Report: Giants not ‘overly optimistic’ in Bryce Harper pursuit
Manny Machado’s signing with the San Diego Padres hasn’t really brought any more clarity to Bryce Harper’s situation.
The San Francisco Giants are still trying for Harper, according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network, and may no longer be focused on a short-term solution. People with the Giants, however, do not appear to be optimistic that they’ll end up being Harper’s preferred destination.
The #SFGiants are telling people they are trying hard for Harper (this likely debunks the short-term theory for them, as it’s known Harper isn’t signing short-term deal). However, people who have spoken to SF brass said they aren’t necessarily overly optimistic.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 20, 2019
What’s clear is that Harper thinks he can get a lot of money — more than Machado. The Giants are a fairly late entrant into the Harper sweepstakes, and it remains to be seen if they’re willing to make that sort of financial commitment. It’s also not clear how interested Harper is in playing for the Giants, though there are some hints that may work in their favor.