Washington Nationals Opinions: Is Bryce Harper Destined to Wear Yankees Pinstripes?
May 19, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper (34) signals to the crowd after hitting a home run in the first inning against the New York Yankees at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports
Just a few weeks ago, as the Washington Nationals were busy completing a two game sweep of the New York Yankees, the New York Times ran an article about the Nats biggest star, wondering if he might one day be destined to don the pinstripes of the Bronx Bombers.
While the answer to that question is a long way off – Harper isn’t scheduled to hit free agency until after the 2018 season – it’s a question that was bound to be raised sooner or later. After all, Bryce Harper is as big a name as any out there, and when it comes to players of Harper’s ilk, there’s almost always some line drawn in the media connecting them to the Evil Empire. The Yankees are the sort of team that, when it comes to acquiring talent, money is no object. No matter the situation, when a big name free agent is on the market, the Yankees are one of the teams that are mentioned the most as a viable suitor.
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But just how plausible is this hypothetical situation? Is this just a hypothetical drawn up by the New York media to stir up a little hope for the future? Or does D.C. really have something to fear concerning its biggest star?
With the Washington Nationals visiting Yankee Stadium for a two-game series on Tuesday and Wednesday, let’s revisit this subject and take a look at the factors that could lead Harper from the Nation’s Capital to the Big Apple:
Next: Free Agency And Scott Boras
May 11, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Sports agent Scott Boras attends the MLB game between the Miami Marlins and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Free Agency
As I mentioned before, this isn’t exactly an imminent situation. After this season, Harper will still have three full seasons in which he is under team control. That is a lot of time, especially in the sports world, where a lot can happen between now and the end of 2018.
The main problem for the Nationals in terms of retaining Harper past that 2018 season lies in Harper’s agent, Scott Boras. Boras, who represents some of the biggest names in the business, including recent Nats free agent signee Max Scherzer, has a history when it comes to situations like this. With the players he represents, he simply won’t allow them to re-sign with a team until the player actually hits free agency.
Logically, this makes sense from strictly a business standpoint. Boras’ job is to find the most lucrative contracts for his clients. The best way to do that is to have as many teams bidding for their services as possible. Signing an extension or a new contract with years of arbitration left simply doesn’t allow for the same sort of payoff, and that will always be Boras’ end game. Period. His relationship with the Lerners may serve as a positive for the Nats once an eventual bidding war would begin, but the chances of Harper signing a long-term contract with Washington before he hits the open market are slim and none.
The real question, then, is where Harper is more likely to end up: the nation’s capital, or the Big Apple.
Next: Bryce In Pinstripes
May 24, 2015; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees former players (L-R) Andy Pettitte, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera, Bernie Williams, and Derek Jeter pose for a photo during the ceremony retiring Williams number 51 prior to the game against the Texas Rangers at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports
Bryce in the Bronx
When it comes to the Yankees, the first thing that inevitably comes up is money. They have more of it than almost any other franchise and they’re not afraid to spend it on the right player. Add to that the fact that by the time Harper hits free agency, they’ll be free of the albatross of the Alex Rodriguez contract, and there’s no doubt that they’ll be able to outbid almost anyone, particularly a smaller market team, like the Nationals.
If that isn’t enough, though, there’s also the allure of playing under the bright lights in the reconstructed House That Ruth Built.
Harper has never made it a secret that he grew up a Yankees fan, nor that the position he really covets is center field. While the Nationals have seemingly relegated Harper to right field with the emergence of Michael Taylor, the Yankees might be willing to give Harper what he wants. After all, one of Harper’s biggest idols, Mickey Mantle, spent the better part of his illustrious career anchoring the outfield at Yankees Stadium. It’d be almost foolish to think that, for Harper, the idea of manning the same position as one of his idols didn’t carry any weight when it came down to making a decision on where to spend his future.
There’s also the allure of Yankees Stadium to consider. Since the moment that he graced the cover of Sports Illustrated at 16, Harper has never shied away from the spotlight. When the game is on the line, Harper wants to be the one with all eyes on him. The truth of the matter is, if he really wants to maximize his star power, New York is the place to do it. The Nationals may have some pull now as a World Series favorite, but there’s little question that New York offers more glamor that D.C. can. If there’s anyone who has the personality to bear the burden of playing on the game’s biggest stage under the sharpest scrutiny, it’s Harper.
Next: Bryce Staying In DC?
Jun 6, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) singles against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Back with the Nats?
The Nationals shouldn’t be counted out, though. Right now, Washington is still a favorite to contend for a World Series this year. With Mike Rizzo running the team and a deep farm system, the Nationals could be built to contend for a long time to come. The future looks less certain for the Yankees, who are steadily growing older and are currently battling just to remain atop a mediocre AL East division.
Meanwhile, with the Nationals, Harper is maturing and growing into the sort of clubhouse leader that the team can count on to mentor its younger prospects. If he moves on to the Yankees as a free agent, Harper might be sacrificing the sort of goodwill that he’s worked so hard to build up, both with fans and teammates, during his time in the Majors.
But the most important thing here isn’t about Harper’s presence in the clubhouse; it’s about his legacy.
Bryce Harper does not want to be a good player. Bryce Harper doesn’t even want to be a great player. Bryce Harper wants to be THE player. Once he’s finally hung up his jersey and his cleats and made his way into Cooperstown, Bryce Harper wants people to point at his bust and say, “That’s the best that ever played the game.” With every fibre of his being, Harper wants to walk off the field knowing that he was the greatest to ever step on it. That’s why he plays the game with the sort of fire that he does. There’s a desire to be the greatest, not just of his generation, but of all generations both before and after.
That’s why staying with the Nationals has a certain appeal. Prior to the season, Harper spoke about wanting to bring a championship back to D.C., and the words felt genuine, sincere. It didn’t sound like he was playing to the crowd; it felt like he was speaking his mind.
And when it comes to legacy, playing his entire career with one team may have a type of appeal that even the Yankees can’t match. Harper wants to count himself among players like Ted Williams, George Brett, Stan Musial, and, of course, Mickey Mantle. All of those players spent their careers with one team. If Harper wants to follow in their footsteps, he may decide that staying in Washington is the best course of action.
No one knows for certain what the future holds, and there’s a lot that could happen in the three years left before Harper’s free agency that could render all of these arguments completely void. There’s always the possibility of injury, or trades. Another team could step in and outbid the Nationals and Yankees both. Nothing is ever certain in the world of sports, and any speculation should be taken with a grain of salt.
But one thing is for certain: No matter which teams are bidding for Harper’s services, if he keeps playing at his current level, he’s going to make a lot of money.