Phillies rumor: Club finally meeting with Bryce Harper in Las Vegas
What does the latest Phillies rumor regarding Bryce Harper mean for the rest of the Phillies offseason?
Another Phillies rumor has arrived, and this time it involves the club’s plans with Bryce Harper.
Multiple reports say the Phillies are going to visit Harper and his agent Scott Boras in Las Vegas sometime next week. Unlike the Manny Machado meetings, Philadelphia’s contingent of officials will be traveling to the player.
Philadelphia is obviously interested in Harper, but from the outside looking in they’ve played favorites with Machado. Past relationships with Machado and his ability to be an upgrade over Maikel Franco at third base are some of the reasons behind that bias.
More from Phillies Rumors
- Phillies rumors: Club targets Seth Lugo for possible bullpen role
- Could Phillies sign 2nd former Mets starting pitcher in same offseason?
- Phillies rumor: Dansby Swanson could be club’s alternative to Trea Turner
- Rob Thomson apology hints possible Phillies blockbuster signing
- Phillies rumors: Club likely to land top shortstop on free-agent market
Next week’s meeting appears to be the first face-to-face between Harper and members of the Phillies brass since Harper hit the open market. Boras met with the Phillies during the winter meetings in Vegas last month, but unlike other teams, the Phillies didn’t meet with Harper in his hometown.
Was this meeting simply inevitable or could Machado’s public desire to play for the Yankees be scaring the Phillies into getting a meeting with Harper and Boras?
Todd Zolecki of MLB.com said on Thursday there’s about a 20 percent chance the Phillies don’t get Harper or Machado. Bob Nightengale said months ago Harper going to the Phillies was a foregone conclusion, but, as mentioned earlier, others have said Machado is Philadelphia’s number one target.
If the feeling is that Machado will take less money to play in New York, then the Phillies will go all-in on Harper. That means giving him the biggest deal in baseball history, surpassing Giancarlo Stanton’s $325 million deal.
Does that mean Harper gets 10-years $350? It’s a number that feels solid and reasonable given the nature of the player and his agent.
It’s almost certain that a deal won’t get done next week in Vegas as Harper and Boras await to see what Machado’s deal comes out to and the Phillies likely wait to see if Machado’s deal is with them.
Regardless, numbers and ideas are going to be thrown around, but not yet will the stupid money come into play in Sin City, and Harper won’t get mobbed by Philadelphia’s electricians.