The Philadelphia Phillies have seemed like they are on the verge of signing Bryce Harper for the better part of a week now, but there is at least one other team in the running that could be making life difficult for them.
SNY’s Andy Martino reported on Wednesday that the San Francisco Giants remain in the hunt for Harper, while the Phillies are facing a “tough road” to sign the free agent slugger. If Philly is not willing to pay significantly more than $300 million, they may end up losing out.
It’s unclear how big a contract Giants will/have offered to Bryce Harper, but hearing a continued sense today that they have a shot at him and Phillies have a tough road to get it done
— Andy Martino (@martinonyc) February 20, 2019
Again, as reported yesterday, Phillies could step up to $326 million and increase their chances for Harper, but irs not clear yet if they’ll go that high.
— Andy Martino (@martinonyc) February 20, 2019
The general consensus is that Harper is going to get more than Manny Machado, and Machado signed a 10-year, $300 million deal with the San Diego Padres on Tuesday that includes an opt out after the fifth year. That is now the baseline for Harper’s deal, and agent Scott Boras is likely seeking significantly more.
Some comments made by a Phillies executive recently make it sound like less than a guarantee that the team is going to land Harper. Couple that with reports that Harper may actually prefer to play on the west coast, and the idea of him winding up in Philly hardly seems like a lock.
