Many baseball fans are patiently waiting for the Philadelphia Phillies to formally announce that they have signed Bryce Harper, but the Los Angeles Dodgers are reportedly among the teams that are trying to prevent that from happening.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan and Ramona Shelburne are reporting that the Dodgers have re-engaged in discussions with Bryce Harper and his agent Scott Boras. However, the Dodgers are still opposed to signing the star outfielder to the type of long-term deal he is seeking.
The Los Angeles Dodgers re-engaged with Bryce Harper’s camp two weeks ago seeking a shorter-term deal, sources tell @RamonaShelburne and me. On heels of @JesseSanchezMLB report the parties met Sunday in Las Vegas, question becomes whether either side will move toward the other.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 25, 2019
From the start, Bryce Harper has sought a decade-long-plus deal. There is no indication, sources said, that has changed. The Dodgers, meanwhile, have long been opposed to very long-term deals. Still, the Dodgers’ emergence has thrown a fascinating wrench into these negotiations.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 25, 2019
Harper is said to have met with multiple teams in Las Vegas over the weekend, and the Phillies are still considered the favorite. Boras clients almost never opt for a shorter term deal, even if the average annual value is nuch higher. While the Dodgers’ involvement could drive the price up, it seems unlikely that Harper will sign with them if they won’t give him the 10-plus years he wants.
At least one team claims to have given up on pursuing Harper, so it’s hard to tell if other teams besides Philly are legitimately interested or Harper’s camp is simply trying to squeeze out as much money as possible. The latter would not be difficult to believe.
