MLB rumors: Bryce Harper sweepstakes down to Phillies and White Sox?

With A.J. Pollock signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers, free-agent outfielder Bryce Harper’s market could be down to the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago White Sox.

This couldn’t have been the way super agent Scott Boras drew it up.

With just weeks until spring training, the Bryce Harper sweepstakes could be down to just two known teams: the Phillies and Chicago White Sox.

Well, at least that’s the opinion of USA Today‘s Bob Nightengale after outfielder A.J. Pollock signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers, a team that was always rumored to be sitting on the outskirts of the Harper market.

As for Harper?

The Philadelphia Phillies still are the heavy favorite to land him. The Chicago White Sox have interest but have made no offer. And no other teams publicly are involved.

Why, the Washington Nationals, who offered Harper a 10-year, deferred contract worth about $284 million at the season’s conclusion, may no longer be in play.

Latest MLB rumors

If Nightengale’s instincts are accurate, Harper and Manny Machado could end up on the Phillies or White Sox, in some combination. While few would have scoffed at the Phillies landing one of this year’s marquee free agents, the idea of those teams landing the top two guys would be surprising.

Harper, 26, posted a .249/.393/.496 slash line with 34 home runs and 100 RBI in 2018. That includes a blistering second half (.300/.434/.538) after a slow start to the season.

Phillies brass (manager Gabe Kapler, owner John Middleton, general manager Matt Klentak) met with Harper in Las Vegas earlier this month, leading to speculation of a union between Boras and Philadelphia’s front office.

Joe Giglio may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @JoeGiglioSports. Find NJ.com on Facebook.