Los Angeles Angels pitcher Matt Harvey has been designated for assignment the team announced on Friday. This a day after the former New York Mets star gave up six runs and seven hits in a 6-2 loss to the Houston Astros. Harvey was 3-5 for the Angels with a 7.09 ERA.
The Angels signed Harvey to a one-year guaranteed contract for $11 million plus incentives on December 21, 2018. He made 10 starts for Los Angeles before being placed on the IL after a May 23 start against the Minnesota Twins with an upper back strain. He was 2-4 with a 7.50 ERA in 48 innings when the injury occurred.
Harvey returned to the mound almost two-months later on July 13, pitching well in a 9-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners. In that game, Harvey went 5.2 innings and allowed only one run on four hits. However, his subsequent start against the Astros seemed to seal his fate.
It’s the second time in Matt Harvey’s career he has been designated for assignment. On May 4, 2018, the Mets DFA’d Harvey after he refused a demotion to the minor leagues. Harvey had been struggling with the Mets since he helped them win the National League pennant in 2015. In 2016, the team felt that he had ‘mechanical problems’ before going on the DL on June 15 of that year. He later opted to have season ending shoulder surgery for a condition known as thoracic outlet syndrome.
In 2017, his problems continued as he was suspended for three games for violating team rules on May 7. The next month, he was placed on the DL again with a stress fracture in his scapula that required surgery. He ended the season with a 5–7 record and 6.70 ERA.
2018 continued to see a downhill trend for the former “Dark Knight of Gotham” as he started the season 0-2 and was subsequently removed from the starting rotation. Harvey was visibly upset over the demotion and refused to talk to the media. On May 8, 2018 the Mets traded Harvey to the Cincinnati Reds for catcher Devin Mesoraco and cash.
The Angels were the third team Harvey has pitched for and one can only hope he lands on his feet elsewhere in the Majors as he still has a special place in the hearts of many Mets fans.
