Bryce Harper Has Multiple Long Term Offers on the Table

On Sunday, reports indicated that Bryce Harper has received multiple long-term offers. Just like that, 112 days into the hot stove season, things start to heat up.

With Bryce Harper technically still unsigned, many have correctly gauged the temperature of this hot stove season to be a bit cold. On Sunday, however, things seemed to start to really warm up.

Last night, Jon Heyman first reported that Bryce Harper had received multiple long-term offers.

Throughout this long and arduous hot stove season, multiple teams have shown interest in the star outfielder, so it would only be fair to assume that they are the main players.

Let’s begin with the Washington Nationals. After declining an offer made by the Nats worth $300M over 10 years during the 2018 season, it was later reported that the Nats had made a second offer. In early January it was reported that the Nationals 2nd offer was for “far more than the $300M that was on the table last season”.

Since Harper was a member of the Nats, him leaving would leave them with a gaping hole in the outfield. Fortunately, the emergence of Juan Soto would soften the blow if it were to happen. However, If Harper decides to stay, the 1-2 punch of Soto and Harper will be sure to scare a lot of pitchers next season.

Then there’s the New York Yankees. Brian Cashman has indicated that given the “logjam” of outfielders on the team, that perhaps there wasn’t any interest for Harper from the Yankees. As I have previously written, if we’re honest, Harper fits with the Yankees more than Manny Machado does, so I will never count them out on any player.

So, this brings us to the Philadephia Phillies. Long believed to be the favorites to land Harper, the Phillies have promised to spend “stupid” money and haven’t. Also, with Rhys Hoskins back at first base, there’s an opening in the outfield. Finally, with multiple rumors indicating that Mike Trout might make his way to Philadelphia in a couple of years, the prospect of Trout and Harper on the same team is just too good to pass up.

And who could forget about the San Francisco Giants?

After initial reports came out that the Giants were willing to swap bad contracts with the Yankees, later it was said that they were in on Harper. The Giants have a need for an outfielder. The Giants are in the middle of a rebuild and it is unclear if Bryce wants to go from a winning situationin D.C. to a waiting game.

Finally, there’s the San Diego Padres. With Fernando Tatis Jr. on the rise, and the San Francisco Giants and Arizona Diamondbacks rebuilding, the Padres are looking to become a force in the NL West. So much so, that it was also reported last night that the team has made offers to both Machado and Harper.

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If Heyman’s report is correct, then we can assume that the Padres want Bryce Harper more than they do Machado, especially considering that Machado has made it known that he doesn’t know if he wants to go to San Diego.

However, if the Padres can land both superstars, the National League might have their hands full with a slew of teams ready to compete.

Last week, it was reported that Bryce Harper has made a decision. Pair that with these most recent reports, and it seems that something might go down sometime this week.

We have, however, heard this before this offseason, so I would tread lightly on the idea.

Either way, it seems that finally, the hot stove season might start to hit a boiling point.