© Brad Mills | 2018 Jun 9
Washington Nationals slugger Bryce Harper is slated to become the biggest name on the free agent market this offseason, when his contract expires at the end of 2017. The Giants have already been linked to Harper, and will reportedly push hard to acquire the 2015 NL MVP, who is likely to command a contract worth $31 million per year according to Spotrac.
Simply the Giants’ willingness to pay that salary may put them on a very short list of suitors according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today. In fact, Nightengale told Drew Hoffar that he thinks only three teams will be seriously involved in the sweepstakes.
“If you’re Bryce Harper you’ve been there for seven years, never won a playoff series, have gone through four managers, may go through a fifth, it might be time to leave, go back close to home,” Nightengale said. “I really think the Giants, the Nationals, and the Phillies, could really be the only teams involved. There’s not too many teams willing to pay that kind of money.”
Nightengale also believes that acquiring a big bat like Harper’s should be priority number one for the Giants next offseason.
“I think you’ve got to go get a big bat, and obviously they tried with (Giancarlo) Stanton, didn’t work out. I think now you throw everything you have at Bryce Harper. Try to get him in there. I just think that one bat, when guys can lean on that guy, you take the pressure off the rest of the offense, just really helps. I mean it’s a shame because they wasted some pretty good pitching this year.”
Listen to the full interview below.