The day after the World Series, Bryce Harper will likely get his first taste of free agency. There's nothing that the Washington Nationals can do now but wait to compete with every other team in the league.
Not even naming the latest Nationals Dream Foundation baseball field after the electric superstar, which the Nats dedicated in a ceremony on Saturday morning.
Harper said in Spring Training that he would not be discussing his free agency plans with the media, but if you're reading between the lines...well, things got a little awkward at the microphone.
Take this tidbit from Harper (via Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post): "To have a field with my name on it in D.C., it means a lot. This is my second home. This is somewhere I love to be."
Don't we all love to be in our second homes? In all seriousness, it sounds like Harper feels good about D.C.
Then, there is Marla Lerner Tanenbaum, daughter of owner Ted Lerner and chair of the Nationals Dream Foundation: "You and [your wife] Kayla are very dear to us. Wherever you go, whatever you do, this is your home. You are a once and forever Washington National."
That's a very nice sentiment, but one that you say to someone you don't expect to see again.
It's foolish to read the tea leaves too much. Harper is performing well enough and doesn't need the reasonable speculation to distract him from winning games and driving his asking price ever higher.
Even if he leaves in free agency, maybe he can still see his field from the plane window when his new team flies into Reagan-National Airport.
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