The deadline for teams to sign their draft picks is still a little under eight weeks away, but Nationals' GM Mike Rizzo and agent Scott Boras have had "initial conversations" about a deal for first overall pick Bryce Harper according to principal owner Mark Lerner, as told to The Washington Post's Adam Kilgore.
"I'm confident we'll get a deal worked out," said Lerner. "I think the kid wants to play."
Kilgore mentions that negotiations are unlikely to begin in earnest until close to the August 16th deadline, which Boras is known to do with his top players. Rizzo and Boras have hammered out deals before, most notably for Stephen Strasburg as last year's top pick.
The 17-year-old Harper is expected to shatter Rick Porcello's record deal for a teenage draftee, which guarantees him $7.285MM. Strasburg's $15.1MM contract represents the all-time draft record. You can follow the signing status of all first and supplement first rounders with our complete list.
