SUNDAY: The Phillies are “clear-cut” favorites to sign Harper, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale hears from multiple sources. The Nationals, on the other hand, are fading in the sweepstakes, and team executives are calling it a “long shot” that he’ll re-sign with them. Nightengale reports. Washington isn’t prepared to pay Harper more than $25MM per year, Nightengale suggests. The Phillies, meanwhile, haven’t submitted a formal offer to Harper yet, but that should change during the upcoming week, according to Nightengale.
SATURDAY: After conducting a face-to-face meeting in Las Vegas with free-agent outfielder Bryce Harper on Saturday, the Phillies “remain optimistic” they’ll emerge from the offseason having signed him or free-agent infielder Manny Machado, Matt Breen of Philly.com reports. At the very least, the Phillies will be finalists for both Harper and Machado, Breen adds.
The Phillies entered the winter with owner John Middleton declaring that money wouldn’t stand in the way of upgrading a team which has missed the playoffs seven years in a row. And signing either Harper or Machado has always stood out as the clearest path to improving the Phillies’ roster, as the two 26-year-old superstars are easily the premier players on the open market. Given both the Phillies’ financial might and their need for at least one of those players, it’s “likely” they’ll put forth the richest offers for both Harper and Machado, according to Breen.
If the Phillies are only able to pick one, it’d be Machado, whom they “seem to prefer,” Breen writes. However, the Phillies have “signaled” to him that they are also interested in Harper – a move that Breen posits could pressure Machado to accept an offer from them. Notably, since the Phillies met with Machado in December, they’ve added one of his confidants to their staff, having hired former Orioles infield coach Bobby Dickerson in the same role. Dickerson was with the Orioles during Machado’s entire run with the team from 2012-18. Meanwhile, the White Sox – who look like the only other team seriously pursuing Machado – may have helped their chances this winter by acquiring the shortstop/third baseman’s brother-in-law, Yonder Alonso, and his friend Jon Jay. But if money, not personal ties, ends up being the deciding factor in where Machado goes, signs are pointing to Philadelphia. After all, the White Sox’s only known offer to date was reportedly worth closer to $200MM than $300MM, and it may take a proposal nearer to the latter amount to lure Machado.
As with Machado, Harper has fewer franchises going after him than expected this offseason. Still, at least four teams – the Phillies, White Sox, Nationals and Dodgers – look to be in the running. It seems the Nationals, with whom Harper has spent his whole career since going first overall in the 2010 draft, are particularly strong in the derby. As of earlier this week, the Nats were reportedly upping their efforts to re-sign Harper, to whom they’ve already extended at least one offer worth well north of $300MM. Reports have indicated the Dodgers aren’t keen on making a long-term commitment, on the other hand, meaning Harper may have to choose among the Phillies, White Sox and Nationals if he has any hope of landing a record-setting contract.
whooo hoooo!!!! but I think the Phils have kinda felt this way from the beginning, right? I mean, money talks…
The market for both these guys is minuscule. At this point any team interested (via the requisite dollars, which so few teams will touch) puts them square in the hunt.
Said it from the beginning –
Whichever team(s) sign these guys are going to be sorry.
Neither will turn a franchise around. Neither is a true superstar, nor worth the percentage of the payroll they’ll eat up.
But the team(s) fans will be ecstatic for a year or two, and that’s always great to see.
Carrington I’m with you. These guys will bring a level of hype and expectation to a team that that team likely won’t be able to meet. And, yes, both players will invariably underperform.
The lack of their market represents the end of the Free Agent Era as we know it.
“Neither will turn a franchise around”
That’s spot on.
However, signing both Harper and Machado would absolutely “turn a franchise around.” The only way the Phillies do not sign both is if John “Stupid Money” Middleton steals the money of one of these superstar players.
The other 29 teams have colluded against them so the Phillies can have them. Only Middleton’s theft of their money can bring about a different end.
I agree wholeheartedly, except I’m not sure Sox fans are gullible enough to think that one or two good, not great, players will be sufficient to make this club a contender, let alone a favorite to make the playoffs.
No, we are NOT that gullible. These guys PLUS what’s coming will make us a contender.
I mean, these huge contracts are always regrets, except when they’re not. What if one comes close to providing the value Scherzer has on his deal.
only contending/rebuildimg teams like the phils will see the turnaround
Agreed, they are not a Mike Trout, they are not a Clayton Kershaw or a Max Scherzer. Not an A-Rod, et al
They are elite players, but they are not the best player in the game!
Bad contracts about to happen soon.
Jleve, yes Scherzer has been great. But he’s the exception, not the rule.
Max Scherzer is the Hall of Fame exception.
He goes in the Hall of Fame in a Nats uniform.
Just saying, there’s getting value for contract, and then there’s a HOF career.
Though he hasn’t won a championsip (yet?) Is it true, Scherzer has already provided enough value enough to pay off the entire contract?
Why is it whenever an overhyped player doesn’t get the contract that’s projected, some believe it’s a form of “collusion”? When in reality, it is simply because the teams either can’t afford to give out the projected money, or they are smart enough to realize the foolishness of giving out the contract.
You’ve got some very talented players that could hit free agency during the next two offseasons. Just imagine if the Phillies can’t afford a JD Martinez, Mike Trout, Mookie Betts, Nolan Arenado, Xander Bogaerts etc because they are tied down by massive contracts given to Harper and Machado. It would be Ryan Howard all over again.
Harper and Machado will still be south of 30 years old and producing big WAR.
Most of the guys you named there stink compared to Harper and Machado. Trout will never suit up for the Phillies unless both Harper and Machado are already there. Trout is not coming home to lose.
Clayton Kershaw? What has he done? I’d rather have machado or Harper in game 7 then Kershaw
Manny Machado is absolutely a true superstar player. At third base he’s the most dynamic defensive player is baseball and he’s got an elite bat – though admittedly it’s not of a Trout level bc nobody is. He’s worth a record deal. Harper on the other hand has one truly amazing season while injuries keep him off the field with regularity. He’s a great player but not the guy I trust to put me over the edge.
All of those players are better than Harper. Machado is in the mix but Harper has had one elite and one great season in the last five years. His other three have been merely ‘good’. Martinez, Arenado, Trout, Betts, and Bogaerts are all consistently better than Harper.
Kershaw has been one of the best pitchers in baseball for a decade. He *gets* you to game 7.
Harper and “big war”? You mean the guy who didn’t even crack a 2.0 last year?
I don’t think any of you realize just how rare of an occasion this is. There is currently two superstar players on the open market who are just entering their primes right now. They are not going to be a Pujols or Cano deal. I’d be surprised if either gets over 10 years. And the arguments you guys are using against them doesn’t make any sense.
“Neither can turn a team around”
Obviously this is true. The best player in the game hasn’t made the playoffs for like 5 years. To hold that against two top 10 players doesn’t make sense when you have to use that same standard for Trout.
It was never collusion until Kaep.
couldn’t agree more. he is a good player with a plus power bat. he is not Mike Trout light
So what makes Machado a superstar?
His .822 career OPS?
His .650 career postseason OPS?
His .621 career OPS with 2 strikes?
Dude hasn’t even won a GG the past 3 years.
Look at how lazy and uninspired he was while playing for a contract on a championship contender, then imagine what he will be like after he’s got a big fat longterm contract already in his pocket. Combined with the fact he’s immature and plays dirty, he will turn into a big headache really fast for whatever team is stupid enough to sign him.
Good points Fever. If Machado is a superstar, he is on the lower tier of them. And honestly, I had Harper more in mind than Machado when writing that.
Machado showed on the biggest stage he can’t handle himself like a pro, spiking other players actually like a 12 year old basically. Any team that heads him the keys to the franchise will regret it. He may put up numbers but will always be a distraction. Harper is over rated look at his fielding and his swing My be perfect but the numbers aren’t all that special over time.. The reason neither is getting a huge offer is neither is worth a huge offer
Some of us lived through Collusion 1.0 which ended with the Phils signing Lance Parrish instead of Jack Morris.
I agree! I mean Mike Trout is considered the nest player in the game! Although, how many World Series rings does he have? How many times has he reached the post-season? Machado is definitely an elite talent! He plays almost a flawless Thirdbase! Would definitely change the landscape of the Phillies, adding him to talents such as Nola, Hoskins, and now with Segura, Robertson, and McCutchen, Harper is very good as well, I do think he is a little overrated and has had some pedestrian numbers, ala last season. I think if Phillies also can add someone like Kimbrel as a closer, have Robertson as set-up man, a middle of the lineup with Machado, Hoskins and McCutchen and Segura toward the top with Roman Quinn will be very very good for years to come!
The Dodgers just had Machado AND Kershaw for an entire World Series and Kershaw and the Dodgers beat Harper and Co. in a postseason Game 7.
What’s your argument in light of those facts, Mikel Grady?
Mike Trout’s made the playoffs once in his career and it was a wildcard game. Being an elite player really means very little in baseball if you’re looking at making the playoffs every season and that’s because unless you have a core around that player to support, you simply aren’t good enough to drive yourself in 4+ times every game.
The Phillies have a decent young core around them with a lot of young pitchers and cheap hitters in people like Rhys Hoskins. Getting Franco off the team or reduced to a bench role should help them long term given he can’t field at 3B and the bat isn’t good enough to support his lousy fielding. Hoskins not fielding in LF should do wonders too.
Don’t you realize it’s all the other bad contracts in sports that dictates their asking price? If some schmuck can pull $15mil a season, teams realize these guys are worth twice as much to an organization. The market doesn’t get set by the two elite FAs on down, it’s by all those way below and pushes up.
Because it’s not about only these 2 guys. There are a bunch of veterans still. Unsigned with a couple of weeks to go until ST. Stop counting the players money and stop at looking at stats to justify their salaries.
So hang banners got to game 7? I prefer won game 7
Cub fan here. I enjoyed Rizzo and Contreras hitting bombs off kershaw game 6 of 2016 nlcs. When cubs get to World Series they win it. L.a. lost again
You’re critical of Harper having had only one amazing season, but you don’t point out that Machado has never had one “amazing” season. Machado is Adrian Beltre with a bit better bat. Great player but not close to record money great unless you’re paying for third base defense — which Beltre never got paid record money for.
I have a feeling this is all still hype. It happened all last off-season and those long-term astronomical contracts never happened. I’m expecting 7 or so guaranteed years for Harper and less for Machado. I’m possibly wrong, but we’ll see. Even the so-called 10yr 30mil at the end of the season from the Nats was hearsay. Guess we’ll find out soon enough.
A .393 on base percentage with 30+ hr’s is not pedestrian. Any player would love to have those numbers. What does that say about Bryce when that’s considered a down year?
Pedestrian numbers would be a .318 obp and 4 hr’s.
the only people voting this comment down are either Mets, Phillies or Braves fans. Marlins fans don’t read baseball news.
Of course neither player would turn a franchise around. This is baseball; Mike Trout himself hasn’t taken his team to the postseason in half a decade. If you’re waiting for Lebron James to walk in the door, you’ll never spend a dime in free agency.
Neither player needs to be the best in the game to command what they’re asking for. A-Rod signed to $25M per year 18 offseasons ago when payrolls were half as big as they are now. Get with the times.
Machado’s gonna get paid A-Rod numbers because he’s a very safe bet to be better than half as good as A-Rod. Harper’s more of a medium risk-medium reward situation, but if you take Fangraph’s estimates that the open market price is about $8M per WAR, then he’s still a pretty damn good bet to average 4 WAR per year into his mid-30s.
There are less examples of teams having buyer’s remorse for giving a blockbuster contract to a 26 year old with multiple all-stars already under their belt.
Marlins fans? Does such a thing exist?
RCT – Kershaw only gets you to game 7 because he can’t help you close it out by game 5.
danumd87 – Machado has to settle for second-best at 3rd, especially if we’re just talking defense. Arenado has that title locked up until further notice.
LOL, agree
When he was still with the Orioles you were saying Machado was the 2nd coming and he was a game changer. Now he will invariably underperform? Cut the garbage.
Machado is a 5-7 WAR player, he will invariably get better over the next 3-4 years just like all players do going into their age 26-29 seasons, and that means he is a game changer.
There are always only a few teams in on the biggest free agents. Nothing has changed in that regard.
Trout made the playoffs in 2014 with the Angels as AL West Divsion Champs. They had the most wins in the AL that year. They got swept by the KC Royals who went on to win the WS.
Right, obviously baseball is very very different than the NBA where is you’ve got a superstar he can remake the whole team into a contender. Baseball a hitter only gets 4 at bats to make a huge difference. And if he’s on fire he’ll just be pitched around. A good player or two just is a start, nothing more.
Harper screams Juan Gonzalez! Machado screams Adrian Beltre! Beautiful ball players but not best or championship fire starters.
Well Manny Machado went 2-4 (2 singles) in GAME 7 of the 2018 NLCS. All Kershaw did was pitch the final three outs to close out the game.
Ejemp2006: Why don’t you “scream” out your idea of some “championship fire starters” so the rest of us could determine the motivation of calling out those 4 “beautiful ball players”.
Maybe. But other than one monster season and a couple good ones, Harper’s WAR isn’t all that impressive. His WAA has actually been negative three times, including last year. He’s a good player, not a great one.
Mike Trout’s WAR has never been less than 6.7 since he became a full-time major-leaguer. Harper’s second-best season was only 5.2. Stanton, whose contract Harper would love to outdo, is much more consistent and productive.
Bro the angels won their division in 2014 and had the best record in baseball
So what you are saying is that whoever signs Harper is looking at 7 out of the next 8 seasons being exceptional performance on offense? I think they could live with that. Juan Gonzalez never had a single season near as good as Harper had at age 22, but he was very good from 26-33.
Position players peak at 26-30 years old. That means that Harper has not even had his best season yet and his best so far was one of the best in history. One more season like his MVP season and his HOF ticket is punched.
@steelehere You get booted on your other acct? Is that why you have this new name?
Not always. Scherzer is well worth his. About half of long term contracts tank and ALL of those that have tanked were for guys that were post 30 years old when the deal was signed.
Harper and Machado are going into their age 26 season. They have not even entered their peak yet. That comes from age 26-30 in MLB. That means the teams that sign them are getting 5 seasons of their very best baseball. Then they will start to decline.
Teams are smart enough to realize they get surplus value up front and then eat it in that decline phase. That is what it costs to get talent like those two for those peak years.
Lol that’s too funny for me to seriously reply
This is great news for Nats fans! He’s just not worth that much of payroll. Spread the money around.
I’m sure that if he gets off to a slow start again, Phillie fans will be patient and understanding.
yea but money aint the only thing that talks…
Gabe, should be the coach for Manny getting on him for dirty play. Gabe always hustled n played hard, something Manny wouldn’t know about
With only the Phillies and White Sox appearing to be Machado’s last two options he could be in for a rude awaking if he continues with his “non-hustling” ways. White Sox skipper Rick Renteria is considered a “players manager”, one who has few rules for his players but the paramount one is to go hard at all times, especially when on the base paths. I’m sure this issue had to be discussed when the FA visited Chicago prior to the holidays with Renteria in attendance.
Machado to White Sox, Harper back to Nats.
With an offer closer to $200M, do you really think that will get it done? In the long run Manny will do as Jon Jay said “Manny’s going to do what’s best for him and his family,”…….follow the money.
There seems to be a lot of smoke for Machado to the Sox. I think the Phils will wind up getting Harper.
Honestly, if it looks like the Nats have a chance of signing him, it’s a bigger power play to sign Harper away. If the Nats sign him and the Phillies sign Machado, that’s kind of just keeping up. It would be a much bigger swing if the Nats to lose him and the Phils to sign him. That’s assuming the Nats have a real chance at bringing him back.
Do you really think the Sox (or any team for that matter) is going to OPEN with a 10 for $300M offer?
Nats did and all others knew about it, so why open lower if you already know 300 is the # to beat.
Cuz that offer was taken off the table by the owner.
And guess what…a higher one is on the table now…by the owner.
yes philly will. sox dont care about winning
@CatMando You’re very trusting of the internet, huh? You don’t think it’s possible that either/both players’ agents are creating any of these stories to create hype for their clients? It’s one of the oldest tricks in the book to drive up a player’s value. Phillies have already said they may be a bit stupid with their money, so what better way to have them get in a bidding war with themselves than to say their division rivals are offering more than $300MM?
Phillies probably offered both a 500 million dollar contract. Both aren’t worth 250 million!
I don’t believe it. Boras is lying. Harper should/would have taken it. Look what happened to arrieta last year and Grandal this year .
I will answer that even though it was directed at Cat. First, since I asked a simple question two weeks ago how teams bid and deal with agents, I’ve come across quite a bit of info.
These agents deal with all 30 teams each and every year on players.
There is a level of trust that must be maintained or else that agent is finished. They cannot tell the Nationals that the White Sox offered $324m over 10 years if it never happened. GMs and Agents need to trust the info being given or the entire system implodes.
Sox could have opened with a lower number but with a massively front-loaded, early-opt-out-filled offer.
Not saying Chicago did, but that is one way they may possibly steal Harper away from the Nats and Phils with a 7-year deal.
Thanks Dads….I didn’t respond as I felt like crap for about 12-14 hours.
Remember $249.999 million is closer to $200 million than to $300 million.
Machado’s camp has been clear that teams should not make an offer at all unless it was for a record AAV. That means an AAV of $34.5 million or more. 7*34.5 is $241.5 million. That is what the White Sox offer most likely was originally.
The White Sox then increased their offer to 8 years. 8*34.5 is $276 million. That is where their offer stands today.
The Phillies are still in on Machado and he is said to be who they want to sign most. If they go 10 years, Machado would get his record contract. At least until Harper signs and gets more.
Machado to the White Sox isn’t all that likely if they refuse to go very far over 200M. If Philly offers close to 300M and Chicago offers over 200M but closer to 200M I’d be shocked if he doesn’t follow the money. Alonso and Jay are positives for the White Sox in their Machado pursuit but at end of the day odds are he doesn’t pass up a superior offer from Philly to play alongside Jay and Alonso short term unless the difference in offers is somewhat small. I bet Philly ends up willing to go higher then Chicago.
Philly is desperate.
Yanks and White Sox are not.
Nats owner thinks Harper is the cats azz, and will pay a record amount to retain Harper.
@Carrington Spencer, the owner may think that, but from my perspective, that Nat outfield still looks pretty good without Bryce.
Not sure why everyone thinks the Sox have made their final offer to Machado or Harper. Suffice to say, they have more need for Machado, but the bidding is far from over.
I’d like to see the White Sox sign Manny Machado and/or Bryce Harper but to suggest that the former is more of a need is subjective.
If Machado signs with the Phillies, the White Sox still figure to have 3 prominent infield core pieces in place by sometime in 2020 with Nick Madrigal at 2B, Tim Anderson at SS and Yoan Moncada at 3B.
As for Harper, 7 of the White Sox top-14 prospects are OF’s. Three of their top top-7 prospects are OF’s, each of whom are on mlb.com’s top-100 list. Top prospect Eloy Jimenez is a lock for LF this season while #4 Luis Robert should be their starting CF in 2020 or 2021. Each bat right-handed. The system does have three lefties and one switch-hitter among their other top 5 OF’s but none have the OPS potential that Harper has already demonstrated in his 7 year MLB career.
To summarize, the White Sox would arguably need Harper’s big left-handed bat to balance out their future batting order more than Machado’s right-handed one. Who would you rather see directly in front of or behind Jimenez in their batting order for the next 7-10 years? I prefer Harper but would gladly take either…or both!
Machado is absolutely more of a need. The team has no 3b prospect anywhere in the system, and Moncada could just as easily end up in LF as at 3b. The team is set at one corner with Jimenez, and you don’t want Harper in Cf. As you said, they have depth in the OF.
How would shifting Yoan Moncada to the OF help a White Sox team that has its greatest depth at that particular position? Lest anyone forget, Moncada was the consensus #1 prospect in all of MLB for more than just a fleeting moment and by all the sites that undertake such ratings. He was tabbed as such as a second baseman, not a position that usually sees a player achieve such a high degree of consideration. It should also be pointed out that Moncada made his MLB debut at the hot corner with the Red Sox which suggests both Sox franchises believe in his ability to handle 3B.
As I have already suggested, the White Sox will be set in LF and CF with Eloy Jimenez and Luis Robert. This is with little doubt as their top two OF prospects, each of whom are close enough to their MLB debuts to make a reasonable projection of their abilities. Jimenez will begin play no later than mid-April of this season. Robert was already a phenom in Cuba playing against competition considerably older than himself. Similar to Moncada he earned a mega-bonus. likely the last with the new rule changes affecting younger international FA’s. Robert will be given every opportunity and then some to prove he was worth the total $52MM cost the White Sox incurred to sign him with his $26MM bonus and the matching penalty they also had to pay. He will be their CF, just as Moncada will be given every chance to fail at 3B with Nick Madrigal pegged as the organizations core second baseman within the next two years.
If Machado winds up signing with the White Sox there is a better than even chance that he could displace Tim Anderson at SS. Wherever Machado might ultimately play on the South Side of Chicago, the odds are decent that one of Anderson or Moncada will eventually become premium trade bait sooner rather than later. In that sense, Machado is a luxury sign for the White Sox, as Harper might also be with their abundance of outfield talent. But the White Sox aren’t targeting either strictly for the purpose of improving a particular position. They are also doing it with the idea of adding an impacting star player that would make them more relevant in a quicker time frame in their local market as well as nationally.
Personally, I believe that they already possess at least one generational talent in Jimenez and potentially quite a few more among their elite arms and other positional prospects, most of whom I have already mentioned. But the White Sox also have their own TV ratings to concern themselves with as the Cubs leave their current partnership following the 2019 season to form their own independent network. The White Sox would like to expedite their appeal asap and adding Machado and/or Harper should facilitate that immensely.
I wouldn’t put too much faith in any rumors regarding the White Sox. They typically play things very close to the vest. Due to so many false reports regarding their pursuit of FA’s this winter, Rick Hahn actually chimed in with an update about their offseason to local reporters and fans earlier this week. He basically said to not believe everything you read. He could not speak directly to any FA in particular because that would not only be against MLB rules but also violate the spirit of confidential negotiations. Once all the dust settles, Hahn suggested he will then be open to discuss those rumors and where the White Sox stood with each FA.
That being said, veteran local baseball writer Bruce Levine has seemingly been the one who has issued most of the tweets regarding the White Sox this winter. He’s the one who suggested that the White Sox wouldn’t offer more than a 7-year deal to either Machado or Harper. He was also the reporter who wrote that their offers would be closer to the $200MM threshold than the $300MM mark that each superstar desires to reach or exceed. Even if his reports had some degree of accuracy they would suggest that the White Sox were at least offering contracts that would match or better the highest AAV deal in history which currently belongs to Zack Greinke at $34,416,666 per season. That number is far and way the highest AAV contract, besting the $31MM AAV deals given to Miguel Cabrera, David Price and Clayton Kershaw. Giancarlo Stanton, who owns the highest total value contract at 13-yrs./$325MM has an AAV of $25MM per season, one that was also heavily back-loaded by former Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria.
“He could not speak directly to any FA in particular because that would not only be against MLB rules”
They both are free agents, so no rule would be broken. Hell, even the clubhouse guys could openly recruit either without league consequences.
I can’t believe people actually think the Phillies wouldn’t crush any offer the White Sox could offer for Machado or Harper
Middleton hasn’t shown any player the money.
That’s what the whole of MLB is waiting for, to see this “Stupid Money”.
It’s still in Middleton’s bank accounts when it was supposed to be in the accounts of Machado and Harper. We’re rolling toward pitchers and catchers reporting for spring training and the money is still hidden away.
AaronSapoznik;
If Machado and Harper are “superstars” then there have to be at least 30 superstars in MLB Today.
Thinking off the top of my head, if I wanted to turn around my teams fortunes over the next 5 years I’d rather have Goldschmidt, Betts, Altuve, Yelich, Realmudo, Arenado, Story, Rameriz, Lindor, Judge, Stanton – stopping here.
Might I add that the Dodgers brought in Machado to replace an injured Corey Seager for the 2nd half of 2018. The Dodgers made no move to retain Machado. It seems to me and everyone I know that follows the Dodgers that Machado is not as good a player as Seager is.
As for Harper, on his own team Soto and Rendon are far better overall players, and they are 1/50th of the maintenance.
1) None of those players are available
2) Most of those players are older, and have fewer prime years.
Do you think I randomly gave Machado and Harper the superstar tag? They have been labeled as such by virtually everyone in the business of baseball and for some time now as they approached their anticipated free agency.
Don’t confuse the term superstar with necessarily having to be the best players per advanced analytics. There are other factors that contribute to this tag including persona, flare and most of all marketing potential. Harper in particular has that going for him and is probably the biggest name in the sport aside from Mike Trout. It’s a subjective labeling that doesn’t necessarily indicate the best player per metrics.
$249 million is closer to 200 than 300 so technically Levine would be correct. FAR too many people think that means the White Sox offered $200 million. That is not the case.
Machado’s camp has been clear that anything less than a record AAV would not be considered. I am sure that the White Sox are not going to make a formal offer lower than that after having many discussion with Machado and his agent.
So $34.5 million is the bottom line AAV. We also know that they made a 7 year offer. So their initial offer was likely around 7 years and $241.5 million. Machado said I want more than Stanton got. Now the White Sox have upped that to 8 years. We can be pretty sure that is for $276 million or more.
McCutcheon got 3 years $50 million. Robertson got 2 years $23 million. For most teams that is a huge haul for an offseason and those are just the warm up for Middleton.
I’m a Phillies fan and I hope you’re right ChiSoxCity…the Phillies have too many holes that neither guy can fill….and nobody, except the player, is whistling show tunes a few years from now….
Actually kutch, the Phillies don’t have many holes. They have a need for a corner outfielder with big pop from the left side. Sounds like Harper to me.
I happen to like Franco. Yes, Manny would be a major step up but I really don’t see it as a hole.
The main hole I do see is the lack of a very good lefty in that rotation. Dallas K comes to mind.
yep. Sign Harper and try and get Keuchel on a similar deal as Arrieta’s
LF, CF, 2B, C, 3B are all question marks in my opinion…Williams and Alfaro should have played everyday last season, Herrera, which guy is he, game to game and Hernandez and Franco are both overrated and huge question marks, as is the back of the starting rotation.
Franco has a 0.0 WAR over the past 2 seasons. He has no value in trade or to the team. That is a huge hole in the Phillies lineup.
A LH hitting corner OF would be nice, but Williams is an above average young player. Not great, but above average.
Its questionable that Riensdorf ponies up one of the richest contracts in pro sports..
Who doesn’t like ponies?
Who leaves a country full of ponies to go to a non-pony country?
It doesn’t make any sense!
ughh
Aw come on dews, you know Machado will be fire hitting in the middle of that lineup.
there’s only two teams in on machado so of course they’ll be finalists for him, mr. breen
Exactly.
My thoughts exactly!
Yankees, stay away from both of them please!
You’re the only Yankee fan with sense!
Cuz, DJ LeMahieu, right? How could they do any better than that? LOL
yankees are passing…with thier currents adds it shows they went plan b
As a Yankee fan since the early 50’s… don’t sign Machado or Harper PLEASE.
It appears Hal has come to his senses.
Fools gold.
Fools gold… love it!! That is the best comment I’ve heard to describe these two players. Well said!
@algonfriddo
Guess there is 2 Yankee fans with some sense
Noone else is really showing intrest so I guess one of them will take there cash and after a few years of losing they will become disgruntle and force a trade…
And I’m optimistic Yankees sign Harper or… no one else
Here we go again with the “Stupid money” BS.
Put up or shut up, Phillies.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Phillies get neither and wait for their hometown boy Trout to become available.
That’s gonna be a long 10 years for the Phillies.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if Phillies get neither and wait for their hometown boy Trout to become available.” They will still be able to sign Trout in FA…and he will test FA, even if/when they sign Manny.
I hope you’re right Cat! He can tell us about the weather during rain delays!
Trout isn’t going to Philly, he already said he’s tired of losing. Unless the Phils make a deep run in the next year or two, can’t see Trout jumping from one perennial loser to another.
i believe philli made good turnarounds….what paper u reading?
The Yankees have to put up to get Harper.
Yankees aren’t putting up or shutting up on either of them
Never have, never will (shut up, that is).
Had a girlfriend like that once.
Broke it off with her ‘cuz I was in real danger of using up my unlimited minutes.
They’re going to sign Harper. He could hit 60 HR in that park.
LMAO….. YANKEE FANS=LOCO…. LMAO
I say they sign Harper AND Machado. They could both hit 90 HRs each in that park. Then they trade for Bumgarner. He hits 120 HRs in that park easily.
Then they could sign Chris Carter to platoon with Hoskins at 1B… between the two of them, they’d clear 175 homers easy
They’d be better off signing Colon. He’d break Bonds’ career HR record by July.
They already had Colon.
Cash;
Your username reminds me of an old ‘64 Custom I used to drive.
One day I tried to clean the driver’s side wiper and it came off. Went to open the door and the handle broke off in my hand. Turned the key to start it and the key snapped off. I tell you, I was afraid to go to the bathroom.
100% chance Harper and Machado sign with someone!
Well sure but.. what if they decide to go for a driving vacation in the Dominican Republic.
Ohhhhh Too soon, but cringey funny
Woof!
Not funny
The Phillies would do better with Harper
Let Manny go to the White Sox and let his light shine in Chicago
Both would hit 40 HR’S playing in that bandbox. Then again, so would at least 25 other guys.
300 million what a joke not like their MIKE SCHMIDT OR BABE RUTH
Funny you put Mike Schmidt in there.
Theyre*
Troll. He used the right one, and your’s is wrong anyway.
JD is not a troll .. and homie used the wrong one .. so did you lol “your’s”
JD is correct. And if we wanna get technical, it’s not “your’s”, it’s “yours”
Lol. No he isn’t. They’re = they are.
‘Funny you put Mike schmidt in they are’
See how stupid that sounds… …
Lol this thread is full of fails. I believe JD was correcting snuff “300 million what a joke not like their MIKE SCHMIDT OR BABE RUTH”. Like JD stuff should be they’re not their
Zabbial, we are talking about the original post by snuffbuff. See how stupid you sound?
Yep! Mickey Mantle and Babe Ruth sound so much better together.
I concur!
Both Ruth and Schmidt were the highest paid (or close to it) in the game at the time. Besides the only talent that is close to the Babe is Trout
no, i believe the angel have a Japanese guy….that resemble ruth.
trout doesn’t pitch so no comparison
dragqueen
As much as I like Ohtani it’s a bit early to compare him. Also consider that despite Ruth being a very good pitcher in his day, he was only a full-time SP for 3 years. By 1918 Boston cut his games started in half to get his bat in the lineup. Really bad comp on your part.
When all is said and done, my talent might be considered close to Mike Trout’s, especially if he gets to finish his career in the house that I built!
Babe Ruth made 30,000 a year in the 1920’s. For his day he was high paid. They told him that he made more money than President Hoover and he said I had a better year.
I did say that, in part because I always hated Republicans!
Btw-I was never fond of the Prohibition Party either!
James and BRuth;
That’s right. Hoover spoke seven languages, but couldn’t hit in any of them.
As a Braves fan, I wouldn’t want either of those players on Phillies or Nats but if both are dumb enough to give them each 10/340ish I will laugh cause that will definitely come back to haunt them. Would certainly hinder DC chance to extend Rendon, which would be the right move. If Harper goes back to the nats they have to sit Soto Eaton or Robles and Robles is the only true CF so that’s a win. Machado would make the Phillies better no doubt, very righty heavy. I just want them to shake out so the rest of the offseason will go.
i would want Harper on the bravos… but if he dont go there… I am sure they will do something more before ST
Nope, would never want 5/6 win players on my team. No sirree. Gimme Nick Markakis, that’s all we need (and are going to get)
Eaton is a CF. A true CF as well. Not sure why you think otherwise.
Eaton’s numbers were much better in RF than CF during his time with the Sox.
Eaton has been an absolute butch in the OF for 3 years now. And he can’t throw either.
Eaton has 1 bad year in CF for the White Sox. He was very good the year before, and he was a great RF’er the year after. I’d happily be willing to bet that poor year was just a random blip, IF he could ever stay healthy.
Adam Eaton was a Gold Glove finalist twice with the White Sox, as a CF in 2014 and a RF in 2016.
2014 was Eaton’s first season in Chicago but was an abbreviated one because of considerable time spent on the DL due to his reckless CF play which saw him hit more walls than cutoff men.
Eaton became the White Sox primary RF in 2016 but did return to play some CF late in the season following injuries to Austin Jackson and newly acquired Charlie Tilson. Avisail Garcia began 2016 as the White Sox primary DH but played more RF late in the season when Eaton was needed in CF. Eaton not only posted his best dWAR in 2016 but also had 18 OF assists, 15 of those in RF. He not only displayed a rocket arm but also one with great accuracy.
Eaton’s two seasons with the Nats have been injury riddled affairs. He was set to be their primary CF in 2016 but wound up only starting 22 games due to an early season injury. In 2017 he only started 73 games in the OF, mostly in RF and again due to injury. If Harper doesn’t re-sign with the Nats, I’d bet that Eaton becomes their primary RF. If Harper returns, Eaton will have trouble finding a regular spot with Juan Soto starting in LF and Victor Robles in CF. If he sees the DL in 2019 it could be the result of butt splints as he rides pines with Michael A. Taylor for most of the season.
I believe your assertions are flawed
Not really looking like either one of them will be getting 10-340.Thats beating Stanton’s money,while getting 3 less years…..But regardless of that,they’re both entering their age 26 seasons,so a 10yr deal takes them to their age 35 seasons.Any 10yr deal is risky,but they could both be productive through the next decade.
JUST SIGN SOMEONE MY GOD
The market as a whole is what’s frustrating.Cant really hold it against the team,when the players haven’t even signed yet.Especially when they just signed a key player for the pen,and they added what should be 2 key players to the lineup,plus another 3 arms for bullpen depth.
It’s more of being sick of the sweepstakes for both, I’m sick of waiting and seeing all the headlines, I want someone to sign so the rest of the market can finally follow through, it’s been real boring this offseason
Pretty sure you guys just signed Robertson bro
What an astute observation, thanks for that… I want one or Harper or machado to sign so we can end this, it’s annoying at this point waiting for it to happen
Harpchado rumors already have their own zip code.
This Harper/Machado buzz is getting old. They should just ink and get ready for spring training. Spring training is about 2 months away. Typical borass last minute sign crap.
About a month, actually. Boras is destroying free agency.
Boras isn’t in charge of decisions the CLIENT is!
He does have a lot to do with when the negotiations take place. Season ended in October. He’s just now meeting with one of the few teams that can afford his client. That’s on him.
Yes of course he has a lot to do with when negotiations take place, but the client runs the show not him. If the player wanted to meet ten consecutive days and there were teams willing it would get done. Nothing is on him without the players consent.
The player hired him to give advice. Do you think this is consistently happening year to year, because each individual player in his stable told him to wait on negotiating, or because Boris is the one suggesting it?
You think this is “last minute” for Boras?
His client JD Martinez signed on February 26 last year!!!
Watch them sign neither.
I know it won’t happen but I think the A’s should offer what it takes to sign Harper. If they want to get a new ballpark they have to get that city energized. They have a nice young team that he would fit right in with.
You should watch Money Ball. No way the A’s are putting up that type of money.
The Phillies should sign Harper and Moustakas. The solution for right field and third base. Manny Machado should play for the White Sox
I’d be totally ok with that solution.
How Phillysophical.
If the Phils only signed Harper, I’d prefer they stick with Maikel Franco. No Moose.
You do realize they already have a guy like Moustakas much younger and cheaper? Just Harper would be OK…
I’d take Moose over Franco any day
as a white sox fan I want machado. both come with flaws though. I wouldnt lose sleep if they both signed elsewhere. It is getting to the point were other teams are in a holding pattern. just sign somewhere already.
If any team is serious about improving, they should sign them both. The two of these guys on any team makes that team a contender immediately. Any team doing a “rebuild” could get their team straight out of the cellar. No better investment of free agent dollars has ever existed in the history of free agency when you really think about it. These guys are the best bets that have ever hit the open market, both just 26 and two of the very best players in the present game. And, reality is, every rebuilding team could easily afford both of them and could likely get them signed because they’re not getting the deals they wanted or they’d already be signed.
Yes.
The Phillies have the money to write both $400 million deals and the Phillies are then set to make a seven year run at the World Series.
Yeah
Maybe they’ll make it year 7. Macahdo is a cancer!
No, Machado is Harper’s Phillies teammate.
LetsScoreSomeRuns You’ve fallen for the media sensationalism… the only type of cancer that exists in baseball is a poor performing player… plus, you couldn’t possibly know anything about Machado assuming you don’t know him personally, so what you are doing is silly speculation about an assumption you derived after listening to media people make a big deal out of nothing. Admit this to yourself, lose your unwarranted jealousy, anger and/or hatred of a guy who is spectacular and on a HOF career trajectory.
By the way… the cancer thing… there’s no such thing as a clubhouse cancer who impacts play on the field. Very simple to understand… say you were playing SS and you hated the 2B, you going to play any different when you have to make a play together?
“He’s a good teammate. He’s an even better player,”
Zach Britton
apnews.com/7990bd6843cb479aa19f91db18340589
@a76
Can you see the LA symbol next to my name? Media sensationalism?
I had to watch Machado for a half season on my team. Nothing to do with the media. Call him whatever PC name you want, I want the Giants to sign him. That’s how bad this guy is. Media is a bunch of chumps. I do my own research so stop assuming how and where i get my info. Kemp gone Puig gone Macahdo gone THIS HOUSE IS CLEAN!
Actually, if someone is a “clubhouse cancer,” it very well can have an effect on the play in the field. It’s a psychological thing. Some guy brings the team morale down and players don’t try as hard, don’t pick each other up after a bad play, etc. it definitely can screw up a team
Why do you keep spelling his name wrong?
LetsScoreSomeRuns So, the Dodgers, made it to the World Series last season, which is very hard to do, and you are happy they are going to lose Machado, Puig, Kemp (and Grandal) and think they’ll be somehow better off without them? And to downplay Machado like that… he played gold glove SS for the Dodgers, but he was “bad” in your opinion? And that 2.8 WAR he posted in 66 games with them… what game are you watching kid? When someone says silly fake stuff like you, every future thing you have to say can be discounted as a worthless contribution.
Why not harper to la,every year the brass does this crap thet never want to give a long contract they pronised a world series to la and that they were goi going to spend money well that was a lie,why trade puig and kemp if your not going to go after harper give me a break
Letsscore- why is Machado a cancer? Aside from a poor slide, please explain.
Cubguy13 That’s pretty confident language, that you’re so sure a “clubhouse cancer” can “definitely” screw up a team. It’s nonsense. Baseball is a semi-individual sport… you bat alone, you pitch alone, you essentially field alone, with some occasional coordination with another player on the field that consists of throwing a ball to them or catching a ball from them… I don’t care how much anyone doesn’t get along with anyone else, there is no way either guy is going to perform worse, essentially “mail it in” on the same field as each other because they don’t like each other. Media invented the concept of a clubhouse cancer… it sells because simpletons like you believe it.
Machado is one of the dirtiest players in baseball. Can you imagine being one of his teammates, knowing you might be the target of retaliation for something Machado did? Just look at some of his idiocy:
youtube.com/watch?v=AnKn67tgFRQ
Fever Pitch … please… this dirty player nonsense… it’s all made up. You’re a sheep to believe it.
It’s amazing the brainwashing job the media has done to you and others like you who are on this dirty player or no hustle bandwagon.
Think for yourself, and use some common sense and perspective, it’ll get you further in life.
I assume you’ve never played a team sport or have ever had a bad coworker??
Seems to me that if somebody is ‘retaliating’ by doing something to someone who did nothing wrong, they would be the cancer, not Machado.
But that kind of simple logic seems to fly in the face of people who think ‘unwritten rules’ matter…
Ty Cobb was a dirty player who never could escape his demons.
Machado has made mistakes — and on occasion has exhibited poor judgement — but it’s too early to brand him ‘dirty’.
Look at the Angels. Without pitching, the best individual player in the game means nothing. Even in these threads, should the Phillies sign Harper, the commenters say the Phillies should then add a starter.
What I think might happen is Machado Goes to philly with a front loaded 10 year 300 million contract with several opt outs….manny will get 35-38 million for first 3-4 years then 28-30 miilion a year on the second half his contract….with team buyouts in years 9-10….the hope being… manny opts out in years 3-5..or philly dumps him in year 8 with a 10 million buyout………….Harper is going to LA for sure….340 for 11 years ……
Could very well see a Harper and Machado pairing in Philly also. That would be entertaining for sure.
Why do you think Harper has more baggage than Manny? Manny bought himself a closet full of baggage with his asinine performance in the playoffs.
Harper has baggage … namely, in the playoffs he collapses like a two-dollar suitcase.
All I know is if either of them sign with the White Sox, there should be a mandatory psychiatric evaluation involved.
Signing with the Yankees for less money would be insane. Signing with the club that offered the best contract and intangibles is actually smart.
Harper is never going back to philly…Rizzo Boras and Harper are just working together to get Harpers price tag up..Rizzo loves Boras…….Harper is going one place that is LA….Philly will get manny then sign a pitcher…probably Dallas……
The Dodgers’ Payroll is already sky-high, and they need another quality Starting Pitcher.
They would probably cross the 2nd barrier in the Luxury Tax if they sign Harper, too.
They’ve also said that they “Are Looking For An Impact RHB”….and Harper is a lefty.
I think they are more likely to trade for a Big Bat than sign a FA….if they even ADD another Bat
Manny isn’t a good fit for this Yankee team. There’s no Derek Jeter anymore to keep his punk tendencies in check
The white sox sign no one but some low end guys…gio gozalez and cody allen and continue being losers for another year or two.or three or four…………..
See, the “blowing bubbles” thing is the precise reason why neither Machado nor Harper belong under the intense microscope of a big market team in the northeast. The fanbases are angst ridden and easily distracted with minutiae. They won’t tolerate his personality when the team struggles.
Why does it seem there is so much jealousy, anger, and hatred of either of these guys?
Seriously, are you sheep that just listen to sensationalized media who make a big deal out of nothing, and then suddenly act like these guys have wronged you personally and on a deep level. Grow up. Anyone who can’t look at Machado and Harper and recognize they are two of the most spectacular ballplayers in the game today and both on HOF career trajectories doesn’t actually understand baseball. And anyone who would think for even a second it would somehow not be beneficial for your home team to sign one, the other or both, and even go so far as to express concern over the contract as if they were personally footing the bill, is purely a fool of the game.
Every time someone rises up in this world, there’s always some a-hole trying to drag him down. Don’t be that a-hole.
Yep, if you show too much personality or play with passion, purists want you beaned in the head with a baseball. Their intolerance for change is killing the sport for new generations in North America.
Its easy to dislike these guys. Harper has been an arrogant punk since his high school days. His play is very inconsistent as is his hustle. Machado puts up pretty consistent numbers but his hustle is questionable and he’s earned his dirty player reputation. Combine all of those things for both players and it’s easy to hesitate on giving out massive long term contracts. Their are many players that can match or come close to their production that play the game the right way that teams would be more comfortable handing out lucrative contracts too.
You’re dreaming that there are better options, plus guys which are readily available than either of these guys. And dislike them all you want for whatever nonsense reasons you can come up with, as if you know them personally, but these guys are great players and they both consistently put up all-star level WAR.
A couple very ugly incidents stand out as far as Machado goes…kicking Aguilar intentionally in the 2018 NLCS as he was about the be thrown out on a routine ground ball, and launching his bat over third base in 2014 after an A’s pitcher threw inside to, but did not hit him. The pitch wasn’t even up in the zone.. There have been other incidents indicating he’s a hothead and immature. The ‘no Johnny Hustle’ comment is just…foolish and should be considered somewhat troubling to any team.. I get the sense that Yankee fans are especially divided on the idea of committing to Machado.
Jimcarlo Slaton Sheep comment. You’ve drank the Kool-aid kid. They are professional athletes playing the game at the highest level, they all hustle more than enough, stop kidding yourself.
And the Aguilar heel click… making a big deal out of nothing, why… because the media showed you 20 replays of the play from 8 different angles and sensationalized it when in fact it was nothing. Again, sheep if you believe that.
Sheep media hate jealously?
Dude your weird!
Reality check, just because people aren’t obsessed with their team signing Harper or Machado doesn’t make them wrong. Here’s to them signing with your team and not mine. Bahhhhhhhhh
@ 761506…. nicely done
The Tigers signed Cabrera to the big contract when he was in his prime, no WS. Trout is being paid substantial money, no WS. KC won w/o a top contract. Houston won w/o the big contract (1/2 season of Verlander). Cubs won with Heyward being a bust, but the young players coming thru. Boston won with only JDM getting top dollar. Signing one player to a mega contract is simply not the most effective way to put together a TEAM.
LOL Guess they took down the moron with the racists Harper comment. Good call!
Harper will land with the Dodgers. Machado will be with the White Sox.
These kinds of superstars are EXACTLY what’s wrong with the market today. Teams are fed up with paying too much money and being hamstrung. But they got their guy! (Sarcastically) In baseball you have to have a great team. 1-25, and even then some. Look at Pujols and Hamilton’s contracts. 5-7 years should be plenty for a superstar. 25-30m should be tops. If you an OFer with Harper’s starts 35m/yr for 10 years, you are tied up. You cannot be competitive for long that way. These players need to be getting paid at age 24/25 instead of 27/28. The game has evolved. And so too does the economics. The top end of free agency is hurting the mid tier. For example, perfect example, Grandal and LAMaheiu getting 1-18.25 and 2-24 respectively? No, that’s not right. Grandal should be around 3/4 years and 14m/year. LaMaheiu should get 4 years and 12-14m/year. Harper 5-7 years at 25-28m/year. If that.
Machado —-the same.
exactly. things like 10 year contracts are a relic of the steroid era that need to die. If you think the next 4-5 years are Harper’s/Machado’s prime, pay them $150M or so for the next 4 years and make then earn the next deal.
I realize Stantons deal is more recent, but i also feel safe saying thats a unique case of that clown Loria knowing it’d be someone else making good on that deal
The contracts have to be approved by MLB. In the CBA, MLB guarantees the contracts.
if cubs didn’t sign jon lester to a mega(in its days) contract cubs fans would still be counting 110, 120, 130……..
Calling it machado phillies 350 million over 10 years. Harper 350 to stay with nationals over 10 years maybe more money with some being defered in later years. Both exceed stantons deal and pave the wave for mike trout to make some where in between 400-450 million maybe more if lifetime deal.
as a yankee fan i am 100% fine with other teams signing these guys if it takes 10 years to get it done.
absent an actual time machine being involved to verify performance, i wouldn’t give any athlete a ten year contract. the risk is too great, especially in baseball where one guy can’t carry a team.
The Teams have insurance in case of injury on most contracts.
There is no insurance for under performance
HG Welles invented an actual time machine. Turns out, Yankee fans will evolve into Morlocks.
We need to sign both of these guys and bask in the hatred of Yankee-bashers. I’d be happy with one though (preferably Harper). Regardless, I expect this team to compete again, and I won’t be happy until the Commissioner’s Trophy is once again hosted in the Bronx
You have to take that up with Hal.
Signing a second tier player to a record contract is a desperate move. The Yankees have no reason to be desperate. The pieces they added to their 100 win team from last year are plenty.
They can sit back and wait for an axe next year, and then Trout and Betts the year after that.
Dream on Betts
Stupid money lol
Wish MY money were that stupid.
It blows my mind how often I read from posters making blanket statements that long contracts don’t work out. As though Harper and Machado aren’t both 26.
If you can’t read the writing in the wall, Harper and Machado will get long contracts but it won’t be longer than 8 years which makes them much more palatable towards the end.
If you look at the history of 10+ year contracts to players under 27, so far they’re batting 1,000. Jeter earned a spot in Cooperstown during his 10 year contract, A-Rod, during his first contract produced something silly (like 60 WAR), and Stanton already won an MVP, and there’s not reason to expect he won’t keep producing.
That said, these two guys are not on that level. They should get their big contracts, but it should be from someone who desperately needs them, not a loaded team like the Yankees.
Harper and Machado aren’t on Jeter and Stanton’s level? Did I misread that???
Are we looking at another JD situation? Where it gets down to one team and it refuses to bid against itself? Cue the Boras tantrum now.
I am leaning more towards a couple of contract rumors. Machado will not get 10+yrs/$300+ and Harper will get 10+yrs/$330+. Harper and his agent want to beat the Stanton deal and the teams in contention are dumb enough to offer the biggest contract ever that Harper will never be able to perform up to.
He was an mvp at 23 years old…..he’s
26….
So you’re willing to pay for the past? I see no consistency in his production that matches what he is asking for. Even in his mvp season, the Nationals did not win the title. I don’t see the consistency necessary to make me count on him winning another mvp. That it happened in the past means nothing. Is he a good player? Absolutely. I just don’t wish to see my team pay what he’s asking for, and then cut budget everywhere else.
Every wise team will wait for Trout in FA, not paying these clowns for 10yrs if that is what is needed to get them. Save all your money for Mike, he is the only player who is worth money and years. Ofcourse team has to be contender to have a a chance to sign him.
Yanks will pass on this, Ells and some other contracts will expire , and they will put 50mil per year on the Trout’s table.
hey, keep having the nightmares on!
And when he satlltays in LA what happens? LA is not letting him hit free agency.
Then apparently you know nothing about Mike Trout.
He will be well-paid, but it won’t be about $50M a year. It will be about playing where he wants to play. You won’t see this grotesque media circus, playing team vs team. He will decide where he wants to be, have his agent quietly negotiate a deal, and it will be done.
LOL, give it up. Trout will go where the money is, like everyone else does. They said the same thing in St Louis about Albert Pujols, but a warehouse full of bags of money will do strange things to people.
Then you have no idea who Mike Trout is.
Every wise team isn’t assuming a guy who’s not yet available will be available.
Wise gms deal with what they can control, they don’t have the luxury fans do to fantasize about what ifs
Neither is worth that kind of money……
Explain. They make profit off signing players.
Pay no attention to any of these rumors until there is an announcement of a deal. It’s all wild speculation.
Any team WITH Jon Jay would deter me from signing with that team.. What a stupid reason to sign someone. “Hey Manny, here’s a 10 year deal to play ONE year with your slow, weak, chubby buddy”.
Your obsession with the Jon Jay bashing is beyond belief!
They shouldn’t have left without him signing a contract. I don’t care about if they wanted to get a feel for each other. The Phillies need a legit star to market and to prove they’re back to being feared.
John “Stupid Money” Middleton wants bargains on generational talents. The remarkable thing is that it appears his fellow owners are giving it to him.
Everyone knows the Phillies can easily write two $400 million contracts for these two stars and every report has their price at 25% or more south of that.
If the Phillies don’t get both then Middleton is a thief. A convicted thief.
You know Boras’ reputation, it takes two sides to complete a contract. You have no direct knowledge that wasn’t the Phils intent.
Watch the Yankees come in at the last minute and take one off the market. When the Red Sox win, the Yanks have to respond by one upping the boys from Boston.
Who else has seen the movie Blank Check?
Bring lots of stupid money with you.
The Phillies should have said “pessimistic”. Each would cost more than $300 million, and that’s something they WANT to happen? Both are good players, but it’s been proven already that neither can win by themselves, and unless you’re the Yankees, Red Sox or Dodgers they’re GOING to be by themselves.
Just got done reading MLBs Todd Zolecki about the meeting yesterday between the Phillies principal owner John Middleton and staff and Harper, his wife, and of course, Boras..
Phillies said they were impressed about the guy that would be in the clubhouse, and the bench..However, from Zolecki, does not appear that an offer was made..
How in heII do you go out there and are not prepared to offer a contract? Boggles the mind…
as a member of the Phan base, I’m not liking how this is developing
Harper probably told the Phillies he’s picked a team already. It shouldn’t surprise you, given the rumors of his not wanting to play for Philly. Just sayin.
You don’t know that unless he is your BFF and have spoken to him..
I think it would be foolhardy to think that the Phillies were going to have one face to face meeting with Harper and have a deal done. The Phillies need to do their homework. I still think they prefer Machado but that meeting was probably more to do with evaluating how serious they will approach him.
I don’t count the Yankees out yet buy they’re 99.9% out on Machado. When we hear the rumored offers from the Phillies and White Sox, they’re below Machado’s desire but there’s just no market. The Phillies probably met to convince themselves one way or another to pursue Harper or not. Also probably to put pressure on Machado. Most people aren’t buying the miraculous “mystery team” whose popped up via Manny’s agent.
The Phillies dealt with Boras last year, JD Martinez didn’t sign (with Boston) until late February and Arrieta until March. They probably expect Boras to wait until Manny signs first. In my opinion, the Phillies didn’t offer Harper a deal because they’re waiting to see what happens with Machado. Let’s just say Macahdo signs with the Phillies for around $250-260m in total, which was under the expected amount. My guess is the Phillies will try to balance their budget enough to make a competitive offer to Harper as well.
The Phillies and really any team out there probably can’t sign both at full value those players are seeking. However, if the Phillies or Sox or another team, leveraged them to sign below the $300m mark, it’s at least conceivable they could sign both (one at the amount they want and one below it).
Unless Machado just sits on the offer and wastes time, I would expect the Phillies to not make an offer to Harper until Machado signs (with the Phillies or someone else).
Hypothetically, just imagine if the Phillies actually landed both Harper and Machado..
Segura, Machado, Harper, and Hoskins in the middle of that lineup.
Add in Goofy Odubel Herrera or Roman Quinn (my choice), Cesar Hernandez and Jorge Alfaro..even the worse skeptics would have to admit that is a strong lineup..
One can dream
Phillies should sign both Harper and Machado to long term contracts and trade Arrieta,Franco, and Herrera.
“The Phillies still won’t win with Harper and Machado” is not a take I was expecting.
If they sign either Harper or Machado and Keuchel and Kimbrel they will be a contender.
Maybe the Phillies can give a 5 million bonus to the team that signs with them first to move things along. They are the only team after both plyaers
You might want to paraphrase your comment because your first sentence makes no sense while your second is inaccurate with the White Sox also pursuing both FA’s.
Good because not 1 player that received a 10 year deal so far hasn’t worked out after year 5 or 6 they try trading or sorry they did a 10 yr deal : Miggy,Arod,Cano,Pujols and even Stanton but his was 13 yrs and look he got traded. I wouldn’t give any player more than 5 yrs and see if they deserve ore yrs after that
The owners are now getting 60 per cent of the revenue compared to 52 per cent 3 years ago. All teams made over 210 million last year. What baseball needs is a floor on spending first, then 5 years to free agency, and maximum 6 year contract. Those 3 things would make it a better game than it already is right now. Top players are making record numbers in arbitration right now like deGrom and Betts.
@slider32 I’d argue that MLB keeping young players in the minors for service time considerations is hurting the game as well, though I wonder what if anything the players association will do to fight it, since more young players in the MLB will mean less MLB jobs for low end vets
True, but that is only for a few top players for a few weeks, they will get their money.
My argument that it should change is more so that I feel that the top talent should be in the MLB and not kept in the minors for financial reasons, hurts the game to not have the best players playing
I’m with you on the salary floor minimum and also a quicker path to FA for the players. I’m not fond of the idea of regulating the length of contracts. That would discourage a team from tying up a young elite player as a pre-arbitration eligible or even into the process.
I believe that the MLBPA will be more amenable to some sort of salary cap and salary floor with the next CBA based on events since the last one was agreed to. I also believe that this could be more easily accomplished with the likelihood of MLB expanding with two additional teams in time for the next CBA along with the carrot of increased roster size. If expansion was approved and rosters were increased to 27 that would create 114 new job openings for players. All that, a resolution of the DH issue once and for all, along with the implementation of a pre-programmed laser strike zone would be on my wish list for this great game. A by-product of expansion to 32 teams would also allow baseball the option of re-aligning their leagues and divisions with better geographical and rivalry setups along with altering the postseason format and doing away with the one-and-done wild card game.
I.m all for expansion, and they need to relocate Tampa!
What MLB needs is a ceiling on ticket prices. I cant afford to take my family to more than a couple games a year. Viewership is down and fan base is aging because kids aren’t exposed to the game. If all the revenue is from TV, there is no reason to jack up prices on tickets so only 20,000 attendance in a 40,000 seat stadium is the norm. Cut the prices and fill the seats. Rebuild the fanbase.
Kids know about baseball. It’s just that there are a million other options available to them these days.
There was actually a really interesting article on the Athletic last week about this. More 10 year contracts than you’d think have worked out. They went through the history of all of them, it’s some of the more recent ones that haven’t worked out. Some that have include ARods first contract, Dave Winfield, Jeter, Todd Helton. They also argued that some of the players who are in the midst of 10 year contracts were so successful during the early years of the deal that they have earned more value than what they were paid and this includes Braun, and Tulo is borderline and it depends on how he does this year and next. Votto looks like he will earn his contract, and Cano as well (due to his large success early on). Pujols and Cabrera were obviously horrible deals though.
Some of the points made in the article can be debated but the framing of 10 year deals as always bad just hasn’t been true historically. Many seem to feel this way because of how horrifically bad Pujols was and Cabrera is becoming, but they were both signed when they were well into their 30s
Josh Hamilton was a pretty good signing too.
Josh Hamilton had a 5 year contract. Not sure what point you’re making
I agree!
This deal is about how Bryce Harper can help the Phillies in 2019-2031 or so and for the first time ever, teams have to consider his past performance to be his early years and not include any of his prime. Harper minimally has been worth $23.6 million the last 4 years and has a $74.7 million valuation on his 2015 campaign and a $38.4 on his 2017 campaign followed by a $27.8 valuation on 2018’s down year. Giving this guy a 12 year $360 million contract should be a no brainer to any team with the budget to sign him and anything resembling an opening in the corner outfield. Its safe to bet that he will have at least 5-6 more 35+ million seasons with a likely outstanding campaign or 2 in there where he clocks in over 45 mil in valuation. Not to mention inflation over the 12 years and how contracts will look by the time his is halfway done. If he has 5 season where he’s worth 35 million and 2 seasons where he goes nuts and has $45 million seasons. that’s $265 million. That means in the other 5 years on the deal, he would only have to be worth just under $20 million a year to be worth his deal. Its unlikely he produces many if any seasons under that $20 million valuation.
I consider this to be a worst case scenario, barring major injury, and because of his age and talent he could easily set records over that time and blow these numbers out of the water as he did in 2015. People love or hate him because of his flare and antics, but there’s no questioning his heart or way of looking at his career to date and thinking his contract is going to be a bust.
Just my thoughts!
The Phillies have the best hitting park, so both players would have a better chance of making the Hall of Fame going there in my opinion.
Did The Athletic factor in the percentage of the payroll their contracts took up, and how in the latter years it limited their FO’s from making moves?…..including the Yankees.
Hasn’t it been confirmed already that the nats offered 10 years for min 300 million which would be 30 million a year. But Bob says they won’t go over 25 a year?
Do these “reporters” know anything?
Probably be deferred money. Not making the first few years 30+
They spent hundreds of millions of dollars since then. So… should make plenty of sense if you can math.
Nats always defer money on their big contracts.
… just like the government seated in their home town.
I find it difficult to put any stock into this report, considering:
A) They haven’t even made an offer yet
B) They’re supposed first choice is Machado
This journo is just putting another spin on the wheel before any real information comes out.
i also agree…. wasnt it leaked out that Washington made a 2nd offer that was way above 300 mil?
Why would Philly go and not be prepared to make an offer…. This was leaked out only to get other teams involved…
Philly is waiting for Machado… thats y an offer was not made
Dont get 2 happy yet philly fans
First, I’m not happy…second, the Nats supposedly increased their offer..no where did it say they were “way” over the $300 m offer.
JIM BOWDEN LINK… twitter.com/JimBowdenGM/status/1081061066652741632
Yes Washington’s last offer is said to be well over $300M.
If the Phillies want Harper, I think they have to pay $400 million. I think a lot of this is posturing for Machado’s camp to get him to come to the table and accept their offer before they “go in another direction.”
I don’t think Harper would leave Washington for a few bucks more. Not unless it was for L.A. or N.Y.
I hope Philly signs Harper. And I am looking forward to seeing Philly fans booing and throwing batteries at him come July.
Enough with the batteries. Please don’t give any bad ideas to the 0.05% of baseball fans who are ‘way off base’, aka ‘out in left field’.
Your fault if they start chucking car batteries.
COME ON WHITE SOX! 12 years… $360 million… ownership share. GET IT DONE.
What do you guys think the contract will be? 8 yeas 260?
MY bet is somewhere around 12 years and 350 million guaranteed. With an opt out after years 4 and 6 and a NTC in there.
Could also see something like 10 years, 330 million, with a vesting 2 year player option that could push the deal to 12 years 400 million. Opt outs after year 3 and 5. Limited NTC.
Not too shabby! I’ll settle for a 12-yrs./$360MM contract that amounts to a nice even AAV of $30MM. I’m not a greedy dude. I’ll be happy just to break Giancarlo Stanton’s total value contract and will let my pal Zack Greinke keep the highest AAV deal. I don’t need any opt-outs but will require a full no-trade clause with my final destination.
Btw-I will also convince my best buddy on the north side of town to join me in three years so we can retire together in America’s greatest city. I will also be getting a second dog and name him GR(u)F in honor of my new home ballpark!
Don’t mean to be rude, has Bob ever been first on a deal or even have legitimate sources? I feel like he just gambles / guesses on who goes where and crosses his fingers.
So, why the heck didn’t you all update us with this tidbit from the Bleacher Report? Instead of going with too often wrong Nightengale?
Interesting tidbit: I heard from someone close to the discussions that there’s a “70% chance [Bryce] Harper goes back to the Nationals.” Nats owner Ted Lerner “wants a ring and doesn’t care about spending money.”
He continued: “Harper has always wanted the Yankees, but without moving Stanton, I don’t think New York budges there. Jayson Werth has a big part in Harper not liking Philly.”
Dan Federico
@DanJFederico
I think Nightengale pays Tim/MLBTR to link to his stories and Bleacher Report does not.
Bull!
USA Today is perecieved to more reputable than Bleacher Report. The truth is regardless of whose reported it, no one truly knows whose going where outside of the player and his agent (and they might not even know).
The fact is that both players have a much smaller market of teams that wasn’t expected and both sides (player/agent & front offices) are using their sources to negotiate and leverage through the media because there’s so many people wanting to break the scoop. (The White Sox & Phillies make a below $300m offer to Machado, NYY sign LeMahieu, Macahdo’s agent says mystery team now involved, Phillies meet with Machado)
Agents are using writers to increase their client’s market and the front offices are using their sources to convey to writers how the markets are shrinking. It’s hard but the best bet is to just wait until one signs and then the other’s market will shape easier.
In regards to Werth, he’s on the record stating that his anger was the Phillies never making an offer when he left and went to Washington. It’s not the city guys like Harper has issues with, there’s just more attraction to play in certain markets. I grew up hating the Yankees but a lot of kids growing up rooted for them, I imagine when someone who had a childhood dream playing for “X” team has the chance they’d want the chance. Also Harper has only known the DC area and organization as a pro player and you can also say that the Dodgers are largest market and most convenient club to play for in terms of Harper’s hometown.
That doesn’t take any real nuance to get at. When you offer a list of possibilities, anyone could see a free agent like Harper priotizing the most celebrated club in the league (Yankees), the only organization they ever played for (Nationals), or what would be their defacto “hometown team” (Dodgers), it’s not Harper not wanting to play in Philly, it’s that there’s more attractive options out there from his standpoint and those are two different things.
However, just look at Patrick Corbin when you talk about preferences or a childhood team. Even if someone dislikes playing somewhere more times than not, the money will matter the most. Look at Corbin, look at Cano with Seattle, the Phillies did it back in the day with Jim Thome. The truth is we don’t know and probably won’t know until one of them have made up their mind.
@peric…the “update was 9 days ago! twitter.com/DanJFederico/status/108124771728696525…
Have fun losing in Chicago, Manny! Maybe the Mets will trade for you in 2024!
Eloy Jimenez will be better than any Mets player by 2021.
Not to mention the White Sox anticipated pitching staff that will be loaded with high octane arms in their rotation and bullpen. A perennial batting champ and Gold Glove contender in Nick Madrigal along with a 5-tool stud in Luis Robert will also trump whatever the Mets figure to have at 2B and CF in 2020 or 2021.
Don’t count your chickens.
Yep, really excited about the White Sox rotation. Rodon, Lopez, Kopech and Cease are gonna be filthy! Madrigal and Jimenez are absolute studs as well. The world ain’t ready for us.
Aaron, might as well put them in the hall of fame now and give them their World Series rings!
Look, I’m sure there’s a lot of great prospects, but the odds of them all panning out are remote. It’s great Chicago fans have something to be excited about, but keep your expectations in check.
I haven’t been this confident in White Sox prospects since the Larry Himes era in the late 1980’s. Himes replaced broadcaster Ken Harrelson as White Sox GM in 1986. He rebuilt the White Sox farm system, drafting All-Stars Jack McDowell, Robin Ventura, Frank Thomas and Alex Fernandez in the first round of consecutive drafts from 1987 through 1990. He also acquired 20-year old OF Sammy Sosa in a trade from the Rangers in 1989. Unfortunately, Himes was disliked immensely by the veteran players with his strict clubhouse rules and quickly wore out his welcome with ownership as well. He moved over to the North Side of town, built the Cubs up before he again grated everybody the wrong way including letting FA Greg Maddux go to the Braves in a contentious negotiation and then becoming a big reason why Ryne Sandburg retired prematurely in June of 1994 due to his iron fist policies as a GM.
Btw-I also was equally stoked about the Theo Epstein rebuild with the Cubs that produced so many great hitters through the draft which facilitated their first World Series title in 108 years. I’m looking forward to Rick Hahn at least duplicating that feat with the current White Sox.
Whatever. Your opinion on the White Sox might be worthwhile if you actually knew anything about the team. You’re just another clueless troll hating to boost your ego. People like you use sport as a means of self-validation. It’s actually kinda pathetic.
lol ok. Always funny to hear fans like you get defensive and spit insults. Doesn’t exactly scream “confident fan.”
I didn’t spit any insults while my comments scream confidence on behalf of my beloved.
The thing is, that’s NOT all of them, only the high profile guys. There are others, so they don’t all have to pan out.
lol you called me pathetic, hating troll who was boosting my own ego. Denial to boot! What a confident fan.
Sorry, a real confident fan would not respond with anything other than “See your Yanks on the field, and enjoy watching us win it all!”
My comment about Machado “losing in Chicago” is to point out that, prospects or not, the White Sox are still several years away from a playoff appearance. They thankfully play in a weak division, but even if ALL their prospects pan out, odds aren’t in their favor.
The point is, if Machado’s goal is to win, he’d be smarter to take an offer from a team that can already contend and is committed to spending.
I think ever since the Astros built their title team every club thinks they can build a championship team with nothing but home grown stars and maybe one expensive import.
But that’s VERY hard to do. It worked in Houston because they got VERY fortunate that Altuve, Correa, Bregman, Springer, Gurriel, Keuchel, and McCullers ALL panned out.
The odds of that many prospects delivering elite performances in the same time frame is REMOTE at best, and almost unheard of, frankly.
“Don’t count your chickens” …
One (Adam), two (Cam), etc. …
CF Pollock
SS Segura
RF Harper
3B Machado
1B Hoskins
LF McCutchen
2B Hernandez
C Alfaro
Looks like a title-contender from day 1 to me…
That lineup alone won’t make the Nationals and Mets any less competitive with their far better pitching staffs. The Phillies might be better off adding Dallas Keuchel to their rotation and Craig Kimbrel to their bullpen and forego one or two of those FA position players.
Pollock is unnecessary in that lineup. Signing 3 free agent outfielders when they have 3 outfielders on their MLB roster plus a number of outfield prospects (including 2 of their last 3 first round picks) doesn’t behoove them. Outside of that, the lineup is arguably the best in the NL East.
I get that in regards to the pitching but outside of deGrom, no starter on the Mets staff can be trusted to stay healthy. If they stay healthy, they’re dangerous but all of Syndergaard, Matz, Wheeler, and Vargas have lengthy injury histories. With the Nationals, Scherzer is the best starter within the division, but Strasburg has a large injury history too. Corbin outside of a TJ surgery has been rather healthy but with the amount of sliders he throws, you always wonder about the chance of elbow problems. Also, with a team like the Phillies, having such a right heavy lineup, at least head to head they seem to have a great matchup against him.
Also, don’t forget, the Phillies replaced their LF (-25 DRS) with McCutcher (+2 DRS) and SS (-23 DRS) with Segura (+8 DRS), Hoskins and Santana are a near wash at DRS at 1B, so the Phillies addresses their two biggest defensive weaknesses which will help their rotation significantly. With the arsenal that Pivetta and Eflin have they can nullify lefties if necessary so the need for a lefty isn’t necessary. Plus the Phillies system is rife with left handed starters who profile more as back of the rotation guys (which is what Keuchel would be in a season or two provided he receives the 4-5 year deal he’s seeking).
nice job Jett….Phils rotation doesn’t suck..there are better, but theirs is still serviceable…the D will be so much improved
The lack of real upside talent in their rotation can be mitigated by better defense and more consistent offensive production. Also, while Anibal Sanchez will be the #4 starter, the Nationals back of rotation can’t be more/any reliable than the other teams within the division.
Also, you can’t discount the Braves but the initlal post only included the Nats and Mets and I don’t want to type extra paragraphs. They’re the defending division champs, they’re good it’s not a fluke.
AaronSapoznik
“with their far better pitching staffs.” Depends on which stats you look at. If you isolate just one….let’s say ERA…yes the Nats were 9th (4.04) Mets 10th (4.07) Phillies 11th (4.14). K/9 the Phillies trailed only LA (Mets 4th, Nats 7th), FIP …2nd to LA …Mets 4th and Nats 13th. it goes on and on.
I know the Nats signed Corbin but which version do they get? the 2016/17, 4.53 ERA 4.42 FIP, 1.483 WHIP or last years better version?
I’m talking on paper (for what that’s worth) and with regard to the acquisitions made by all the teams to this point of the offseason. I also can’t predict injuries and have to assume decent health for all the pitchers concerned.
The Phillies did add David Robertson but the Mets acquired Edwin Diaz and brought back Jeurys Familia to fortify their bullpen. The Phillies “younger” rotation figures to improve with experience and better defense behind them but the Mets staff is top-heavy with elite pitchers when healthy. You would be hard pressed to come up with a better #1 – #3 group of starters in all of MLB than what the Mets and Nationals hope to run out there in 2019.
I said the same thing to someone at work this AM. If the Phils add BOTH Machado and Harper, they would be smart to go ALL IN and add Keuchel and Kimbrel, because their pitching is middling at best.
LOL @ Strike Four..Pollock? Hummmm, I don’t think so..not bad, but no. I still prefer Roman Quinn over Goofy Herrera
I have it on the BEST authority that since Bryce and Manny frequent Phabulous Phannie’s Phillie’s Phlophouse, they’ll both sign with the Fils…….
It’s well known that the owner spends stupid money there…..
As a lifetime MLB fan it wouldn’t break my heart to see either of these guys go unsigned this year (at least in terms of a long term high $$$$ contract). I’d be okay if either were to sign a shorter term contract with options at a more reasonable $$$ figure). Any contract negotiated should be incentive based. If the players don’t like it they can peddle their talent elsewhere. Good luck with that option! The game would survive and prosper without them.
Oh yes, because the billionaires aren’t prospering with their record revenues. God forbid they make 9 billion dollars instead of 10 billion.
If you were them, wouldn’t you go for the extra billion? … I mean, even if only so you could donate it to your favorite charities?
And what about the other investors? Don’t you owe it to them to optimize your profit potential?
After all, those ivory backscratchers ain’t free!
Darn. I was hoping LA Dodgers would make such an irresponsible deal.
Wait. If the Nats “are not prepared to pay more than 25 million a year” the reported contract they offered to Harper must have been for at least 12 years? Also didn’t I read that the offer was “well above 300 million”? One of those statements had got to be wrong.
Where there is smoke there is b.s.
Actually saw that on a farm near my home in northern Illinois this winter!
there is the link that they upped their initial offer…. cbssports.com/mlb/news/bryce-harper-rumors-nationa…
Some websites project him getting 14 years. Including this one!
Some websites say the Earth is flat, NASA is a hoax, and the sun sneaks back across the sky at night to prepare for the next day.
I wouldn’t believe anything Nightengale says or tweets.
So 10yrs/$300 mill = $25 mill per year?
exactly! boras is throwing bait out there so he can get more offers…. i still dont believe any team has topped the Nats original offer…
I do..I believe the Nats offer has been beaten by more than one team..keep in mind, the Nats have a strong outfield without Harper..If they are pushing to get him back, it is because the idea of him in Philadelphia. must be mind numbing..same as Werth was to Philly.
The Nationals do it a lot, there’s probably deferred money in that original offer. $5m/year is a lot in deferred money but it’s not out of the realm of possibility.
No one probably did top the initial offer because the White Sox probably didn’t offer more than what they offered Machado. The Phillies haven’t made an official offer yet to there’s only the offer(s) from Washington. Boras will probably continue to drum up whatever market he can. The Phillies most likely will make an offer to Harper when the Machado situation resolves. After that, the Phillies will make an offer and then Boras will probably ask Chicago or Washington to top the offer (provided it’s the largest offered).
Phillies make offer to Harper, then tell Machado first one to accept, gets it. The other left to the White Sox. That should get one of them to blink.
what kind of BS is this? “Nationals not prepared to offer more than $25mill/yr” ???
they already offered 10 for $300mill confirmed, which by my calculations is $30mill per. and even if good chunk deferred, should present value north of $250mill. and word is, they upped their offer by a fair amount. so what is Nightengale smoking?
That was exactly my take as well. None of that makes sense. Perhaps it’s a typo and they meant $35M per since it was reported they’d go up substantially?
You seem to have forgotten these are all unsubstantiated reports. It’s entirely possible one or both are wrong
Yes. It’s also likely the only substantial report will occur when Harper officially signs.
A surprise team swoops Harper in the last minute. I truly think he doesn’t like Philadelphia
YUP! its the Braves… thats y they have been soooooo quiet!
keep believing the NY Post patriot..
Is it really impossible though ? Wouldn’t be the first time it happened. Btw the NY post sucks
Let’s just say there is a lot of bad blood there
… type O-Negative.
Harper to Philly
Manny to Chicago
From Yankee fans. “All reports are untrue, Harper and Machado are signing with the Yankees.”
Nobody knows any more than they did a month ago.
… Including Manny and Bryce.
Prediction – next team that meets with Harper will be the heavy favorites to sign him. Because that’s how it’s always reported.
I’m just saying, Harper and machado have dragged this out because they don’t like their current options. So much for this huge bidding war we all expected lol
They both want to go to New York, we know.
Even if they loved the current options, they’d both drag it out to try for more. Human nature.
they did a smart thing meeting Harper in the west coast. Had Harper visited philly in the winter and see the second worst city in the country. He would’ve never considered signing with them. Poverties, poor infrastructure, bad cuisines, absolutely zero attractions. He will hate his tenure there.
For the money they’d be paying him he can live anywhere he wants and commute by private jets every game…
I was just going to say this
Crying gets you nowhere?
You have never been there have you? It was the nation’s capital for a while. It would take weeks to see all the historical attractions. Independence Hall, Liberty Bell, National Constitution Center, The President’s House, Betsy Ross’ home, Benjamin Franklin Museum, the Graff House, and so many other attractions. Other than NYC and DC, there is no place in the US with more to see.
Philly is everything garywang said, but worse. Obviously, locals think it’s great here. But as they say, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”
YourDaddy, go visit Chicago for a little perspective. The food is much better, and the modern museums and architecture put even the Smithsonian to shame.
… “no place in the US with more to see.”
… ‘cept for this one cathouse out west.
I looked back at Nightengale’s columns. Has he ever been correct? I could not find one time other than reporting how much someone was paid after the contract was signed. I only went back a year, but that seems to be a large enough sample size.
Enjoy losing for the next decade
I mean how many times can you post unsubstantiated gibberish that the Phillies are going to sign Harper even though they haven’t actually done anything
If someone has a gun to your head making you read the post, you should probably be contacting law enforcement, not posting in the comment section of a story you claim you don’t want to read…
I’d actually be happy for the Phillies and their fans if they got Harper. They’ve not been the same since the glory days of Utley, Rollins, Howard, Doc and the rest of that stellar squad. They’ve had some tough years and I like seeing teams who have been all that good for a while finally get good and add some good players young and vets. Harper is basically a bet since he’s been in the league for a few year now but still young and can they can be good for a while if they get him or even if they don’t but it would just be cool to see them land him. I think ideally if anyone gets a 10 year contract it should be in the AL so they can not have to play in the outfield every day and also towards the end of it mostly be the DH to get the most of the deal but I guess he’s still so young it wouldn’t matter too much plus I’m sure if they start to tank in let’s say 5-6 years and he’s still good I’m sure they can trade him to an AL team.
This is one of the classier comments i’ve read on MLBTR. I don’t know who your team is, but you represent them well.
Unless you’re a Cubs, Indians, Twins, Tigers or Royals fans you should have the same empathy for the White Sox. They fit most of the same criteria and Harper wouldn’t need to be traded down the road. Just saying…
We know that the Nats offered 10/$300mm because Rizzo confirmed they did and then they upped their offer. That means that the Nationals have offered more than $25 million per year. Nightengale is an idiot.
Reading is essential
I’m putting it out there to put an end to the rumors. I am NOT nor have I EVER had any interest in Manny Machado.
I’m putting it out there that his interest in you will never materialize.
Looks like most did not read the source article which sates and does not state several things.
1) “Harper turned down a 10-year, $300 million contract”
2) Nats “have spent $189 million in free agency this winter, and if they sign Harper, will go over the luxury tax for at least several years.”
3) “Nats officials privately say Harper no longer is in their plans, and unless Lerner changes his mind or Harper accepts a contract that pays him less than $25 million a year, they anticipate life without him.”
No where does it say the Nats at anytime offered $25M. It says that as of now that may be the limit.
Reading is essential.
I usually just close my eyes until i hit the comment section 😉
Think you’ve got it bad?
I have to keep mine closed ‘til I hit the g-spot.
Is reading essential, or comprehension?
So the Nats are only at $25 million per season. They’re already way lower than their initial 10 for $300 million offer, and it was said they raised that offer which was a crock. Everything the Nats have done this offseason has indicated they’re moving on and they’re allowing Boras to use their name to up others offers. The Nats and Harper were never happening. I don’t blame them either. Soto could literally be better than him starting this year.
It very well could be that they are offering 10/$350M, but with deferrals it’s only $25M AAV paid out over 14 years, the last four years he isn’t on the roster but continues to get paid
It is reported that the Nats are 25 mil under the cap after the free agent spending.. The Nats offered 25 mil per year with a more years, which Harper refused to do. The 10/300 that was offered at the end of the season had deferrals, which Harper refused to do.
Boras found his yearly CHUMPS!!
Phillies need to set a deadline to both players with official “take it or leave it by x date” so they can move on. Machado makes more sense for them which then creates trade pieces in Franco and Cesar Hernandez. (Kingery to 2b). I truly believe both Harper and Machado will have a hard time dealing with the brutality of Phillie fans and media, especially Machado. Phillies have a very good team with glaring areas that should be pretty easily upgraded: two starting pitchers that can get through 6 innings, left handed bullpen help, left handed power outfielder and some veteran depth on the bench.
That’s silly, especially with such as a limited amount of suitors for each. However, as a White Sox fan I wouldn’t mind if the Phillies took you up on your offer.
Btw-Aside from the “left handed power outfielder”, couldn’t the Phillies still fill all of those other “glaring areas” of need regardless of when these two free agents sign? Harper and Machado didn’t stop the front office from signing free agent OF Andrew McCutchen and RP David Robertson or making the trade with the Mariners that netted them SS Jean Segura.
And what happens when both respond with ‘move on to what?
Everyone knows Philly is out to make a statement signing, and Machado and Harper are plans a and b. Plan c is a huge drop off.
Empty threats are bad bargaining tools.
Harper is worth more to the Nats as the face of the franchise than to Phillies as simply a way to get win shares. The Nats should push a little more. Machado is the one you’d want in the abstract in terms of wins because he’s an infielder who is gold glove at least at third. Just buy Machado and get some cheapish outfielders who can hit north of the league average if you don’t already have them.
Could the Phillies get both?
I suppose they could but doubt they’d want to.. With the amount of years that are being discussed, the chances of both of them being productive towards the latter stages of the contract are pretty slim. Getting stuck with one albatross contract would at least be manageable but two? That would hurt.
The only way I see them signing both is if they believe that this is the year to go all the way and without both they will not be able to make the playoffs. I base this on the long history of the shrt term view in Philly’s front office.
though this regime is batter than the last. They actually stocked the farm system
I’ve predicted Harper to the Phillies for a few years.
I’d probably be more proud of it if the guy with the crazy eyes in his avatar and who is referred to as “the lunatic who always rants about the Phillies’ owner” on Fangraphs hadn’t also made the same prediction.
Can it just happen already? Honestly I don’t care where either Machado or Harper sign I’m just tired of reading an article every day about them.
Then don’t.
Reading takes conscious effort on your part, you know. As does posting a complaint in an article you claim you don’t wish to read….
Phils still finish 3rd?
This division will be a Donnybrook this year. IF (Big IF) Harper lands in Philly rather than Chicago or DC, the Phils will be potent enough (especially at home). Both the Phhils are young enough and with a strong enough farm that we can expect a few new players to contribute in a meaningful way. The Mets look destined to be playing leapfrog with the fish at the back but both of those teams are going to be better.
In short the rest of the NL is not going to want to travel east to face the beasts
See you one the diamond my friend
I’m old enough to remember when there was MLB free agency, but no internet. Back then, unless you were listening to sports talk radio all day, you didn’t learn about your team signing Player X until the local evening news—unless it was the Winter Meetings, when deals actually happened.
Now we have the gaping maw on the internet, and it must be fed, constantly, with content. Heyman, Nightengale, Olney, Bowden…they all need to put something out there every day. That makes them useful to the agents and GMs, who can whisper “exclusive” rumors to them, for the purpose of driving a deal to completion.
Agents will tell the writers about “mystery teams” in on the bidding, and front offices will leak their offers to the media to keep the agents from getting an inflated bid from another team based upon exaggerated tales of the first team’s offer (while letting home fans know they’re trying).
Through all of this, more and more front offices are hip-deep in data analysts, shaping the offers based on statistical analytics instead of fevered, late-night exuberance.
If the Free Agent season seems boring, it’s because it is. The game is quickly changing as we watch, teams are more cautious about their offers and total payroll, and both sides are using the internet columnists and bloggers to make their case to the public. We all need to recalibrate our expectations, and stop assuming every column posted online is accurate and valuable. Just as with last year, some of these signings may take another 30-60 days to be finalized, well past pitchers and catchers reporting.
He will be shipped out of Philly within 3 years. Bryce is was too soft for the Philly fans. Very bad Choice from Phillies GM and Bryce. He should stay a National forever. They couldn’t care less if he has a few bad years. If he strikes out two times in a row in Philly or doesn’t run a ball out, watch out…
Bryce too soft? There is an outfield wall in L.A. that has an imprint of his face and knee on it.
Either Player Machado or Harper would be at best an expensive gamble..In case folks have not noticed it takes far more than a couple of high priced players to get to the promise land. These teams have a lot in common. My astros, Yankees, Red sox, Brewers,Dodgers, Cubs and now the Braves. They have accumulated and developed some of this games finest young talent and if teams are to contend with any of these teams and they need a Harper or a Machado to be the face of their organization then they have missed the bus good luck with that. The red sox last year got a great deal with Martinez and he paid dividends in more ways than one. He helped some of the younger talent much further along and they got a ring. Neither Machado nor Harper warrants the type of salary the talking heads at MLB.com suggest. Both are suspect as if truly they are team players and not prima donnas. I doubt either of them will propel a team to post season that is why neither are signed yet. The way teams go about putting together their teams have changed drastically and during a long haul of a 162 game season it takes a full rooster of 25 players plus at the least 5 or more contributing from the 40 man rooster. Philly seems likely the only team that can afford either one and I would be cautious if i were their GM and owner. Just my two cents worth.
sorry should have mentioned the Cards and Mets I think both are close as well.
“Just my two cents worth.”
Your two cents ain’t worth a nickle.
………… — Phil Gerard
I’m telling you, it’s happened before to happen again that Arte and the Angels will swoop down in from off the radar to take Harper.