Hey, what’s up, hope you enjoyed Christmas or whatever holiday you celebrate. Anyway, let’s get back to what really matters, where’s Bryce Harper going to sign?
Last week the Dodgers pulled off a trade with the Reds that cleared some money on their payroll, specifically helping out their 2019 salary for the luxury tax. Anyway, with the trade basically every fanbase thought it was over. They made room for Bryce Harper. It was going to be a done deal.
Cubs and White Sox fans could unite for one day to hate on the Reds for allowing the Dodgers to do just that.
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Yet, there’s been a shift in the narrative by the media over the last week or so despite the Dodgers trade to free up right field and some cash for Harper. See, before that deal was done The Athletic published a look back at 2018 for the Cubs and despite the constant reports that there was no way the team could sign Harper, the Cubs beat reporters finally gave in for the first time on the chance of that happening this offseason.
And then there was the bigger bombshell during the weekend, when Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times reported that the Cubs did in fact meet with Scott Boras for at least three hours in Las Vegas during the Winter Meetings. Obviously that discussion was about Bryce Harper.
Not only did the Cubs meet with Harper’s agent, but Theo Epstein reportedly made it clear that he wanted Harper and his agent to check back in with the Cubs before he made any final decision.
Oh and there was also the little nugget that the Cubs may not necessarily be worried about the luxury tax penalties.
Hmmm…
I Mean, C’mon, The Cubs Are Definitely Going To Sign Bryce Harper
And now there’s the following.
MLB analyst Jon Heyman hasn’t been on the Harper to Cubs train at all, like ever. Even during the season when the conversation first started going, Heyman always, always pointed to the Cubs already having Jason Heyward and that the team just didn’t have any room for Harper.
And of course with the speculation that the Cubs are operating under financial constraints this offseason has circulated Heyman hasn’t considered the Cubs to be in the picture for Harper…until now.
Heyman was on the MLB Network on Wednesday and when asked about who was more likely to sign Harper, the Cubs or Dodgers, Heyman said that at this point he’s leaning toward the Cubs.
"At this point I'm kind of leaning toward maybe #Cubs maybe more likely than #Dodgers" Jon Heyman on who's more likely to sign Bryce Harper pic.twitter.com/ZhVGa2fV07
— Pinwheels and Ivy Podcast (@PinwheelsIvyPod) December 26, 2018
Heyman once again brings up Heyward and yes the Cubs would like to move that contract, but it’s not necessarily needed for them to still sign Harper. I mean, we’re looking at the Cubs paying about $20 million in luxury tax penalties this year if their payroll gets to $260 million.
They can afford it if it means getting Bryce Harper.
So, all of a sudden the Cubs have gone from having no shot at all at signing Harper, to Jon Heyman saying that at this point, Dec. 26, 2018, he believes the Cubs are more likely to sign Harper than the Dodgers, who were presumably the favorites at the end of last week.
Of course, it could all be bullshit. But Bryce Harper still hasn’t signed and that’s just giving Theo Epstein more time to figure everything out.
