MLB rumors: Nationals’ Bryce Harper aware of free agency buzz entering series vs. Yankees

Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper talks about potential free-agency buzz entering a series against the Yankees at Yankee Stadium.

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NEW YORK — Bryce Harper is well aware of the excitement surrounding his pending free agency.

The Washington Nationals outfielder, who will be the most coveted free agent if and when he hits the market following the 2018 season, played on the road on Tuesday against the Yankees — one of the suitors who could enter a bidding war in the offseason.

Harper, along with Baltimore Orioles star Manny Machado, highlight a big free-agent class. Just like LeBron James potentially hitting the open market in the NBA, Harper understands there’s a natural buzz that accompanies any big free agent.

“Any guy that’s about to go into free agency, people get excited,” Harper said prior to Tuesday’s game at Yankee Stadium. “That’s sports. So if that’s me, if that’s Machado, if that’s Freddie Freeman when he’s a free agent, Nolan Arenado, Mookie Betts, anybody. It’s an exciting time for baseball. A lot of young guys in this game that have a chance to have a fun over the next couple years and fans are going to enjoy that.”

Red flags on Harper?

Tuesday marked the start of just the second series for Harper at Yankee Stadium during his career. He played two games in the Bronx during the 2015 season, where he went 3-for-8 with a solo home run.

The left-handed slugger has a swing tailor-made for the short porch in right field at Yankee Stadium, but Harper won’t go out of his way to take aim at it.

“I don’t really look at where I hit the baseball,” he said. “I just go up there and try to make good contact. Left center, right center. Try to hit the ball where they’re not.”

As for playing in New York, Harper compared it to playing in any other road city. Harper and the Nationals will follow their two-game series at Yankee Stadium with a three-game set against the Blue Jays in Toronto.

Harper hasn’t played at Rogers Centre since his rookie season in 2012, when he infamously responded to a reporter’s inquiry about his favorite beer with “That’s a clown question, bro.”

“Just another city you play in. When you’re at home, you enjoy playing at home, and you look forward to going on the road in certain cities. I’m excited to go to Toronto this weekend. Haven’t been there since year one. Excited to play here tonight and for this road trip.”

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