There has been a thread of thinking out there that Bryce Harper would like to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers, not only because they are one of the closer teams to his home in Las Vegas, but also because they play in a town for stars, and they are annually extremely competitive. And, from the Dodgers’ perspective, the fit would be perfect, too, since they’ve got tons of money and some outfielders set to roll off the books over the next year or two.

The only hold-up, if you ever believed it, was that the Dodgers are trying to stay under the luxury tax, and they’ve got a near-term crowded outfield, so they really can’t go after Harper hard until they …

Matt Kemp, Yasiel Puig and Alex Wood have been traded to the Cincinnati Reds, league sources tell Yahoo Sports. Homer Bailey is one of the players going back to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The return for the Dodgers clearly will be more.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 21, 2018

Oh fffffffffffffudge.

Not only does this clear the way for the Dodgers to aggressively go after Harper, it also probably greatly improves the Reds for 2019.

More on this trade as it develops, and after I finish lighting my eyebrows on fire.

UPDATE: More details, as it looks like the Dodgers are sending useful players and some cash to the Reds in exchange for taking Bailey’s contract and getting some good prospects:

The #Dodgers will receive Homer Bailey, pitcher Josiah Gray and infielder Jeter Downs.

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 21, 2018

Trade is puig, kemp, wood and at least another player(s) plus cash for bailey, Gray and downs

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 21, 2018

This is going to be a deal that is a huge win for both sides.

UPDATE 2: Oh, Ken. I appreciate the effort. But I’m not coming off of this ledge:

In the wake of this trade, #Dodgers can do many other things besides take a run at Harper. They can sign free-agent A.J. Pollock and/or trade for #Marlins’ Realmuto or one of #Indians’ starting pitchers. Many ways they can go.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 21, 2018

UPDATE 3: OK, I’ll admit that the Dodgers probably can’t stay under the luxury tax this year if they’re adding Harper, even after this trade (but I still don’t think they care):

Even with the $7M shipped to #Reds, #Dodgers save about $17.5M toward 2019 luxury tax payroll here. Kemp for tax purposes is $20M, Wood/Puig approx $22M combined while Bailey ($17.5M) plus the $7M.

— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) December 21, 2018

They just knocked off a ton of salary commitments to players they didn’t need in positions that can be replaced by Harper.

Also, the Dodgers are sending this guy to the Reds, and it is not a significant inclusion:

Kyle Farmer also in trade to reds

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 21, 2018

UPDATE 4: I gotta set down the phone for a bit …

There is so much reason and good sense in these messages, & yet it is impossible for me to not keep coming back to: the Dodgers moved out considerable near-term salary attached to redundant players, two of whom were outfielders. Bellinger and Taylor can move around. It's Harper. https://t.co/SAPG4Xi69v

— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) December 21, 2018