Reds GM has strange reason for decision to keep Matt Harvey

Despite the fact that he’s a free agent at the end of the season and the opportunity to trade him did arise, the Cincinnati Reds aren’t moving Matt Harvey before the waiver trade deadline.

Harvey had been claimed on waivers by the Milwaukee Brewers, who would have had the opportunity to work out a trade for the right-hander. Reds general manager Nick Krall announced Friday that the team would be keeping Harvey for the remainder of the season, however, citing a need to build up positive momentum.

Krall said they want positive momentum through the end of the season and the team likes having Harvey on the team. I’m still surprised and not sure I get it either

— C. Trent Rosecrans (@ctrent) August 24, 2018

The Reds are currently 56-72 and well on their way to a last place finish in the NL Central. It’s tough to see what sort of positive momentum would be build from keeping Harvey, but clearly that’s the angle they’re going with.

Krall may well have had to explain a move that had a much simpler reason for not happening. According to Jon Heyman of Fancred, Reds ownership simply wants to keep Harvey and may even try to retain him beyond this season.

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

Harvey has sort of revived his career since moving to Cincinnati, though his 4.28 ERA and lack of strikeouts — 69 in 90.1 innings — aren’t really anything to write home about. There wasn’t wide interest in him even before July’s non-waiver deadline, but it sounds like the Reds had the chance to move him if they wanted to and simply declined.