Washington Nationals: Ranking the team’s remaining needs this offseason

4th – Bryce Harper

Yes, Bryce Harper does make the Washington Nationals list of offseason priorities, purely because he’s still out there. With the current outfield situation, they can manage and even be very productive without him, but that doesn’t mean he wouldn’t make them better.

There is some argument that Harper could be higher up in this list, given that he could improve the team more than an upgrade at second base would. That narrative is probably accurate given the likely options at second base and the obvious threat Harper has over Adam Eaton.

However, because of recent comments and the current payroll situation, any contract would take the Nats above the luxury tax threshold. That will make Harper practically independent of anything else the team does, which is why he comes in at fourth on the priority list.

Even though Mark Lerner recently said that he doesn’t expect the former unanimous MVP to return, the seemingly overused door is still slightly ajar. Scott Boras would be foolish not to call up the Nationals one last time before his star client signs, and at which point, the final decision will come down to ownership.

Yes, the indication is that they won’t do that, especially with a 50% penalty on any overages on the $206 million tax threshold and at least another year away from being able to reset the penalty. But if Boras comes back and the contract on the table would only put the team a few million over, surely ownership would have to seriously consider it.

Bryce Harper has been such a huge part of the team’s success since his debut in 2012, so it’s odd seeing his reunion so low on the offseason priority list. But Mike Rizzo has prepared for this moment after the trade of Eaton, as well as having Victor Robles and Juan Soto come through the system. This is simply a wait-and-see situation now.