Report: MLB Insiders Think There's a Clear Front-Runner in the Bryce Harper Race
Some say it’s always sunny in Philadelphia. That’s not true, but Phillies fans might have a brighter outlook on the 2019 baseball season if they land prize free agent Bryce Harper.
At least one MLB insider is certain they will.
USA Today’s Bob Nightengale expects the 26-year old five-time All-Star and former NL MVP to sign with the Phillies.
The Bryce Harper extravaganza is here. Best bet is that he will sign with the #Phillies. You can bank on it. https://t.co/uPnNBwgN9r v
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) November 8, 2018
After the news broke on Tuesday that Harper rejected a 10-year, $300 million contract offer from his team, the Nationals, it became clear to Nightengale that Harper was heading north to the City of Brotherly Love.
He draws this conclusion based on the process of elimination and the fact that his sources across baseball think the same thing.
“It’s hard to find an executive, scout, or rival agent who doesn’t believe that Harper will eventually sign with the Phillies, maybe a month from now when he can drive from his Las Vegas home to Mandalay Bay and make the official announcement himself,” Nightengale wrote.
And if you look at other potential suitors, it makes sense.
The Cubs don’t want to spend the money, the Dodgers and Yankees aren’t interested, the Cardinals don’t have the “bright lights” and the Giants are changing course, he wrote.
If Harper turned down 10 years and $300 million, that means someone, likely the Phillies, is going to throw possibly record-setting money at him.
Giancarlo Stanton has the largest contract at 13 years, $300 million, while the Diamondbacks’ Zach Greinke has the largest annual salary at $34.4 million per year.
It’s likely that Harper will eclipse both based on what he turned down from Washington.
“Well, certainly, Harper’s bazaar has begun,” Harper’s agent, Scott Boras, said Wednesday, reported MLB.com. “And it’s fashionable, it’s historical, it’s elite, global, and certainly it has inspirations that deal with great shoes and great hair on the part of Bryce.”
Why Are Philadelphia Athletes Following And Getting Followed Back By Bryce Harper? ?? #Eagles #FlyEaglesFly #Phillies #BeBold #HarperWatch https://t.co/sQErTGiVcu
— Brandon Sommermann (@PFL_BSommermann) November 5, 2018
The Phillies are an improving young team with the need for a star and a lot of money to spend. The Phillies had a payroll of about $68 million at the end of the 2018 season.
“Several years ago, the Phillies carried some of the highest payrolls in the game,” Phillies general manager Matt Klentak said, reported MLB.com. “Going through the rebuild, we were pretty disciplined about the contracts that we signed in order to preserve our financial flexibility for down the road. At some point, as the team gets better, we know that we’re going to make those investments again to make the team good. Our ownership has demonstrated that time and time again, and now as our team has gotten better we’re more open to those expensive commitments.”
Boras shared his thoughts on the Phillies with MLB.com.
“John (Middleton) and I had long conversations about the team,” Boras said about Philadelphia’s managing partner. “He certainly illustrated his zeal and his competitiveness. He wants to get something done in Philadelphia under his ownership. That is a very driven goal of his, a very important part of what he wants to do in the future.”
In the coming months, we’ll know if Nightengale and others are right. And in the months and years after that, we’ll know if the investment was worth it.
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