The Bryce Harper rumor mill has been growing stagnant until recently. Some news regarding Bryce Harper and different teams have started to come out from the past two weeks. Here is an analysis of the most recent Harper news.
Image Courtesy of The Ringer
According to Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post, Bryce Harper, his agent Scott Boras and Washington Nationals owner Ted Lerner met the Saturday before Christmas for five hours. Acting Owner Mark Lerner said earlier in the Winter that the Nationals were all but out on Harper, but this move is not surprising in the least. Boras clients have a long history of signing or extending contracts with Washington, such as Stephen Strasburg and Max Scherzer. At the same time, Harper has spent the past seven seasons in Washington, the only club he has ever known. Washington has retooled the roster after their 2018 season and resigning Harper may put them back in the driver’s seat in a loaded NL East.
A report came out from ESPN’s Jeff Passan that the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago White Sox were both willing to offer 10-year contracts for Bryce Harper and Manny Machado. A few hours later the White Sox refuted the statement. MLB’s Bruce Levine tweeted the following discussing the situation.
This may hurt the White Sox chances of landing Harper. He is looking for a 10-year contract and may not budge unless forced to by the market. Chicago has one of the deepest farm systems in baseball and looks to sign Harper to help lead the plethora of young talent that is on the edge of being MLB ready, but the team is not willing to commit to a major contract for 10 years.
Phillies reportedly set to make next move in Bryce Harper sweepstakes with a face-to-face meeting. Image Courtesy of NBC Sports
Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia reported that the Phillies and Harper have a meeting planned for next week in Las Vegas. The Phillies met with Boras during the winter meetings, but the superstar wasn’t present. The Phillies are currently waiting on Machado’s decision and don’t want to just sit around. Earlier the team said they were willing to spend stupid money but, the only signing so far has been for Andrew McCutchen. Signing Harper would once again switch the power structure in the NL East.
The Phillies have made it known from the beginning about their interest in the 26-year-old. So this meeting should come as no surprise. Jeff Passan’s report earlier today stated that the Phillies were willing to offer a 10-year contract. Philadelphia is starting to feel the pressure to make a major signing so they don’t fall too far behind the rest of the division.
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