As the 4 p.m. MLB non-waiver trade deadline looms, the Nationals are being mentioned in a swath of rumors, but Bryce Harper isn't going anywhere, GM Mike Rizzo says.
Update: And here's what Mike Rizzo has to say about the reports...
Mike Rizzo just reached out with this message:
Harper “I’m glad to still be in this clubhouse.” Said Rizzo assured him he wasn’t going anywhere.
— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes)
July 31, 2018 It also appears the Nats will retain Kelvin Herrera, but will to offers for Gio Gonzalez and Jeremy Hellickson.
The Red Sox talked with Washington about Kelvin Herrera, but Nats informed other teams overnight they will try to win this year, so Herrera off the table -- but they are willing to discuss either Gio Gonzalez or Jeremy Hellickson.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN)
July 31, 2018 "Bryce is not going anywhere. I believe in this team."— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes)
July 31, 2018 Update: Jorge Castillo of The Washington Post reports that the Nats had deals in place for several players, including Harper, but ownership nixed the deals.
At least one team in touch with the Nationals heard the club had deals "lined up" for multiple players, including Bryce Harper, but got the sense ownership pulled the plug late last night.
— Jorge Castillo (@jorgecastillo)
July 31, 2018 The non-waiver trade deadline is just hours away, and nothing's off the table yet for the Nats.
And according to multiple reports, that includes dealing Bryce Harper.
According to a source, the Nationals are making it known to other teams that Bryce Harper is indeed available.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand)
July 31, 2018 So I now get the sense from people around the team that as of mid-afternoon, Nationals had not ruled out trading Harper. Unclear if that means they’re just doing due diligence on offers or soliciting them. Makes they would do the former, at least to some extent. https://t.co/bYIuPG86LV
— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes)
July 30, 2018 With the Nats scuffling and his contract set to expire after the season, rumors that Harper could be traded have circulated for weeks. When asked last week, Mike Rizzo said it would take "a spectacular set of circumstances" for it to happen.
And while it doesn't appear that position's changed, it's as close as we've seen the Nats come to announcing that Harper is on the trade block.
Sources confirm: #Nationals sending “feelers” out on Bryce Harper. “I’d be shocked if they do it,” one rival exec says. “They’re seeing if someone wants to go crazy.” First with the news that Harper was available: @chelsea_janes and @Feinsand.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal)
July 31, 2018 The gap between picking up the phone just in case and actively negotiating is wide, and I don’t have any confirmation they’ve bridged that. But it still seems (at least for now) that everything is on the table, which is informative in itself. https://t.co/YNDhdcdIR9
— Chelsea Janes (@chelsea_janes)
July 30, 2018 This morning The Sports Junkies reacted to the reports, Jason Bishop saying, "If you don't think you can win the division, then I think you have to deal him."
