the team that got the claim on Matt Harvey. They have 5 hours, 18 minutes to go before their deadline for this trade (deadline is 1:30 et)
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) August 24, 2018
That means the Reds could trade one or both of them to the team that made the claim, though it also might not be likely.
Trade for Billy Hamilton off his waiver claim is said to be “unlikely.” Makes sense since he is not a free agent after the year. As @ByRobertMurray said, BH was claimed by unknown team.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) August 23, 2018
While the team that claimed Hamilton is unknown, Milwaukee put in the claim on Harvey.
The Brewers are 3.5 games behind the Cubs and a half-game behind the Cardinals in the NL Central.
They are also in the thick of the wild card race.
Brewers should have every incentive to do this deal. They are still a starter short, and are currently tied for the 2nd wild card, and 1/2 game behind 1st wild card. @BNightengale suggested Milwaukee might have gotten Harvey claim. (They did!)
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) August 24, 2018
Moving Harvey would make sense because he can leave as a free agent after the season.
Hamilton will still be under team control through next season, but he is also due a big raise via arbitration.
He's continued to play a stellar centerfield, but Hamilton's batting average, slugging percentage and stolen bases are all down this season. His on-base percentage is up slightly, as his his WAR (wins above replacement) at Baseball-Reference.com.
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