I’m Ready: Nationals Reportedly Expect Bryce Harper to Test Free Agency

Two days ago, in the middle of the Winter Meetings, news broke that Bryce Harper’s agent, Scott Boras, met with the Nationals ownership sometime last month to discuss a potential extension heading into Harper’s final year under contract.

Here’s what Brett had to say about that at the time:

  • It is only normal and natural that a franchise player’s agent would meet with the team about a possible extension in the year before that franchise player is scheduled to become a free agent.

  • It’s far less normal and natural for that meeting to be with team ownership, but (1) given Boras’s relationship with the Nationals’ owners (he’s negotiated with them before), and (2) the enormous size of a Harper extension, it makes sense that Boras would go straight to the top.

  • It is still very unlikely that Harper signs an extension before hitting the open market in search of what would be a record-breaking contract, but it was also unlikely that Stephen Strasburg and Scott Boras would sign an extension in the year before he was going to hit free agency. Yet, it happened. So I wouldn’t rule this out.

  • And while all of that still stands – including the bit that we can’t rule it out, despite what you’re about to read next – there’s some potentially good news to share on that front:

    According to Bob Nightengale (which means, yes, you should temper your excitement), the aforementioned meeting with Nationals ownership did not result in 1. an extension or even 2. the belief that something could get done before Harper tests free agency.

    To be sure, this was always the most likely outcome – when you’re just one year away from signing what could be the biggest contract in baseball history, you probably roll those dice – but it’s great to hear nonetheless.

    The Cubs, then, remain firmly in the running to secure Harper’s services after this season, especially with Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge patrolling the corners of Yankee stadium, the Dodgers’ already sky-high payroll, and the Phillies apparent preference for Manny Machado (who’s also a free agent next winter). There’ll be other big market teams capable of giving him what he wants in terms of years and dollars (Cardinals, Giants, Rangers, Red Sox? Tigers?), but not many and there are some imperfect fits among them.

    (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

    written by

    Michael Cerami began covering the Chicago Cubs for Bleacher Nation as a part-time contributor in 2015. One year later, he joined Bleacher Nation full-time, covering the Chicago Cubs and Major League Baseball. Today, Michael runs Bleacher Nation, contributing as a writer (Cubs, MLB) and an editor for all sections of the site, including the Chicago Bears, Bulls, and Blackhawks, as well as MLB, NBA, NHL, and NFL. In 2019, Michael was the co-host of NBC Sports Chicago's Cubs Post-Game Show Outside the Ivy. You can find him on Twitter/X @Michael_Cerami

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