Bryce Harper is one of the few marquee names in Major League Baseball. The stud outfielder was drafted first overall to by the Washington Nationals in the 2010 draft. He was called up to the big leagues at age 19, and he’s been there since.
Harper is in the midst of a season in which he’s hitting just .214 at the All-Star break. This is over 60 points lower than his career average of .277. His power and RBI numbers, however, are still solid, hitting 23 jacks and driving in 54 runs.
The Nationals sit 5.5 games behind the first place Phillies and entered the All-Star break at an even 48-48. In order for the Nats to make a playoff push, they’ll need a few things to happen.
First, Harper and Daniel Murphy have to hit for both average and power. Murphy was just recently reinstated after undergoing a knee surgery this off-season, and he’s hitting .253 with just one homer since coming off the DL.
Secondly, Washington’s starting pitching has to pitch deeper into ballgames. Stephen Strasburg is coming off the DL on Friday. This will undoubtedly give the team a boost, however, they’ll still need pitchers like Tanner Roark, Gio Gonzalez, and Jeremy Hellickson to give them quality outings.
Finally, the Nationals need to make a trade for a catcher. Marlins backstop JT Realmuto, as well as Tampa Bay catcher Wilson Ramos are two names being linked to the Nationals. Miami’s asking price on Realmuto included at least one of Washington’s top prospects, CF Victor Robles and SS Carter Kieboom. Washington could also look for a starting pitcher in the package to help sure up the rotation.
Harper’s Second Half:
I expect Harper to have a spectacular second half. After struggling mightily for the first 96 games, it’s only reasonable to believe Harper will turn it around. His walk-off in Monday’s HR Derby could give him some momentum to carry into the second half.
Harper’s Free Agency
Harper will be a free agent after this season, and it’s no secret that his agent, Scott Boras, will be looking to get him a record deal. I would guess Harper will get about seven years totaling $280-300 million. There are only a few teams, however, that will be willing to offer that. The Nationals, Yankees, Dodgers, and Cubs have been the four front-runners to sign the star. A few other dark-horses include the Phillies and Angels.
My Prediction
I think Harper’s decision will come down to three teams: the Nationals, Yankees, and the Dodgers. The question is, will Harper take the biggest paycheck, or will he decide which team is the best fit for him? That remains to be seen.
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