It’s still unlikely the Cubs sign Bryce Harper, (like 0%) but he still hasn’t signed and connecting dots is the only thing we have left to do because nothing else of importance is really happening. So, the question, did the Cubs just meet with Harper again?
Why the question? Well, according to several reports the Padres are meeting with Harper and Ken Rosenthal says Harper has met with other teams recently too. Maybe even for the second or third time in some cases.
Harper and/or his agent, Scott Boras, have met with a number of clubs in recent days, including second and third meetings in some cases, sources say. No indication a deal is close. https://t.co/LQgI9jceJD
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 31, 2019
I know, I know, the Cubs have said on multiple occasions that it isn’t happening, HOWEVER, remember this report from December?
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Via the Chicago Sun-Times.
That explains the message the Cubs delivered during their lengthy meeting with Scott Boras, Harper’s agent — as long as three hours, by some accounts — as he and Harper made the rounds with interested teams.
Sources say Epstein urged them to wait before accepting an offer from another team until the Cubs had a chance to try to move some payroll off the books and check again with ownership.
Gordon Wittenmyer reported the Cubs did meet with Harper’s agent, Scott Boras, and made it clear they wanted Harper to check back with them before making a final decision.
So yeah, maybe Harper has gotten a few offers and did meet with the Cubs again. Yet, as optimistic as I want to be about this, you should probably put the Cubs as a team waiting on the outside.
There are four clear suitors for Harper at the moment and the Cubs aren’t one of them.
Bryce Harper has four active suitors as February nears, source confirms: #Nationals, #Phillies, #WhiteSox, and now #Padres. At least one other team remains involved on periphery, but overwhelming likelihood is he will sign with one of those four clubs. @MLB @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) January 31, 2019
But again, the Cubs could certainly be that mystery team.
Of course Theo Epstein wants to sign Harper. There have been mixed reports (shocker, I know) whether ownership would sign off on another huge deal, but after the Cubs convention it’s clear that getting Harper to the Cubs is going to take a miracle.
But hey, hang on to that hope if you want to.
