I’m not sure why people are freaking out about Bryce Harper this offseason. I’m not sure he is even a top 100 player in baseball. He is a terrible fielder recording -26 defensive runs save and hit under .250 in two of the past three years. I’m not sure how that he is considered a good player but that is not the topic for today. Harper’s free agency sweepstakes have started to go too far.
People are itching to find out where Harper will sign. The losers at TMZ chased down Harper to ask him about his favorite food:
“Favorite food? Probably Chicago. They got great food. I like this place called Steak 48, it’s really good. Deep dish of course. Anywhere in New York of course you know you can always go out there and eat good food. That’s huge for us.”
Does that mean the White Sox, Cubs, Yankees, and Mets are high on his list? First, let’s point out that Harper will go to the highest bidder. That’s what every Scott Boras client does. If the Phillies are the highest bidder, Harper will sell his soul and eat a cheesesteak every day of the week. The Mets and White Sox can also be counted out. I can’t see those teams winning a bidding war.
The Cubs and Yankees are interesting though. Harper is a Vegas guy and so is Cubs third baseman, Kris Bryant. Maybe he does some recruiting. Then again, unless the Cubs move some contracts, they don’t have the funds to make that type of splash. Harper has always been fond of the Yankees. He wears 34 because 3 and 4 add up to 7. His idol Mickey Mantle wore that number who was a beloved Yankee. The problem is with Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Judge, Aaron Hicks, Brett Gardner, Jacoby Ellsbury, and Clint Frazier on the roster, this signing seems far-fetched.
This probably won’t happen but I would love to see Harper pass on a few dollars and admit that food played a part in his decision where to sign. I sure as hell know it would play into my decision. I’m not signing anywhere that doesn’t have quality seafood. Anywhere in Middle America is way out. No, thanks.
