Bryce Harper 2018 and beyond

[Optics]

I know it may be sacrilege to say this but I'm undecided if I want the Nats to sign Harper to some massive deal. I would hate the team to invest that much in one player but...

I'm with you. Look at teams who've won the World Series. How many of them have ONE GUY making that much money? It seems like teams are better off without that one megastar. The Giants won the World Series after Bonds retired. The Rangers made back to back World Series after they traded ARod. Who was the big megastar on the Royal? I know the Cubs have guys like Rizzo and Bryant but none of them are making ridiculous money(yet).

I love Bryce but for $400 Mil or whatever, you can get three $100 Mil players which is probably better value in terms of putting a championship team on the field.

I want a ring in D.C. and a parade. 1991 was too long ago.

[Smithian]

I know it may be sacrilege to say this but I'm undecided if I want the Nats to sign Harper to some massive deal. I would hate the team to invest that much in one player but...

As I have said before, the Nats don't need to budge much further than mid $30 million. At a certain point I'd rather have three $125 million players than one $350-$400 million player. Baseball is a team game and in 2015 when he was ridiculous he proved one guy can't save a bad team.

At a certain point, you let him walk. It sucks, it won't be fun. But if you use that money saved to work toward Rendon extension, add in a power hitting left fielder, and then smartly transition from Murphy at second base, whether it be Difo or another option, then no reason Nats don't show up on opening day 2019 with the long term window still wide open.

[Natsinpwc]

As I have said before, the Nats don't need to budge much further than mid $30 million. At a certain point I'd rather have three $125 million players than one $350-$400 million player. Baseball is a team game and in 2015 when he was ridiculous he proved one guy can't save a bad team.

At a certain point, you let him walk. It sucks, it won't be fun. But if you use that money saved to work toward Rendon extension, add in a power hitting left fielder, and then smartly transition from Murphy at second base, whether it be Difo or another option, then no reason Nats don't show up on opening day 2019 with the long term window still wide open.

You think Difo can really replace Murphy's production and that you can count on Robles to immediately replace harper's production? And who will the starting pitching staff be in 2019?

[Smithian]

You think Difo can really replace Murphy's production and that you can count on Robles to immediately replace harper's production? And who will the starting pitching staff be in 2019?

Difo with consistent playing time in July and August swung a great bat and is much better on the bases and defensively. He would also be cheaper. He is definitelt an option at second, but it is to be determined.

I did not mention Robles. I actually mentioned bringing in a bat. But with Robles, Taylor, and Eaton the Nats have some options in the outfield.

And for pitchers, Strasburg and Scherzer are a hell of a place to start.

With Werth contract gone and Zim contract almost off the books, the Nats will have plenty of financial flexibility if they don't resign Harper.

I am more worried how they build a team if they pay Harper $300 million.

[Natsinpwc]

Difo with consistent playing time in July and August swung a great bat and is much better on the bases and defensively. He would also be cheaper. He is definitelt an option at second, but it is to be determined.

I did not mention Robles. I actually mentioned bringing in a bat. But with Robles, Taylor, and Eaton the Nats have some options in the outfield.

And for pitchers, Strasburg and Scherzer are a hell of a place to start.

With Werth contract gone and Zim contract almost off the books, the Nats will have plenty of financial flexibility if they don't resign Harper.

I am more worried how they build a team if they pay Harper $300 million.

I know.  You said bring a left hand power bat.  Who? How much will that cost?  Won't be free.  Difo will not come close to matching the offensive production of Murphy the past two years.  Murphy has probably been the best NL bat over that 2 year stretch.  Ideally they would sign Murphy and move him to iB.

Everyone seems to assume they will be able to re-sign Rendon if they don't sign Harper.  I see no way that Rendon doesn't test the market. Imagine if they lose Harper and Murphy one year and Rendon the next. They also still need a catcher.

Scherzer will slow down eventually.  Stras misses starts every year.  They need to find more starting pitchers.  Fedde and Cole do not appear to be that good and I see no one else in the minors.

I am not pushing signing Harper is the answer.  It could hamstring them.  However, instead of getting out in front of the curve to address some of these issues they seem to want to wait to make moves so as to avoid the luxury tax.  It will be hard to compete against teams like the Dodgers and Cubs who don't worry about that.  Instead they sign Hellickson and hope he replicates the one good year he has had since 2012. 
 

[Smithian]

I know.  You said bring a left hand power bat.  Who? How much will that cost?  Won't be free.  Difo will not come close to matching the offensive production of Murphy the past two years.  Murphy has probably been the best NL bat over that 2 year stretch.  Ideally they would sign Murphy and move him to iB.

Everyone seems to assume they will be able to re-sign Rendon if they don't sign Harper.  I see no way that Rendon doesn't test the market. Imagine if they lose Harper and Murphy one year and Rendon the next. They also still need a catcher.

Scherzer will slow down eventually.  Stras misses starts every year.  They need to find more starting pitchers.  Fedde and Cole do not appear to be that good and I see no one else in the minors.

I am not pushing signing Harper is the answer.  It could hamstring them.  However, instead of getting out in front of the curve to address some of these issues they seem to want to wait to make moves so as to avoid the luxury tax.  It will be hard to compete against teams like the Dodgers and Cubs who don't worry about that.  Instead they sign Hellickson and hope he replicates the one good year he has had since 2012. 
 

No idea who is available next offseason. Harper is making $20 million right now, you can get someone less expensive than that to pair with Robles.

Rendon will test market because it is a business. And he would rightfully drive up the price on us knowing we can't afford to lose him and Harper. Is what it is, I like Rendon. Give him the money. He still won't be near that ridiculous Harper contract which is surely coming.

The Nationals are not limited to the farm system on pitchers.

And yeah, we're not the Cubs or Dodgers. Who cares. The Nats spend enough to be competitive. They jerk around Rizzo and managers like a small market club, but the payroll is sufficient.

[Ray D]

I think Rendon lost some leverage with the comments about what a great organization this is and how he wants to spend his his career here (something to that effect) and I expect him to sign an extension.  There isn't anything I see in his personality that makes me think he feels compelled to test the market.

[UMDNats]

Yeah, I actually suspect we'll re-sign Rendon and not Harper.

[Mattionals]

I think Rendon lost some leverage with the comments about what a great organization this is and how he wants to spend his his career here (something to that effect) and I expect him to sign an extension.  There isn't anything I see in his personality that makes me think he feels compelled to test the market.

If the Nats offer him an extension and he doesn't like the numbers, he rejects the offer. His ability on the field is his leverage, not what he says.

[Natsinpwc]

If the Nats offer him an extension and he doesn't like the numbers, he rejects the offer. His ability on the field is his leverage, not what he says.

Yea. What he says is no matter. If he wants to test the market he can do that and will get offers.

[Natsinpwc]

Yeah, I actually suspect we'll re-sign Rendon and not Harper.

I am baffled why people think Rendon will sign with the Nats. I think it's Nats fans being in denial. "We will lose Bryce but that's ok because we will sign Rendon."  Why do you think he will stay with the Nats?

[Mattionals]

I am baffled why people think Rendon will sign with the Nats. I think it's Nats fans being in denial. "We will lose Bryce but that's ok because we will sign Rendon."  Why do you think he will stay with the Nats?

For whatever reason, the 3B market seems to depressed right now. I don't see Donaldson making bank, and someone will give Machado money as a SS and not a 3B. Just look at what Justin Turner got and he is easily one of the best in the game. That and I think Anthony is comfortable here and feels that if he signs elsewhere he will be seen as "the guy" and he doesn't want that. He likes to blend in.

[dcpatti]

I am baffled why people think Rendon will sign with the Nats. I think it's Nats fans being in denial. "We will lose Bryce but that's ok because we will sign Rendon."  Why do you think he will stay with the Nats?

Like Strasburg, he places a high value on familiarity, routine, and comfort. He's happy here. He likes the fans and the team culture. He also seems to have developed quite an attachment to the work he's doing at the Youth Baseball Academy, a role he inherited from Desi.

[UMDNats]

I am baffled why people think Rendon will sign with the Nats. I think it's Nats fans being in denial. "We will lose Bryce but that's ok because we will sign Rendon."  Why do you think he will stay with the Nats?

Desperation to save face after losing Harper, so we'll give him a realllly nice contract.

[Natsinpwc]

Desperation to save face after losing Harper, so we'll give him a realllly nice contract.

Ok. That's one idea.

[Natsinpwc]

Like Strasburg, he places a high value on familiarity, routine, and comfort. He's happy here. He likes the fans and the team culture. He also seems to have developed quite an attachment to the work he's doing at the Youth Baseball Academy, a role he inherited from Desi.

I'm sure he could start a baseball academy in another town.

Speaking of Strasburg, when is his first opt out?

[Ray D]

Desperation to save face after losing Harper, so we'll give him a realllly nice contract.

The team wants to keep one or the other, I'm sure, but keeping both isn't practical.  So they must evaluate  Harper value/cost vs. Rendon value/cost.  I think they'll decide Rendon is more cost-effective.

[Natsinpwc]

The team wants to keep one or the other, I'm sure, but keeping both isn't practical.  So they must evaluate  Harper value/cost vs. Rendon value/cost.  I think they'll decide Rendon is more cost-effective.

Doesn't mean he will accept their offer. The players have control in free agency.

[HalfSmokes]

It also doesn’t mean the player will agree with the cost you put on them

[UMDNats]

Doesn't mean he will accept their offer. The players have control in free agency.

I think it has to get done before free agency. They'll know if Harper is testing free agency before Rendon. I could see a Rendon extension being announced before season's end.

[HalfSmokes]

I think it has to get done before free agency. They'll know if Harper is testing free agency before Rendon. I could see a Rendon extension being announced before season's end.

They both have the same agent, a large extension for rendon removes a team from the biding for Harper

[UMDNats]

They both have the same agent, a large extension for rendon removes a team from the biding for Harper

Sure, but at this point our entire roster is Boras guys. Strasburg signed an extension mid-season and I think it's possible for Rendon as well.

[HalfSmokes]

Sure, but at this point our entire roster is Boras guys. Strasburg signed an extension mid-season and I think it's possible for Rendon as well.

Strasburg didn’t really impact anyone else. If random pushes for it then maybe it happens, but if Boras wants to set records with Harper sidelining the nats before the process starts doesn’t help

[bluestreak]

Strasburg didn’t really impact anyone else. If random pushes for it then maybe it happens, but if Boras wants to set records with Harper sidelining the nats before the process starts doesn’t help

Like it was pointed out, the players have control. If Rendon wants to sign with the Nats, he will tell Boras to get it done. Boras has made some serious miscalculations this off season. I don't think his clients will necessarily blindly do his bidding.

[HalfSmokes]

I’m shocked he hasn’t been fired more often. If I was Rendon, I’d be agent shopping right now- there is a massive conflict of interest to representing both him and Harper