Bryce Harper warned reporters prior to the season that he is not going to answer any questions about his contract situation or impending free agency, but he made a very brief exception in advance of the Home Run Derby on Monday.
When asked if he believes there is a possibility he could have just months remaining with the Washington Nationals, Harper said that is stating the obvious.
Bryce Harper on possibly playing elsewhere next season: "That's always a possibility. I think that everybody knew that at the beginning of the year, this could be possibly my last year in D.C. Everybody knows that. There's no elephant in the room."
— Jorge Castillo (@jorgecastillo) July 16, 2018
Harper’s average is down to a shocking .214 this season, but he has been healthy and still has 23 home runs and 54 RBI. His average is almost certain to increase down the stretch, and there’s no reason to believe he won’t be one of the highest-paid free agents in MLB history.
While the Nationals will certainly be in contention to sign him long-term, there have already been reports of specific teams planning to spend huge next offseason. Washington had virtually no change of re-signing Harper before he hit the open market, especially with the 25-year-old being a Scott Boras client. That doesn’t mean they don’t want him back, but Harper knows he’ll have plenty of options.
