the rangers said the same about ARod.
Well, they did get Soriano for him. But it was a different environment with a more established ball club. And A-Rod wasn't home-grown either.
The Nats are finally a winning team after a nearly a decade of decadence. They've got the greatest player in the game, who may even be better than Griffey, A-Rod, etc. For them to let him go because they won't pay him, when they've got one of the richest owners in sports, will do a great deal of harm to this franchise IMHO. Look around Nats park on any given game night/day, i'd bet at least half the fans are there with Harper shirts/jerseys, and probably close to an equal amount are there to see him play. Take him away and attendance dwindles unless we miraculously turn into a winning club after losing JZ, Strasburg, and Harper.