Report: Bryce Harper appears headed to the Phillies

The Phillies appear to be set on one of the biggest names in baseball

According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the Phillies are likely to sign free agent superstar Bryce Harper. No deal is official and no announcement has been made.

Nightengale, one of the more in-tune baseball reporters in the business, says you can “bank on it” happening.

Here’s what Nightengale said in his piece posted on Wednesday night:

The free agent outfielder, touted to be more popular than the Liberty Bell, looks to be headed to Philadelphia, the city of Brotherly Love.The Phillies aren’t blinking.This is the player they want.This is the player they’re going to get.

This is as close to a report that the Phillies have officially signed Harper as you will ever get.

Jim Salisbury of NBCSP says “the general consensus at the general managers meetings is that the Phillies will win the Bryce Harper sweepstakes.”

If the Phillies have indeed signed Harper, it would give them one of the best players baseball has seen in this generation.

Reports emerged Wednesday morning that Harper rejected the Washington Nationals’ last offer worth $300 million over 10 years.

Harper could play any outfield position, which means someone has to move. That could be Nick Williams being moved out of right field to the bench or in a trade, Rhys Hoskins moving from left to first base, or Odubel Herrera being traded.

At just 26-years-old Harper has won Rookie of the Year and an MVP award. He’s represented the Nationals at six All-Star games in seven seasons and has 184 career home runs.

In the end, if this report is true, Philadelphia could have a future Hall of Famer joining their organization right when the team is ready to take the next step towards competing for a division crown and a World Series.