Bryce Harper, the No. 1 or No. 2 free agent on the market depending on how you view Manny Machado, remains unsigned.
ESPN made a new prediction for the Washington Nationals’ star outfielder today.
The pick: Dodgers.
ESPN believes Harper, a Las Vegas native, will end up signing with the West Coast franchise when it’s all said and done.
Best fits: Dodgers, Nationals, Phillies
Prediction: Dodgers. Los Angeles traded Matt Kemp and Yasiel Puig, seemingly to make room for Harper in the outfield. On the other hand, there was also a Los Angeles Times report earlier this offseason that a “sale book” provided to potential investors — the Dodgers have been looking to sell a minority stake in the franchise for several years — showed that the franchise plans to remain under the luxury tax through 2022. Hmm. According to Cot’s Contracts, the Dodgers are currently an estimated $24 million under. Of course, they could go slightly over without earning a big tax hit. Meanwhile, the Nationals have reportedly upped their offer. I’ll still go with the Dodgers, but it feels more like a 50-50 bet right now.
The Nationals and the Phillies are the two franchises getting the most hype for Harper right now, but the Dodgers should never be counted out.
Stay tuned.