June 7, 2002

Matt Harrington

Matt Harrington has filed a lawsuit against his former agent, Tommy Tanzer, for negligence, the Los Angeles Daily News reported. The complaint was filed May 28 in California State Superior Court.

Harrington seeks unspecified damages, alleging Tanzer advised him to turn down a $4 million offer from the Rockies in the 2000 June draft. Colorado picked him seventh overall.

According to the suit, Harrington claimed Tanzer advised him to hold out for $4.95 million and that the Rockies would never withdraw their original offer. The Rockies did withdraw their offer and Harrington has pitched in the independent leagues the past two seasons.

Harrington recently turned down a $1.2 million offer from the Padres and re-entered the draft, where he was taken in the 13th round by the Devil Rays.

For more on Harrington's background, read our story from earlier this year about his most recent career choices, and Alan Schwarz's in-depth feature from 2001.