Bryce Harper 2018 and beyond

[varoadking]

He has none as a Washington National in the postseason. In fact, the Nationals have never won a postseason game in which he appeared.

[Slateman]

The mets have gone to the extreme in protecting their pitchers. It seems their pitchers never go more than 5. Sometimes only going 4. Taking deGrom out after 1 inning the other day because he threw 45 pitches shows how paranoid they've gotten about injuries.

wat

Before his injury, DeGrom had gone 7 or more innings three straight starts. They pulled him because he was coming off an injury and was complaining about arm pain.

Syndergard has gone 5 or less in 2 of 9 starts.

Matz is the only one who's been babied. Everyone else has simply been hot garbage.

[dcpatti]

wat

Before his injury, DeGrom had gone 7 or more innings three straight starts. They pulled him because he was coming off an injury and was complaining about arm pain.

Syndergard has gone 5 or less in 2 of 9 starts.

Matz is the only one who's been babied. Everyone else has simply been hot garbage.

this. the mets aren't restricting their pitchers to short innings in order to protect them. they're taking them out early cause they're throwing BP out there.

[PowerBoater69]

He has none as a Washington National in the postseason. In fact, the Nationals have never won a postseason game in which he appeared.

Scherzer's teams have lost the last seven playoff games in which he appeared.

[Cinqo de Mayo]

So, just a slump, or is there something seriously wrong?

[PowerBoater69]

He's happy tonight, the Golden Knights are in the finals, might be the closest he ever gets to being there himself.

[hotshot]

Dunn and LaRoche, as Nats, delivered in the clutch more than Bryce has.

Always get the feeling he's looking for a walk when he stands in the batters' box. Personally, I'd fine him for walks to get him swinging more. His "great eye" has him batting what, .224? How much worse could his BA get if he went up there and actually swung at hittable pitches that, yes, might be called balls. He needs to watch some film of Yogi Berra at the plate.

At .224 and plummeting, anyone else feeling a sudden trip to the DL coming on.

[PowerBoater69]

Always get the feeling he's looking for a walk when he stands in the batters' box.

Three walks this month. He's looking for HRs every at bat.

[hotshot]

Three walks this month. He's looking for HRs every at bat.

Guess that means he walked 38x before May 1st. 8 were intentional. IMO, takes far too many pitches. So did Ted Williams but ... was he ever hitting .224 around Memorial Day? Highly doubt it.

[NJ Ave]

Bryce through April 16: .315/.487/.778; Nats 8-9
Bryce after April 16: .173/.322/.357; Nats 16-11

I don't know what to make of the fact that he won his MVP in a season we missed the playoffs, and we've made the playoffs in a bunch of other years where he nowhere near MVP level. I certainly find it problematic that we're in another season where we're dealing with a prolonged slump from a guy who really only contributes at the plate and (presumably) expects to be paid $400 million to do it.

I guess the question for me is, depending on the development of Robles and Soto, how "closed" is the window if we re-signed Rendon and reloaded the rotation with the rest of the money saved not signing Bryce? Are we better or worse off in that scenario instead of signing Bryce but letting Tony walk and having to use filler for 2 rotation spots?

[imref]

Bryce through April 16: .315/.487/.778; Nats 8-9
Bryce after April 16: .173/.322/.357; Nats 16-11

I don't know what to make of the fact that he won his MVP in a season we missed the playoffs, and we've made the playoffs in a bunch of other years where he nowhere near MVP level. I certainly find it problematic that we're in another season where we're dealing with a prolonged slump from a guy who really only contributes at the plate and (presumably) expects to be paid $400 million to do it.

I guess the question for me is, depending on the development of Robles and Soto, how "closed" is the window if we re-signed Rendon and reloaded the rotation with the rest of the money saved not signing Bryce? Are we better or worse off in that scenario instead of signing Bryce but letting Tony walk and having to use filler for 2 rotation spots?

depends on what it would cost to keep Bryce.  Spending $30 million a year for him now is difficult to justify given the season he's having.

[NJ Ave]

My guess is that if he signed a 10-year contract elsewhere, we'd probably feel fine about him leaving 7-8 of those years and REALLY be disappointed about him leaving 2-3 years.

The strange comp I keep coming back to is J.D. Drew, a similar (not quite as renowned) "natural". J.D. Drew had an 8.6 WAR season that showed what he was capable of in a perfect world, and the rest of his career managed to disappoint most because of his nagging injury history, despite being generally productive.

[hotshot]

So, if the Nats decide by the trading deadline that they are NOT going to sign him, should be able to get at least a Gleyber Torres, Adam Warren and a couple prospects type return (what the NYY got for pending FA Chapman), no?

[HalfSmokes]

depends on what it would cost to keep Bryce.  Spending $30 million a year for him now is difficult to justify given the season he's having.

if he finishes this year even close to the pace he's on now, 2015 is going to look like a massive outlier. I know that people throw around record numbers, but if he doesn't back down, I could see him sitting around wondering what happened when spring training starts next year

[Ray D]

So did Ted Williams but ... was he ever hitting .224 around Memorial Day? Highly doubt it.

1959.  Didn't play in April (injured) and hit below .200 for May.

[UMDNats]

So, if the Nats decide by the trading deadline that they are NOT going to sign him, should be able to get at least a Gleyber Torres, Adam Warren and a couple prospects type return (what the NYY got for pending FA Chapman), no?

maybe, but probably not. that was a pretty unreal return and bryce is a really good player, but is there a team with the prospect depth and desperation and need for a RF?

if he finishes this year even close to the pace he's on now, 2015 is going to look like a massive outlier. I know that people throw around record numbers, but if he doesn't back down, I could see him sitting around wondering what happened when spring training starts next year

the numbers being thrown around him are going to look super silly if he finishes 2018 with a high-.800 OPS or even just a .900 OPS. i'd give him like a 7-8 year deal @ $25 million per and say take it or leave it.

[hotshot]

1959.  Didn't play in April (injured) and hit below .200 for May.

Forget to mention Ted was 40 years old at the time?

[varoadking]

So, if the Nats decide by the trading deadline that they are NOT going to sign him, should be able to get at least a Gleyber Torres, Adam Warren and a couple prospects type return, no?

Not.sure.if.serious. 

[imref]

maybe, but probably not. that was a pretty unreal return and bryce is a really good player, but is there a team with the prospect depth and desperation and need for a RF?

Philly or Atlanta?

Maybe LAD for a deal centered around Walker Buehler?

[NJ Ave]

I know that people throw around record numbers, but if he doesn't back down, I could see him sitting around wondering what happened when spring training starts next year

Meh. I think the worst case scenario is he ends up in a Lebron situation where he takes like a 3/$100 million deal with 2 opt-outs. The nice thing about being 25 is he still has a few years to have an MVP season to cash in on with a 10-year deal. The key for Boras is to make sure he can time his exit to match the year where everything goes perfectly.

[hotshot]

Not.sure.if.serious. 

Why not? That is exactly what the NYY got for Aroldis Chapman rental.

[UMDNats]

Philly or Atlanta?

Maybe LAD for a deal centered around Walker Buehler?

don't see why LAD would do that IMO.

and i don't think the lerners will let rizzo trade bryce to NL east teams, even for a rental.

[imref]

don't see why LAD would do that IMO.

and i don't think the lerners will let rizzo trade bryce to NL east teams, even for a rental.

Buehler and Keibert Ruiz for Harper, do it Rizzo.

[hotshot]

With Stanton and Judge in NY, only place for Bryce to maximize his "brand" is LA Dodgers. Question is how desirable will he be after this year? Nats might keep him at a short-term bargain rate if he doesn't do more than he is now.

[bluestreak]

Why not? That is exactly what the NYY got for Aroldis Chapman rental.

This is like saying “my friend got $8000 for his Rolex, so I should get that much for my Seiko”

Closer that throws 100 >>>>>>> corner outfielder.

See: Martinez, JD; Bruce, Jay. I know Bryce is better than those guys long term, but for a rental? He and Martinez are a wash.

Bats aren’t bringing a premium on the trade market like pitchers in general and relievers specifically.