The Philadelphia Phillies have been connected to Bryce Harper more often than any other team throughout the former MVP’s free agency process, but Harper remains unsigned. Is that because he has some reservations about being in Philadelphia?
Reporter Jon Heyman told Joe Benigno and Evan Roberts on WFAN in New York Thursday that has heard Harper is not enamored with Philly.
Jon Heyman on WFAN: "I've heard from a number of people that don't talk to Scott Boras that (Bryce Harper) is not that enamored with Philly… he's been there enough to have an impression… Philly is an acquired taste… Philly would not be near his top choice."
— Ben Livingston (@bliv94) February 21, 2019
The reason why Heyman said that he’s heard from people who don’t talk to Scott Boras is because Boras’ job is to drum up interest for his client and make it seem like the player wants to play anywhere.
Heyman said he genuinely believes Philly would not be Harper’s top choice. He says Harper wanted to sign with a big-market team like the Yankees, Dodgers, Cubs or Red Sox. None of those teams seem to have come close on the asking price Harper is looking for.
The White Sox reportedly have dropped out of the running for Harper, leaving San Francisco, San Diego, Philly, and potentially the Nationals as the candidates. If Harper isn’t a fan of Philly, maybe he’s waiting and hoping that another team will step up and beat the Phillies’ offer.
