The most coveted free agent in MLB history is still left on the market without a contract on February 12. Outfielder, Bryce Harper is seeking $300 million for ten years, and a team with the potential to win a World Series. Harper was drafted by the Washington Nationals to be the face of their organization when he was just 18 years old. He grew to be the face of the MLB. In his free agency stunt, he is hoping to sign for a big market team where he can remain the face of baseball and if possible, he’d like to live on the West Coast. This article will establish bold predictions of the top ten most likely landing spots for Harper.
1. San Diego Padres
San Diego makes the most sense for Harper. They are the only West Coast who will presumably be willing to spend up for him. Despite the fact that San Diego has been the laughing stock of the MLB for awhile now, they have nine of the top 100 prospects, THAT IS UNHEARD OF. Plus, since the Chargers moved away, the only sports team in the eighth biggest city in America is the Padres.
San Diego general manager, A.J. Preller has been known to make big and intelligent moves. Preller is always a step ahead of where the Padres are, this sounds bad, but it’s a very underrated quality for a general manager. It’a almost as if he can see into the future and see where his team will be in a few years. The Padres had an interview that went well with Harper, so apparently Preller trusts that these prospects are ready to make the next step in the amount of time that Harper would hypothetically be with the team.
2. Philadelphia Phillies
Over the off-season, the Phillies made many “win now” moves, they added shortstop, Jean Segura, outfielder, Andrew McCutcheon, pitcher, David Robertson, and catcher, J.T. Realmuto. These moves were really strange because before all those additions, the Phillies had two good players, Rhys Hoskins and pitcher, Aaron Nola. But after all of these off-season moves, the Phillies have manufactured themselves into favorites to sign Harper. The only way to intemperate these moves are they want to make a push at signing at least one big fish.
Personally, I think Philadelphia is where Machado lands, but there’s also a pretty good chance that Harper follows Machado there. Recently, Philadelphia has labeled itself as an aggressive organization, and they are one of the three teams that might give Harper the contract that he wants, but they are the only team that’ll both pay Harper and give him a chance to win in 2019. The Phillies’ lineup has sneakily became stacked and with one more add, they could make a major playoff push. It probably won’t happen, but it’d make sense for Harper and Machado to team up in the same city, and if that happened, the city would certainly be Philadelphia.
3. Chicago White Sox
The White Sox have the best farm system, second to the Padres and can afford to pay Harper. They’re more likely to sign Machado due to all of his relations to the team, but like the Phillies, if they get Machado, then Harper is way more likely to sign there. Harper would have to be patient if he wants to win with the White Sox which is not something he wants to do, but the future is bright. The White Sox aren’t known to be aggressive like San Diego, but, they are likely candidates to sign Harper.
4. Los Angeles Angels
This one may shock you, but from a front office’s perspective, it’d make a lot of sense. In 2011, the Angels drafted the best player in baseball to this day, outfielder, Mike Trout. They have thus squandered their chances to win a World Series with him, and his contract expires next year so they must either win now or bring in a piece to tempt him to stay, Harper would do both. Beside an immediate pay day, Los Angeles has everything Harper is looking for. If they can sign him this year, make a playoff push in 2019, they’ll have a solid chance to have a great offense. The most difficult aspect of the Angels signing Harper, unlike most teams, they don’t have the money to sign him to his desired contract immediately, but once Pujols leaves, they’ll have the money that Harper wants. If they can work out the financial aspects, the Angels are probably the best fit, but Harper must have a flexible mind financially.
5. Tampa Bay Rays
Despite the fact the Rays have not been rumored in any potential deals, Harper to Tampa makes too much sense to ignore. The Rays have a solid lineup and sneakily one of the best rotations in the league. They went unnoticed last year finishing in third place in their division, but quietly racked up 90 wins. At the trade deadline in 2018, they traded for outfielders, Tommy Pham and Austin Meadows who will play their first full season together. Also, the Rays just produced the AL Cy Young winner, 26 year old, Blake Snell. If they signed Harper, they’d complete their outfield. Though it’s not the West Coast, Tampa provides Harper with good weather that he desires, and a good team right now along with a lot of room for growth. Beside the fact that the Rays’ front office isn’t known to EVER sign big free agents, signing Harper makes so much sense, I don’t know if even they can pass up on it. If Harper can get the money that he wants from Tampa, they may even be a better fit than San Diego.
6. Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers would provide Harper with a solid team around him, as well as his ideal climate and fame. They may not want to, but it is possible for the Dodgers to pay up for Harper. They’ve been vocally opposed to it, but it would be possible. The Dodgers have made it to back to back World Series and lost both times. If they can get Harper on a small deal and everyone stays healthy, there’s no one that could stop this team from winning it all in 2019. If this happens, then Harper would feel what it’s like to win a World Series and possibly take another pay cut to win more and further establish his legacy.
7. Colorado Rockies
Like the Angels, the Rockies’ star, third baseman, Nolan Arenado’s contract is up after his record-setting arbitration deal in 2019. Signing Harper would tempt Arenado to stay longer. After a few years at Coors Field, Harper could see himself start climbing the all-time home run ranks. Despite having to live in Colorado, the Rockies do provide Harper with the money he wants and they have the team necessary to take Harper far into the playoffs immediately.
8. Chicago Cubs
As a Cardinals fan, it pains me to say it, but the Cubs could get Harper. They say they can’t afford him, but that’s nothing more than a greedy millionaire trying to “save some money”. Signing Harper would give them a great chance to win now. They already have one of the most exciting players in baseball in infielder, Javier Baez and adding Harper to such an exciting team would eventually end in a profit, there aren’t many good reasons for the Cubs to not pull the trigger, but for some reason, they seem like they don’t want to.
9. Toronto Blue Jays
Harper has always strived for fame since leaving high school and entering the majors, he may already be the face of baseball, but if he signs with Toronto, he’ll be one of the most famous athletes in an entire country, that’s something he’ll never get in America due to football and basketball. Obviously, if he joins Toronto, he’ll be teamed up with one of the best prospects of all time, third baseman, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. If Toronto commits to potentially making one of the best hitting duos of all time, they’ll be financially sturdy for ten plus years which is something Canadian teams playing American sports sometimes struggle with.
10. Seattle Mariners
After Toronto, there’s a big drop off in potential landing spots for Harper, there were quite a few teams that could go in this final spot, the Mets, the Cardinals or the Mariners. The only reason I chose the Mariners is because like Philadelphia, Seattle has made many perplexing “win now” moves that would make such little sense if they can’t get their hands on Harper. I’ll admit, there’s not much of a reason that Harper would go to Seattle. Like their weather, their inevitable rebuild will be disgusting, but their general manager, Jerry Dipoto’s moves make NO sense unless they can get Harper. So maybe they’ll give Harper a contract he can’t reject, like a $365 million 12 plus year deal and hope he can carry their team through their rebuild. And Harper can go a little south and spend his winters in California I guess.
All of the teams come with their own benefits, and it’d make a decent amount of sense if Harper signed with any of them. In conclusion, I think that if Machado signs with Philadelphia or the White Sox soon, so will Harper, but if Machado waits too long, Harper will make the first move and join San Diego or Tampa if they give him close to his desired contract. Another option is if he wants to take a pay cut and a risk that could create one of the best offenses in baseball history, it’d be most exciting if he joined the Angels.