MLB free agency rumors: Does Bryce Harper prefer Nationals over Yankees, Phillies?

Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper and Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Manny Machado will become free agents after the 2018 MLB season. Each player could receive a contract worth more than $400 million from deep-pocketed teams like the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies. Harper was the 2015 National League MVP.

Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper has two home games remaining in the 2018 MLB season. After a pair of games at Nationals Park against the Miami Marlins Tuesday and Wednesday, he will head to Colorado for a three-game series with the Rockies.

After that, it’s off to free agency, where the 2015 National League MVP could receive a contract worth more than $400 million.

Deep-pocketed teams like the Yankees and Phillies are expected to make a run at both Harper and Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Manny Machado.

Updates on Hicks, Gardner, Wild Card

But Harper doesn’t sound like a man who wants to be playing his final home game in a Nationals uniform, per the Washington Post:

“I think about other cities, but I love it here,” Harper said. “Am I in the plans, you know? I don’t know. It’s hard to think about, because it’s all you know, and then you think about it, it’s like, ‘Well, it could all be over in a,'” and here, he snapped his fingers, ” ‘a second.’ It’s kind of crazy.”

…

“I’ve always said: If I’m in (the Nationals’) plans, I’d absolutely love to be here,” Harper said. “But if I’m not, there’s nothing I can do about it. There’s nothing I can do. I would love to play next to [Victor] Robles or [Juan] Soto or [Adam] Eaton. I’d love to. But am I in those plans? I have no idea.”

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“When I talk about D.C., I get giddy. I get happy. Because it’s me. It’s what I know. I don’t know anything else. I don’t know what it feels like to play for the Dodgers. I don’t know what it feels like to play for the Yankees. I don’t know what it feels like to play for anybody that you look at. I don’t know!”

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“I know what it feels like to walk into the clubhouse as a Washington National and to walk into a playoff atmosphere with the Washington Nationals,” Harper said. “And I love it. I love every minute of it.”

Harper drove in his 100th run of the season on Monday. It’s the first time he’s cracked the 100-RBI plateau in his seven-year MLB career. Harper has 34 home runs this season, which is tied for second in the National League.

Mike Rosenstein may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @rosenstein73. Find NJ.com on Facebook.