Bryce Harper Rumors: Phillies, Dodgers, White Sox, Nationals Seem To Be Top Contenders For MLB Star

The market for Manny Machado has been known for several weeks after the star infielder took a three-city tour of potential suitors in December. It hasn’t been as clear which teams are actually in the running for the top free agent in the MLB offseason.

Bryce Harper is expected to sign after Machado and for more money, likely landing a record-setting deal. Where the outfielder will get well over $300 million is unknown, though the top contenders for the 26-year-old are starting to come into focus.

By the end of the week, four teams will have conducted in-person meetings with Harper.

According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, Philadelphia Phillies’ owner John Middleton will be among several members of the front office that meet with Harper and agent Scott Boras Saturday. Team president Ken Williams and general manager Rick Hahn were part of the Chicago White Sox’s contingent that met with Harper in November. Los Angeles Dodgers’ officials also met with the outfielder and his agent in the first month of the offseason, per Nightengale.

The Washington Nationals seem to still be in play to keep the superstar. Harper and Boras reportedly had a meeting at the California house of Nationals’ owner Ted Lerner that lasted a few hours on the Saturday before Christmas.

Washington is the only team we know that’s made Harper an official offer. The Washington Post’s Chelsea Janes reported in early November that Harper turned down a 10-year, $300 million contract from the Nationals at the end of the season. The Athletic’s Jim Bowden indicated that Washington increased their initial offer to Harper.

The Nationals have already given out the most lucrative contract of the offseason, by far. Lerner indicated Washington doesn’t expect to keep Harper after giving pitcher Patrick Corbin a six-year, $140 million deal, but that was before the owner met with the star outfielder.

It’s been assumed by many that the Phillies would make sure they enter the 2019 MLB season with either Machado or Harper on their roster. Philadelphia, Chicago and the New York Yankees are the three finalists for Machado. Even though they’ve signed outfielder Andrew McCutchen and reliever David Robertson, the Phillies have yet to act like the big spenders they were expected to be.

Chicago has reportedly offered Machado a contract worth close to $200 million. It’d likely take a lot more than that get a deal done with Harper.

Of the four teams Harper has met with, Los Angeles might make for the best fit. The Dodgers have already cleared payroll and room in the outfield by trading Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp. L.A. could also provide Harper with the biggest stage since the Yankees are seemingly uninterested in giving him a ton of money.

The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported last month that the Dodgers are interested in signing Harper to a short-term deal with a high average salary and opt outs. That might not be very appealing to Harper with possible 10-year deals out there from other teams.

The Chicago Cubs were once considered to be a potential destination for Harper, but the organization appears unwilling to add a ton of payroll this offseason. The St. Louis Cardinals likely exited the Bryce Harper Sweepstakes when they traded for Paul Goldschmidt just prior to the Winter Meetings.