Consider this the least shocking breaking news of all time. A team sitting at the bottom of the standings in Major League Baseball has interest in signing one of the best players in baseball once he hits the free agent market. Shocking, right?
Bryce Harper is more than likely heading to free agency following the 2018 season, unless the Washington Nationals can squeeze out enough cash to keep the regular MVP candidate satisfied. But that’s likely going to be a lot of money as rumors and speculation drum up the idea of a contract between $400 and $500 million for Harper. If the Nationals are not going to pony up that kind of cash, could a division rival be ready to pounce?
The Philadelphia Phillies are entering the rumor mill as a potential suitor for the services of Harper, and they would more than likely have the resources to make it a realistic possibility. John Perrotto of FanRag Sports says one source tells him the Phillies would most certainly have an interest in signing Harper.
Let’s make a few things perfectly clear. There are 30 Major League Baseball teams who would have an interest in signing Harper. The 24-year-old has become one of the top players in the game, has been named an all-star four times, won the 2015 National League MVP, and already has a Silver Slugger, NL home run title, and a Rookie of the Year award on his mantle. If you are going to start building a team from scratch, you are taking Harper if you are not taking Mike Trout.
So of course a team like the Phillies, a team in need of major upgrades at most positions including in the outfield, would have an interest in pursuing Harper. Also, it would certainly take a bat out of a division rival’s hands.
Bryce Harper is the 10th player in our play-by-play database to hit 2 walkoff HRs against the #Phillies https://t.co/AGile4Q8vK #Nationals pic.twitter.com/Rb2D7DmNOf
— Baseball Reference (@baseball_ref) May 15, 2017
Bryce Harper has hit his 5th home run vs. the Phillies this season today. He has 12 HRs on the year. #MLBpic.twitter.com/lYL9x8VgsG
— FantasyData (@FantasyDataNFL) May 14, 2017
Bryce Harper with his 5th HR against the Phillies in 8 games this season. He hit 4 against them in 17 games last season pic.twitter.com/jc6Fkl0Rnc
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 14, 2017
“Could you imagine what he could do in that ballpark playing 81 games a year in that bandbox?” a scout from a National League team said to Perrotto. Well, as a Phillies fan, I can absolutely tell you what he could do, and it could be wonderful.
But it may not be realistic enough.
My favorite is the crowd of people that think the Phillies should just get Mike Trout and Bryce Harper.
— Tim Kelly (@TimKellySports) May 19, 2017
Mike Trout > Bryce Harper, but I'll take either in Phillies pinstripes!!! 🙏🏿⚾️🤔 #ReallyDoe
— Ike Reese (@Ike58Reese) May 16, 2017
Sure, the Phillies will have the funds available. Despite recent struggles and a steady decline since winning the World Series in 2008, they remain one of the more valuable franchises in baseball right now. The annual list of the most valuable MLB teams for 2017 ranked the Phillies at No. 9, just ahead of the Nationals. It is entirely possible the Phillies will make a pitch to Harper, and maybe they can even bring him in for a meeting, but the pressure will be on the Phillies to show Harper they are already a team ready to win something the moment Harper signs on the dotted line. That feels like a big reach for the Phillies, who likely have their future stars still playing in all levels of the farm system right now.
If there’s one thing we know about Harper, it’s that he is competitive and wants to win every time out. The Phillies are not anywhere close to being on that level, and that hurts their chances. Unless money speaks louder than a chance to win. With the Nationals, money has been spent in a big way to put together a darn good regular season team, but the ghosts of the postseason continue to haunt the franchise. If that doesn’t change this season, then Harper moving on becomes more and more likely.
The Phillies have shown they are not afraid to spend money to build a winner, but going overboard on contracts for the chance to win in the short term continue to leave a damaging effect on the franchise right now as it continues through a rebuild. Harper doesn’t seem like a guy who wants to be a part of a rebuilding project.
Sure, the Phillies may be interested in Harper, but they should probably put all of their eggs in Mike Trout’s basket when the time comes if they want to make a big splash in free agency.
