Bryce Harper Rumors: Free Agent Star Close To Signing A New Deal?

Major League Baseball’s spring training schedule is just days away, but the two biggest offseason dominoes have yet to fall, making things a bit awkward around the league right now. There is an expectation that things will get moving once highly coveted free agent Bryce Harper inks a new deal somewhere, and one source thinks that could happen imminently.

Radio host Chris Russell from 106.7 The Fan in Washington D.C. told 94WIP in Philadelphia that Harper has made his decision already. According to Russell, Harper was in a celebratory mood on Thursday.

"But I'm lead to believe by the people that I've talked to that are close to the situation...that Bryce was in a mood to celebrate yesterday. Now, the source said, 'I believe it's done.' I don't have concrete, 100 percent proof for you guys. I wish I did, otherwise I would have it and I would be running around with it. But I don't have that, so I want to caution everybody in Philadelphia. But that's what I was lead to believe, that this thing is now decided.”

Though this was shared during an interview in Philadelphia, it remains to be seen if Harper will actually end up choosing the Phillies as his new team. It seems Philadelphia is in the lead to get Harper, but other teams like the Chicago White Sox and San Francisco Giants have also aggressively courted the star player.

The Giants, in particular, entered the fray as late-comers but have put serious effort into their pursuit of Harper in recent weeks,

With preseason baseball action just around the corner, Harper could sign a deal and kickstart the rest of free agency. Manny Machado, who is also expected to get a huge deal from a new team this offseason, is expected to sign his contract after Harper.

In other news, Harper caused more speculation by commenting on a spring training Instagram post by Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins.