Bryce Harper 2018 and beyond

[varoadking]

I wouldnt mind if Harper stayed, but give what they have in the outfield and what they need in the battery, you have to consider that letting Harper walk might be best for the team. Sinking hundreds of millions in the outfield when you have 3 talented, cheap options with 15 years of control among them might not be the smartest course of action.   

Well put...but we seem hell bent on keeping Royce...for whatever reason...

[Slateman]

Well put...but we seem hell bent on keeping Royce...for whatever reason...

So that next year, when we're out of first place by 8 games by the ASB, but Bryce is hitting .315 with 20 bombs, the team can sell a lot of jerseys.

[Greg_SRT]

I agree with Bluestreak on that point.

It’s horsecrap for Harper to want our Nats to trade away future players when he isn’t being clear about his future here.

[Natsinpwc]

So that next year, when we're out of first place by 8 games by the ASB, but Bryce is hitting .315 with 20 bombs, the team can sell a lot of jerseys.

Make it .215. The jerseys will still sell.  And remember that HR Derby.

[NJ Ave]

I wouldnt mind if Harper stayed, but give what they have in the outfield and what they need in the battery and infield, you have to consider that letting Harper walk might be best for the team. Sinking hundreds of millions in the outfield when you have 3 talented, cheap options with 15 years of control among them might not be the smartest course of action.     

If you let Harper and Rendon walk you could just sign Machado and bring Kieboom up in 2020

[Baseball is Life]

Gonna need to trade MAT then. He's not a good fourth outfielder. He's much better when he plays regularly.

Great. Get what you can for MAT and move on.

[Baseball is Life]

So that next year, when we're out of first place by 8 games by the ASB, but Bryce is hitting .315 with 20 bombs, the team can sell a lot of jerseys.

If he's performing at that level, then it won't be on him. And what's wrong with selling a lot jerseys?

[Baseball is Life]

Well put...but we seem hell bent on keeping Royce...for whatever reason...

Because they think he's good?

[GburgNatsFan]

I suspect Rizzo just decided that he couldn't get enough for him at this point to make it worth it. Make a reasonable offer after the season, wash your hands of it when he goes looking for more.

I agree with Bluestreak on that point.

It’s horsecrap for Harper to want our Nats to trade away future players when he isn’t being clear about his future here.

[sixthree175]

Gonna need to trade MAT then. He's not a good fourth outfielder. He's much better when he plays regularly.

The problem with MAT is that he's a great centerfielder but cannot be trusted as a reliably, reasonably productive hitter.  Nobody knows what to do with him.  And he's under control for only two more years.  Unless another team wants him badly enough, sadly his place might have to be as a fourth outfielder on the Nationals.

[Baseball is Life]

Re the chemistry thing, winning creates good chemistry, IMO. Not necessarily the other way around. Losing teams gripe and have bad chemistry. And that's where the Nats are. All in all, I think the whole chemistry thing is just media and fan fodder.

[GburgNatsFan]

Sort of like Sandy Leon couldn't hit when he was subbing?

I really think your CF needs to be defense-first. Then you can have slightly sub-par LF and RF that can hit.

The problem with MAT is that he's a great centerfielder but cannot be trusted as a reliably, reasonably productive hitter.  Nobody knows what to do with him.  And he's under control for only two more years.  Unless another team wants him badly enough, sadly his place might have to be as a fourth outfielder on the Nationals.

[UMDNats]

Re the chemistry thing, winning creates good chemistry, IMO. Not necessarily the other way around. Losing teams gripe and have bad chemistry. And that's where the Nats are. All in all, I think the whole chemistry thing is just media and fan fodder.

You ever work somewhere where the atmosphere is bad? That exists in major league clubhouses, too, you know.

[Natsinpwc]

Re the chemistry thing, winning creates good chemistry, IMO. Not necessarily the other way around. Losing teams gripe and have bad chemistry. And that's where the Nats are. All in all, I think the whole chemistry thing is just media and fan fodder.

But that's the point. You need to have a team that can pull together through hard times. Easy to have good chemistry when winning.

[Baseball is Life]

I'm with you on this.     

All right then. There are still some believers on this board.

[raleighnat]

"poisonous effect" is speculation, but "over reaction" (to his comment) ?  Uh uh.  It's the second time he's thrown a teammate under the bus.  Recall "I should be playing centerfield" when Span was the centerfielder, and now, "we'd be winning if we had a decent catcher" (paraphrasing of course, but it's what he said in essence). 

I will get behind whatever we end up doing.  But I am down on Harper because his comment was horrible.  Especially given his direct contribution to our mess.  He has good and bad qualities - he can be passionate and works hard, but also pouty, self-absorbed, and obsessed with celebrity culture.  I don't think he's a very deep thinker or very self reflective.   He's the kind of guy that cares a lot about his clothes and how he looks, the celebrities he knows, and equates watching Sportscenter with being highly informed.  I can imagine he would be hard to take in the clubhouse and believe he will always be saying stupid stuff like "where's my ring".  This mindless but innocent arrogance is just part of the package of who he is.  I can live with it and even really like him when he's the passionate ballplayer that wants to win - but when he's throwing teamates under the bus and acting like a prima donna, it is hard to swallow.  Hopefully he continues to grow out of it - perhaps this year's struggles will ultimately help with that growth.

[Baseball is Life]

You ever work somewhere where the atmosphere is bad? That exists in major league clubhouses, too, you know.

Agreed. But why is the chemistry bad? Is it because the company is not doing well and that creates bad chemistry or the other way around? I've worked places where people didn't necessarily all get along but the company did well and that was enough to keep going and succeed. There are not many environments where everything is perfect.

[Baseball is Life]

I will get behind whatever we end up doing.  But I am down on Harper because his comment was horrible.  Especially given his direct contribution to our mess.  He has good and bad qualities - he can be passionate and works hard, but also pouty, self-absorbed, and obsessed with celebrity culture.  I don't think he's a very deep thinker or very self reflective.   He's the kind of guy that cares a lot about his clothes and how he looks, the celebrities he knows, and equates watching Sportscenter with being highly informed.  I can imagine he would be hard to take in the clubhouse and believe he will always be saying stupid stuff like "where's my ring".  This mindless but innocent arrogance is just part of the package of who he is.  I can live with it and even really like him when he's the passionate ballplayer that wants to win - but when he's throwing teamates under the bus and acting like a prima donna, it is hard to swallow.  Hopefully he continues to grow out of it - perhaps this year's struggles will ultimately help with that growth.

This. I think you might have him pegged somewhat but so what? If he performs, you can still hitch your wagons to him and go for it. He kind of reminds me of Reggie Jackson personality wise. Now if he can just perform in the post-season like Reggie then we're good.

[Greg_SRT]

All right then. There are still some believers on this board.

Not many, but when we make our run they will come back.

[Baseball is Life]

Not many, but when we make our run they will come back.

It may not happen this year but so what? Think long term. If they sign Harper to a decent contract, I think they are still competitive going forward. If they don't sign him, I still think they can compete.

[UMDNats]

Agreed. But why is the chemistry bad? Is it because the company is not doing well and that creates bad chemistry or the other way around? I've worked places where people didn't necessarily all get along but the company did well and that was enough to keep going and succeed. There are not many environments where everything is perfect.

I've worked in a multi-billion dollar company that is the most successful in its field where the general workplace culture was bad, absolutely toxic in some major areas. It runs because it's a money-printing machine and in spite of the terrible culture that has persisted from the top.

nothing is perfect and this team can win without everyone holding each others hands, but sports are weird.

[Baseball is Life]

I've literally worked in a multi-billion dollar company that is the most successful in its field where the workplace culture was absolutely toxic.

But as long as the company was making money the shareholders were happy. Well, fans are like the shareholders of an MLB team. If they're winning, we won't give a hoot about the toxic culture. Why I'm I thinking Uber right now?

[Smithian]

I realize I'm going to take a lot of shots on this board for saying this but I hope Harper stays here and signs a long-term contract. His down year just might help keep his price down. And with all the contract stuff behind him, I think he's going to break out and have a great career with the Nats. He's just way too talented. Maybe it won't be the HOF career that was hyped (I never believed that crap anyway) but a great career nonetheless.

There's a lot of bullcrap being thrown around him being a poisonous effect on the team after his stupid comment on Saturday. It's pure speculation and a complete over reaction. Nobody really knows what's going on this clubhouse.

It's easy to kick a player or an organization when they are down but if Harper turns it around this year and the Nats make a race out of it, the fair weather fans will be the first one to lap it all up. And if not this year, if they sign Harper at a reasonable price and go forward I think the Nats are competitive for years to come. But if they FA market drives his price out of reach so be it. They still have a good young core and will have some money to get some FA (hopefully some starting pitching!)

OK, take a number of you want to take a shot at me.

I bought the hype a little too much on the Hall of Fame potential, but I would be thrilled it the Nats secured a deal to keep him around in the mid $20 million level. No chance that happens, but fun to think about.

If he committed here long term, the whole issue about balancing the outfield defense can be resolved at that point.

[spidernat]

I guess $25 million doesn't buy what it used to.

[Slateman]

I wouldnt mind if Harper stayed, but given what they have in the outfield and what they need in the battery and infield, you have to consider that letting Harper walk might be best for the team. Sinking hundreds of millions in the outfield when you have 3 talented, cheap options with 15 years of control among them might not be the smartest course of action.     

On the other hand, one of those talented cheap options could get this team the catcher or starting pitcher it needs for a few years on the cheap. While we may not like Robles for Realmuto, Robles for Noah Syndergarrd or Blake Snell is a different consideration.