The Washington Nationals appear to be out on Bryce Harper.
According to Todd Zolecki, Mark Feinsand and Jamal Collier of MLB.com, the Nationals have no plans to make an offer to Harper that resembles the 10-year, $300 million deal Manny Machado signed with the San Diego Padres. That is likely enough to ensure that Harper won’t return to Washington.
While the Nationals offered Harper a 10-year, $300 million deal toward the end of the season, roughly $100 million of that money was deferred, not guaranteed. All the money in Machado’s deal is guaranteed, and Harper will want something similar.
There had been reports that the Nationals would try to match any offer if they felt the Philadelphia Phillies were a threat to sign Harper. It certainly doesn’t sound like that’s the case, and the Nationals have accepted defeat in their efforts to retain their star.
