JUST IN: #Nats announce they've extended a qualifying offer to Bryce Harper ($17.9M). Harper now has 10 days to accept or decline the offer.
— 106.7 The Fan (@1067theFan)
November 2, 2018 The Washington Nationals will made a qualifying offer to free agent outfielder Bryce Harper Friday, The Washington Post's Chelsea Janes reported.
The Nationals will make Bryce Harper a qualifying offer today, according to a person familiar with the situation. He then has 10 days to accept or reject one year at $17.9M.
— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes)
November 2, 2018 Friday marked the deadline for the Nats to make such offer, which provides them with protection if Harper decides to leave Washington this offseason.
Janes also said Nationals fans shouldn't read into this action too deeply as this is more of a procedural move.
What to make of this: the Nationals and Harper did not come to a deal when they had exclusive negotiating rights, which never seemed likely anyway given Boras’s track record of testing the market. Doesn’t mean he won’t stay. Doesn’t mean he won’t go. Just means it’s not over. https://t.co/dEtka2C5fJ
— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes)
November 2, 2018 From here, it’s expected that Bryce Harper rejects this offer and hits the open market. That’s procedural and does not change the Nationals’ chances of signing him later. https://t.co/uplvUSPG1p
— Jesse Dougherty (@dougherty_jesse)
November 2, 2018 Harper's agent Scott Boras made news Sunday claiming a deal for the outfielder was already in place for Harper, but Janes rebuffed that claim.
Guys. Boras was kidding. I even checked on it for you just in case. He was kidding. Look. Beyond. Headlines.
— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes)
October 28, 2018 Follow Ben Krimmel and 106.7 The Fan on Twitter.
