Like any good soap opera, the Bryce Harper free agent saga has a late plot twist: the Dodgers are reportedly 'back in the mix' for the 26-year old slugger.
Sources: The Dodgers are back in the mix for Bryce Harper. Club officials, including manager Dave Roberts, were seen in Las Vegas on Sunday. https://t.co/cBRqZx4kOO
— Jesse Sanchez (@JesseSanchezMLB) February 25, 2019
"A source has told MLB.com's Jesse Sanchez that the Dodgers are back in play for free-agent superstar Bryce Harper, and that club officials including manager Dave Roberts were seen in Harper's hometown of Las Vegas on Sunday," read an MLB.com post from Monday morning.
"The development throws another twist into the chase for Harper, which had appeared to be down to the Phillies, Giants, White Sox and Nationals, though Philadelphia had appeared to be the heavy favorite to sign the outfielder."
The Dodgers made moves earlier in the offseason -- including the trade of outfielders Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp to the Reds -- which seemed to indicate they'd be major players in the Harper sweepstakes. But since then, rumors of Harper to LA have cooled signficantly, the Dodgers signing A.J. Pollock to a reported four-year, $55 million deal in January.
However, several NL West rivals such as the Padres and Giants have entered the mix for Harper in recent weeks. Could that -- plus San Diego splashing the cash for Manny Machado -- have convinced the Dodgers to re-enter the fray?
Dodgers' late Harper involvement is quite a surprise. Their presence in Vegas (via @JesseSanchezMLB) suggests they are serious tho there was no hint of this earlier. Uncertain if it was triggered by Padres' splash, #SFGIants involvement or something else. But it's quite a twist.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 25, 2019Dodgers look like big threat at moment since it is well known Harper loves a big stage. Plus, they wisely reset their tax last year. Still, it's a surprise in terms of positional needs and recent M.O., which has included staying away from big ticket items.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 25, 2019Per ESPN's Jeff Passan, the Dodgers "re-engaged with Bryce Harper's camp two weeks ago seeking a shorter-term deal," team representatives meeting with Harper again on Sunday.
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, 2019On with The Sports Junkies Monday morning, Jim Salisbury explained the Dodgers had been seeking to sign Harper to a short-term deal earlier in the offseason.
"This is something that was talked about for a long time: the possibility of a short-term deal with the Dodgers, and it was talked about at the Winter Meetings," said Salisbury. "It had gotten shot down through Scott Boras the way he can shoot things down quietly but effectively."
"You look at the Dodgers, they haven't won a World Series since '88. There is, I would say, desperation to win a World Series," Salisbury continued. "The thinking (would be) you'd get him on a short-term deal, something like four years, $160 (million) with an AAV of $40 (million), and you'd take your take your chances at winning a couple World Series over the next four years while he's there."
"I think that would make some sense baseball-wise for the Dodgers, but again, Boras has been seeking this long-term deal. So I'm sure that creates a bit of a dilemma for him, but I'm sure he doesn't mind having another high-powered team in this thing just to drive up prices."
And according to Salisbury, Los Angeles may in fact be Harper's preferred landing spot.
"He does not have an aversion to playing in Philly ... if the contract and the money and the length is right," Salisbury told the Junkies. "That said, the Dodgers have always been his storybook destination, and it would be difficult to compete with that."
The plot thickens. Stay tuned for more Harper updates...
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