Nationals president of baseball operations and GM Mike Rizzo has issued a strong statement about his intentions amid speculation that the club has considered trading star Bryce Harper. As Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post reports on Twitter, Rizzo says: “Bryce is not going anywhere. I believe in this team.”
It’s hardly surprising to see the Nationals land on this stance. After all, for all its struggles this year, the club remains within reasonable striking distance in both the NL East and the Wild Card races. While the club has several high-end players, moreover, Harper remains the most visible member of the organization.
On the other hand, the 25-year-old Harper is heading to free agency at season’s end. If the Nats aren’t going anywhere, they’d surely love to recoup some value for Harper, who’s also still playing on a hefty $21,625,000 salary this year. A qualifying offer seems sure to bring back some draft compensation, unless Harper elects to return to D.C., but that surely won’t be as useful as the potential prospect return in a trade.
To be sure, though, Harper’s value as a rental asset isn’t as great as his name recognition. He has not looked himself for much of the season, with mortal (but still good) offensive numbers and putrid grades for his glovework in the outfield. His salary is a factor, too. Surely, the potential return for Harper weighed into the Nationals’ decisionmaking, though it’s unclear whether that was the major driving force.
While this news seems to take away any realistic possibility of a surprising deal coming together today on Harper, it doesn’t necessarily strip the Nationals of trade deadline intrigue. Notably, however, the Nationals organization is sending signals that it will not move its high-priced relief arms, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today (via Twitter). But the organization employs several other expensive pending free agents as well, including one veteran starter who just popped up in a rumor.
Of course, there’s also still at least some potential for the club to consider repositioning or even buy-side moves, particularly if it would mean adding a controllable player who’d make an impact now and in the future. If the team ends up moving a starter, in fact it could conceivably do so in order to facilitate the addition of a different arm. As things stand, there still seem to be loads of possibilities.
Posturing.
Actually it’s because he saw the potential returns and they we’re not that great.
The return only has to be better than the comp pick they get when Harper signs elsewhere next year, which he will do…
His career has mostly been about posturing. Terrifically overrated.
But he should
“Bryce is not going anywhere. Neither are we.”
Boy is he going to have egg on his face when Harper leaves in free agency and he is left with nothing in return for his franchise player.
Agreed. It’s statements like this that will be replayed x amount of years down the line when Harper is raking for some coastal team, and the Nationals are rebuilding.
If you aren’t offered more than the draft compensation, then it is foolish to move him.
While I don’t disagree if you are offered a prospect that’s further along (ie Tiston McKenzie) you’re better off making the trade.
Obviously, but do you really think you can’t get more than that for Harper? The trades that have already happened this year say they will get far more.
Not hard to be fourth round pick value for a team that spends into luxury tax range.
I understand that the Nats were interested in Bieber as part of a deal. Tribe said no, for a rental, I agree.
Id rather keep him and try to turn it around then give him up for not a great return. Why trade him for peanuts?
And that’s what the Orioles could not have afforded to do.
Nationals better pray Phillies and braves fail that’s the only shot
The Phillies are trying their best to not win.
lol good luck with that
I smell some BS
Should it go down like that, stupid stupid stupid.
You silly Mike.
Enjoy third place.
They’ll get second, but won’t make the playoffs. The Braves will fade late. I wouldn’t be surprised if Atlanta finishes well below .500.
Yeah, and you couldn’t really be upset about it either, I don’t guess. They (Atlanta) have been a pretty nice surprise this year.
I agree. Usually teams that arrive ahead of schedule fade down the stretch. Pittsburgh did so the year before their run in the playoffs. So did Milwaukee a couple years back.
I said the Phillies were the sleepers of baseball this year. I think Cubs vs Phillies NLCS would be a great series.
Theres nothing the Nationals have done up to this point that points to them moving into second place. Aside from a wild assumption the Braves implode for no other reason than you will it to happen.
Well below .500? I highly doubt the Braves fall farther than the Nationals will. Once again, everyone claims the Nationals will win something, anything.
What have they won? First round knockouts each year, w/ out even making the playoffs a couple of times as well.
Figured…..GD
must not like the offers so far
damn fool
M.I.S.T.A.K.E.
Grow a pair and sell mike Rizzo. Sell. And trade Hatper for someone’s entire farm. Lol.
Harper is bringing nowhere near the entire farm. While I agree he would bring a solid return and the Nats need to move him. His .220 average isn’t exactly something teams are drooling over.
Every category is great except for average. His walk rate is at its highest. Similar numbers to Jose Bautista when he was at the top of his game.
What do you mean every category? Dude makes $21 million and is worth 0.5 WAR. Yeah, he has a solid .369 OBP but that isn’t even elite.
He has terrible defensive metrics as well. Harper is having a terrible year. Remember, he’s only hit over 29 home runs one time in 6 years. He’s overrated
Enjoy watching him walk away after the season then. He won’t resign there.
What could they realistically get for him? Similar package of what O’s got from LA? Anything less than that and the fanbase would probably be disappointed. If they can’t sign him to a new deal then extend the QO and get a draft pick from whatever team is foolish enough to hand him that 10 yr/$400 million contract.
They won’t get anything like what the O’s got for Machado as Bryce isn’t having a great year whereas manny is…
You don’t get their draft pick anymore, just one after the first which isn’t that great but agreed with everything else.
Thank you for the update, I had no idea. Seems that there isn’t much of a deterrent for teams to sign free agents that were extended that QO (which is something I liked because it was at least an attempt to allow teams to keep their own FA).
The offers weren’t going well.
Future waiver wire trade?
I doubt he’d clear waivers honestly
Epic failure as a GM. Absolutely anything is better than nothing just to watch him walk. Smh
He is signing with the Chicago cubs. So trade him to make sure nats get something in return.
The worst case scenario is they don’t make a move and then loose the next 3-4 games. They play the Mets now. They better win and quickly or they’ll look very stupid almost as bad as they did when they sat Strasburg for the postseason.
So Rizzo wants to win now? This is the time to deal a guy that (most likely) won’t return to Washington. Give your prospect time to improve against big league players and address needs in the offseason to take the NL East in 2019.
The handling of Strasburg should have sent a clear message to everyone in baseball and every Nationals season ticket holder; they are not ready to face the consequences if they go all in to win. The culture of falling short of expectations begins at the very top.
Man up Nats, play hard and win or you high paid vets are gone in the fall ! Enough at .500 baloney.
Welcome Soto, Robles, Rendon, Turner, Scherzer, & Bryce if he decides to stay. Everyone else is expendable !!!
Mistake
But yet they are willing to trade 2 starting pitchers. Bottomline, he should be traded, if he’s not and Rizzo doesn’t make the post season, then he should be fired. Period.
Now for the next outrageous rumor…
Bryce in 2018 = Adam Dunn
Foolish decision, so as a fan of another NL club, I like it.
the braves at one point said they wont trade closer kimbrell.
Harper is as good as gone, i predict. redsox or astros.
Nats are falling out of the race and too many free agents at seasons end.