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Don’t expect the Nationals to trade Bryce Harper anytime soon

By Josh Hill

WASHINGTON, D.C. - JULY 16: Bryce Harper #34 of the Washington Nationals bats during the T-Mobile Home Run Derby at Nationals Park on Monday, July 16, 2018 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) *** Bryce Harper
WASHINGTON, D.C. - JULY 16: Bryce Harper #34 of the Washington Nationals bats during the T-Mobile Home Run Derby at Nationals Park on Monday, July 16, 2018 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images) *** Bryce Harper /
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Bryce Harper isn’t on the trade market, as the Nationals firmly believe they can convince him to stay long term.

It goes without saying that the trade deadline is a weird time to be a baseball fan. Strange things happen at the end of July, like superstars on the level of Manny Machado getting dealt in coast-to-coast trades. In the Veinn Diagram of “safe” players and guys on the market, the 11th hour of the deadline falls in the middle.

Bryce Harper is one of those names that is large enough that we’d never consider him as being part of a trade, but the circumstances are present that usually lead to a big deal. Harper is

  1. In a contract year
  2. Wants a boat load of money
  3. Isn’t comitting to staying with his current team
  4. Everyone would want him

The uncertainty about his future, and the massive void that would be left if he signed elsewhere, is normally the perfect storm for a blockbuster trade.

It won’t be happening, though.

Jon Morosi from MLB Network unsurpsingly notes that the Nationals aren’t considering trading Brynce Harper as the deadline approaches. Despite the concoction being there to trade him, Washington is instead going to do its best to convince the best player in franchise history to remain where he’s always been.

A few other things factor into this, mainly concerning the return package. There’s nothing the Nationals can get back that would equal the value of Harper. He’s already one of the best players in baseball, and is only beginning to his his prime. Whoever gets Harper is going to be acquiring a rarity: A superstar who is only 26-years old with the best years of his career still ahead of him. Those types of players almost never become available in free agency, let alone on the trade market.

That’s where the slippery slope is created. If the Nationals don’t trade Harper and he leaves this winter, they get nothing in return. If they trade him below market value — which would be any trade at all — they’re at least getting something. It’s broken logic.

Washigton’s best move has always been to gamble on keeping Harper. There’s a chance he leaves for a larger market, but it’s not like he plays in Tampa or Milwaukee — Washington is the Nation’s Capital. He’s the face of the franchise, and there’s nothing to say he won’t buy into the next decade if the Nationals offer him the $400 million he wants.

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Trading Harper is waving a white flag that disrespects fans and signals the team isn’t trying. That’s the wrong message to send. Confidence is sexy, and is the first step in seducing Harper to stay.

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