MLB Rumors: Manny Machado Expected To Join Phillies, Bryce Harper To Nationals

As we get closer to the Winter Meetings that begin Dec. 10, speculation continues to build as to where the two biggest MLB free agents on the open market, Manny Machado and Bryce Harper, will end up.

It was previously rumored that the Philadelphia Phillies would go after both Machado and Harper, while MLB insider Jon Heyman reported last week that the prevalent opinion with baseball executives was that one of them would go the Phillies while the other would go to the New York Yankees.

The latest in the merry-go-round is from ESPN's Buster Olney, who on Thursday revealed the new prevalent opinion from basketball executives is that Machado will sign with the Phillies while Harper will return to the Washington Nationals.

"Baseball execs are baseball fans at heart, and they wonder, too, about where Bryce Harper and Manny Machado will sign," Olney wrote. "Most common guesses -- informed speculation -- that I've heard from folks within the game: Machado to the Phillies, Harper back to the Nationals."

With Machado, it's not much of a surprise given previous rumors and reports, as he is projected to receive a massive 13-year, $390 million contract from Philadelphia.

But Harper is much more surprising considering he is heavily expected to make the move to a new team. It was reported earlier this month that the All-Star outfielder rejected a 10-year, $300 million contract from the Nationals, with him being projected to receive a 14-year, $420 million contract in free agency.

It's hard to see if Washington could up their offer but they certainly would to keep the 26-year-old. Harper hit .249/.393/.496 with 34 home runs, 34 doubles and 100 RBI during the 2018 season.

Machado, on the other hand, hit .297/.367/.538 with 37 home runs, 35 doubles, three triples and 107 RBI, having played for the Baltimore Ravens and later the Los Angeles Dodgers during the 2018 season.

The other big free agent on the market is former Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Patrick Corbin. The left-hander went 11-7 with a 3.15 ERA and a 1.050 WHIP in 33 starts, having struck out 246 batters in 200 innings. It was reported that he was in Philadelphia this week for a visit and is high on the Phillies' wishlist.

However, they are not alone as the Yankees are also favorites to land the 29-year-old while a number of other teams are also interested, according to Heyman.

Philadelphia is seemingly linked with every top free agent as they look to end a seven-year playoff drought and potentially win a World Series in the future for the first time since 2008.

"We're going into this expecting to spend money," Phillies owner John Middleton said earlier this month. "And maybe even be a little bit stupid about it. We just prefer not to be completely stupid. It's exciting to contemplate what we may be able to do this off-season. We know the free agent class this year is really, really good."