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Phillies rumors: Team worried about Dodgers interest in Bryce Harper

By John Town

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 22: Bryce Harper #34 of the Washington Nationals reacts to a foul ball hit off of his foot in the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on April 22, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 22: Bryce Harper #34 of the Washington Nationals reacts to a foul ball hit off of his foot in the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on April 22, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) /
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With the Dodgers re-entering the picture for Bryce Harper, some in the Phillies front office are getting worried about the possibility of him signing there.

After news broke that Bryce Harper fielded a meeting with the Dodgers after meeting with Phillies owner John Middleton, unease began to arise in the fanbase about Harper signing with the Dodgers. That unease has now crept all the way up to the front office.

Jon Morosi of MLB Network reported Tuesday that officials in Philadelphia’s front office have grown worried about the possibility that Harper signs with the Dodgers if the two offers were close. Morosi notes that the Dodgers’ interest may be spurned on by Nolan Arenado‘s new extension with the Rockies.

The idea that Harper would sign with the Dodgers over Philadelphia (if the money was close) isn’t that much of a surprise. Los Angeles has long been speculated as Harper’s preferred destination with its proximity to his hometown and the fact that, well, it’s Los Angeles.

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Money remains the key factor in Harper’s decision, and it’s still unclear if the Dodgers are willing to offer Harper the kind of long-term deal Philadelphia is. Jon Heyman of MLB Network reported that Philadelphia gave Harper an offer north of $300 million, but suggested another team could also be willing to make that kind of offer. Could that be the Dodgers?

Joel Sherman of the New York Post wrote Los Angeles would give Harper the record-setting annual salary he is looking for, but only four or five years at most. Would Harper turn down a long-term, big-money offer from the Phillies to play in Los Angeles? That would go against everything we’ve heard about Harper all offseason long.

Jayson Stark of the Athletic said on 97.5 The Fanatic Tuesday afternoon that Harper is still looking for Philadelphia to bring their offer up more. More importantly, Stark said that the Dodgers won’t come close to the money Philadelphia would offer. If true, both the team and fans can have a huge sigh of relief.

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If the Dodgers do give Harper a long-term offer, then there will be ample reason to be worried. However, it appears they won’t, so there shouldn’t be too much to worry about.

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