Bryce Harper Rumors: Dodgers Can Sign MLB Star If They Want Him With Record Contract Offer

Bryce Harper Nationals Dodgers — Bryce Harper #34 of the Washington Nationals watches his sacrifice fly to score Trea Turner #7 to take a 1-0 lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning at Dodger Stadium on June 6, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. Harry How/Getty Images

The longer Bryce Harper’s free agency continues, the more it seems that MLB’s top free agent has reservations about joining the Philadelphia Phillies. Philadelphia reportedly has the biggest offer on the table, beating the 10-year, $300 million contract signed by Manny Machado last week.

It’s unknown exactly how much Philadelphia is willing to pay Harper or if their offer is worth more than Giancarlo Stanton’s historic $325 million contract. There are rumors that the Phillies are ready to pay the outfielder $330 million.

A record-setting offer from the Phillies might not be enough to land Harper, but it sounds like the same contract from the Los Angeles Dodgers would certainly get the job done. Of the six teams that have met with Harper and agent Scott Boras this season, L.A. is reportedly the star player’s No.1 choice.

Harper is reportedly so fond of the Dodgers that MLB.com’s Jon Morosi reported that some Phillies’ executives are concerned Los Angeles can sign the 26-year-old if they even come close to matching Philadelphia’s offer.

For what it’s worth, my source who is close to Bryce Harper tells me #Dodgers and #Cubs were 1st choices all along and he prefers not to sign with #Phillies. I’ve been hearing all winter that Harper does not want to play for Gabe Kapler due to analytics and quirky personality
— Randy Miller (@RandyJMiller) February 26, 2019

Bryce Harper update: Some #Phillies officials have grown concerned Harper will sign with the #Dodgers if they make an offer that comes close to Philly’s. The ability to play close to home and train in Arizona both appeal to Harper, who is a @Lakers fan. @MLB @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) February 26, 2019

After seemingly falling out of the race for Harper a few weeks ago, the Dodgers have re-emerged as a realistic option, despite their reported preference to ink him to a short-term deal.

Harper has been seeking a 10-year contract. Los Angeles would like to give him a deal that likely last’s half has long, at most, though such a contract might include the highest average salary ever.

Nolan Arenado’s new contract with the Colorado Rockies reportedly will pay him $32.5 million per year, which set a new high for MLB position players. Zack Greinke's current AAV of $34.4 million is the record for all players.

Maybe the Dodgers and Harper can meet in the middle with a seven or eight-year contract. It’s possible that the six-time All-Star will take a lucrative, short-term deal that includes vesting options or allows him to re-enter free agency while he’s still in his prime.

While Philadelphia might be hoping that Harper takes their mega-offer, Los Angeles can likely put an end to this four-month-long process by making a historic offer of their own.

Major league baseball