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Bryce Harper trade rumors: 5 teams that must call

By Joshua Sadlock

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 02: Bryce Harper #34 of the Washington Nationals celebrates after hitting a home run in the eighth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Nationals Park on July 2, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 02: Bryce Harper #34 of the Washington Nationals celebrates after hitting a home run in the eighth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Nationals Park on July 2, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OH – JULY 07: Oakland Athletics infielder Jed Lowrie (8) is greeted by Oakland Athletics designated hitter Khris Davis (2) and Oakland Athletics outfielder Mark Canha (20) after hitting a 2-run home run during the eighth inning of the Major League Baseball game between the Oakland Athletics and Cleveland Indians on July 7, 2018, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH. Oakland defeated Cleveland 6-3 in eleven innings. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – JULY 07: Oakland Athletics infielder Jed Lowrie (8) is greeted by Oakland Athletics designated hitter Khris Davis (2) and Oakland Athletics outfielder Mark Canha (20) after hitting a 2-run home run during the eighth inning of the Major League Baseball game between the Oakland Athletics and Cleveland Indians on July 7, 2018, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH. Oakland defeated Cleveland 6-3 in eleven innings. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

4. Oakland Athletics

Oakland is by no means Bryce Harper’s first choice for potential landing spots if the Nationals have to blow things up, but he has no control in the matter right now. Harper will have his chance to choose his team this winter. As ridiculous as it would have sounded in April, the Athletics should actually try and trade for the superstar.

Yes, I said it. Bryce Harper could play for the A’s in 2018.

Billy Beane knows better than anyone when to push all his chips in and go for it, and this might actually be the A’s year. Oakland is only one game behind the Seattle Mariners for the AL’s second Wild Card and is 27-7 since June 15. Simply put, the A’s are good, and their run might just be getting started.

Oakland has a powerful lineup led by Khris Davis, Matt Olson and Jed Lowrie. Their starting rotation is led by the one-two punch of Sean Manaea and Frankie Montas, while the three-headed monster of Blake Treinen, Lou Trivino and recently-acquired Jeurys Familia is dominant out of the bullpen. The A’s really are locked and loaded to take down any of the best teams in the American League.

This is what happens when Beane and his front office are given time to work — they always get it right and bring a contender back to Oakland. The core is already in place, and trading one top prospect and some depth pieces won’t derail the A’s chances to win for the next five years. Catcher Sean Murphy, on the fringes of the league’s top-50 prospects, would do it for the Nationals, who have never gotten it right behind the plate.

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