Josh Harrison’s tenure at second base for the Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH (AP) —Pirates is over.Pittsburgh declined 2019 options for Harrison and third baseman Jung Ho Kang.The Pirates opted to pay Harrison a $1 million buyout rather than the $10.5 million he was scheduled to make next season. The 31-year-old http://www.stlouiscardinalsteamshop.com/authentic-marcell-ozuna-jersey , a key part of Pittsburgh’s run of three straight playoff berths from 2013-15, hit .250 with three home runs and 37 RBIs in 97 games in 2018. His playing time diminished near the end of the season while Pittsburgh gave prospect Kevin Newman a look.Kang was a star in South Korea when the Pirates signed him to an $11 million, four-year deal in January 2015. He finished third in NL Rookie of the Year balloting in 2015 after hitting 15 homers and driving in 58 runs as Pittsburgh won 98 games. It would be the high point of Kang’s time with the Pirates.The 31-year-old Kang didn’t play in North America between September 2016 and June 2018 because of visa issues connected to three DUI arrests his native South Korea. He made it back to the majors with Pittsburgh in September, collecting two hits in six at bats during the final weekend of the season.Pittsburgh will pay Kang’s $250,000 buyout. He was slated to make $5.5 million next year. Kang’s contract specified he must be released at the end of the deal. NEW YORK — Catcher J.T. Realmuto played in his last game of the season Friday. He wasted absolutely no time preparing for his next task: managing the Miami Marlins in the season finale on Sunday.Marlins manager Don Mattingly is handing the reins to Realmuto when Miami closes out 2018 by visiting the New York Mets in a battle of the National League East’s fourth- and fifth-place teams at Citi Field.The Marlins’ Sandy Alcantara (2-2, 4.00 ERA) is scheduled to oppose the Mets’ Noah Syndergaard (12-4, 3.22 ERA) in a matchup of right-handers.Article continues below ...The Mets posted a 1-0 Roger Maris Jersey , 13-inning victory Saturday night when Austin Jackson’s walk-off RBI double ensured David Wright would exit a winner in his final big-league game. Wright, whose pinch-hitting appearance Friday was his first major league at-bat since May 27, 2016, went 0-for-1 with a walk before leaving to a standing ovation in the top of the fifth inning.Wright, who has undergone neck, back and shoulder surgeries since 2016 and is battling spinal stenosis, said earlier this month that he can no longer physically play baseball. It is believed he and the Mets (76-85) will negotiate a settlement on the remainder of his contract Matt Carpenter Jersey , which runs through 2020.“I’m at peace with the work and the time and the effort and the dedication that I put into this,” Wright said afterward. “I’m certainly not at peace with the end result, but tonight was special.”The Marlins (63-97) are hoping for a memorable afternoon when Realmuto slides into Mattingly’s spot on the bench. Mattingly tries to let a player manage the season finale when the game has no playoff implications, a tradition he learned while serving as a coach with the New York Yankees under Joe Torre. Infielder Martin Prado was the Marlins’ manager in the season finale last year, which Mattingly said was an eye-opening experience for the player.“Prado’s like ‘I’m never going to question you again,’ there was so much stuff going on in that game he managed,” Mattingly said with a grin Saturday afternoon. “It’s good for them to see the other side a little bit.”Mattingly said Realmuto jumped right into managerial mode after the Marlins’ 8-1 win Friday night.“He told me (Friday) night that we had to talk about who I used out of the bullpen (Saturday) http://www.stlouiscardinalsteamshop.com/authentic-marcell-ozuna-jersey , because he wanted to keep certain guys available for (Sunday),” Mattingly said. “He was taking over. He took over as soon as the game’s over (Friday) night.”Alcantara took the loss in his most recent start last Monday, when he gave up six runs in four innings as the Marlins fell to the Washington Nationals 7-3. Syndergaard didn’t factor into the decision Tuesday, when he allowed three hits in six scoreless innings as the Mets lost to the Atlanta Braves 7-3.Alcantara is 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA in two career starts against the Mets. He beat the Mets on June 29 when he gave up one run in five innings and allowed two runs in seven innings of a no-decision on Sept. 13.Syndergaard is 5-0 with a 1.96 ERA in seven career starts against the Marlins. This season, he’s 2-0 against them and has allowed four earned runs in 13 innings.