PHILADELPHIA (94 WIP) -- Perhaps more than ever throughout this entire process, this past weekend it really felt as if the Phiadelphia Phillies and Bryce Harper were coming close to finalizing a deal. Perhaps they still will.
But as a new week begins, a new team has apparently entered the race for Harper: the Los Angeles Dodgers.
MLB.com reported Dodgers officials, including manager Dave Roberts, were seen Sunday in Harper's hometown of Las Vegas.
Although the Dodgers might now be trying to steal Harper away from the Phillies at the last minute, the belief is that they are only willing to do a short-term deal for Harper, and might not match the long one the Phillies have reportedly offered.
The field for Harper appeared to be down to the Phillies, San Francisco Giants, Chicago White Sox and Washington Nationals, per MLB.com, with the Phillies as the heavy favorite.
After Phillies owner John Middleton took his private jet out to Las Vegas to meet with Harper, the two sides appeared to be close to a deal, with multiple reports stating an agreement could be reached by either Monday or Tuesday of this week. It was believed that the Phillies were going to land Harper on a long-term, mega-contract that would break records in professional sports.
Perhaps the Dodgers are being used as a last-second bargaining chip by Harper's agent, Scott Boras. Or, after months of trying to land Harper, perhaps he is going to be stolen away from the Phillies at the last second.
Either way, it does appear that Harper might finally be close to making a decision -- and it might come down to the Phillies and Dodgers.
By Eliot Shorr-Parks