San Francisco Giants Now Favored to Sign Bryce Harper

• The San Francisco Giants are rumored to be poised to sign Bryce Harper
• Harper met with Giants officials on the weekend
• The free-agent outfielder was previously favored to sign with the Nationals and Phillies

As pitchers and catchers reported to spring training, the San Francisco Giants were the latest major league baseball team reported to be close to signing free-agent outfielder Bryce Harper.

Bryce Harper reportedly had a recent meeting with the Giants https://t.co/4GU5CxyoSM pic.twitter.com/27YZELQ2Re

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) February 6, 2019

Harper met with Giants officials on the weekend, and sportsbooks are now listing San Francisco as the favorites to get his name on a contract.

Bryce Harper Free Agency Odds

Previously, Harper had been favored to remain with the Washington Nationals, his big-league home since 2012, or sign with Washington’s NL East rivals the Philadelphia Phillies.

Is it San Francisco Giants Subterfuge?

According to sources, Harper’s meeting with the Giants was a brief one, no more than two hours. Talk is that the Giants’ offer to Harper was a short-term deal in the five-to-six-year range at $30 million per season. Supposedly, Harper has no interest in signing such a pact.

Despite rumored offers/wishes of teams, word is Bryce Harper is not signing — or even considering — short-term deals.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) February 12, 2019

Despite the likelihood that there is nothing to this Harper to the Giants speculation, that hasn’t stopped some Giants players from taking to social media to campaign and try to convince the six-time All-Star and 2015 NL MVP to move to the Bay Area.

Reasons why I think @Bharper3407 should sign with the @SFGiants

1. I'd have less balls to pick up in BP because they would fly into the bay.

2. It would be a lot easier to pitch to him if I just don't have to.

3. My hitting might improve by proxy???

— Kieran "Lovey" Lovegrove (@Lovegrove19) February 11, 2019

Books are offering a straight up yes/no prop wager on Harper signing with San Francisco, and it favors the answer being no.

Will Bryce Harper Play Game 1 of the 2019 MLB Season with the San Francisco Giants?

After meeting with Harper in Las Vegas, Giants GM Farhan Zaidi suggested that there was mutual interest expressed by both sides during their conversation.

Are the Nats on the Outs?

There is mounting evidence that Washington is no longer in the running to land Harper. Several Washington Capitals players revealed that Harper had recently unfollowed them on Twitter, a sign perhaps that he is cutting his ties to the area.

Bryce Harper unfollowed Capitals players on Twitter. Tom Wilson: "I don’t know if that’s writing on the wall or what." https://t.co/LNXoXL5Z3Q

— RMNB (@rmnb) February 12, 2019

Harper originally rejected a 10-year $300 million offer from the Nationals last fall.

Speculation is that the Los Angeles Dodgers have also fallen by the wayside when it comes to a home for Harper.

Harper’s Bizarre Winter

With his credentials, it’s hard to believe that no team has scooped up Harper to this point, and that’s led some prominent figures in baseball to hint that there’s some funny business going on here.

100 or so free agents left unsigned. System is broken. They blame “rebuilding” but that’s BS. You’re telling me you couldn’t sign Bryce or Manny for 10 years and go from there? Seems like a good place to start a rebuild to me. 26-36 is a great performance window too.

— Justin Verlander (@JustinVerlander) February 11, 2019

At this point, the Harper chase looks to be a two-horse between the Giants and Phillies. San Diego is also in play, but Manny Machado is a better fit positionally with the Padres.

Bob Nightengale tells @KNBR
that it’s down to the Giants and Phillies for Bryce Harper. Nationals and Dodgers are OUT.https://t.co/usy0ZaGVXb

— Joe Ostrowski (@JoeOstrowski) February 12, 2019

If the Phillies don’t step up their offer, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Harper slamming balls into McCovey Cove come spring.