MLB rumors: Why Nationals won't trade Bryce Harper to Yankees (or anyone else)

by Felix Pantaleón

Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper and Baltimore Orioles shortstop Manny Machado will become free agents after the 2018 season. While there are daily trade rumors regarding the Orioles and Machado, don’t expect to see the Nationals trade the 2015 NL MVP before the July 31, 2018 (7/31/18) non-waiver deadline.

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It’s no secret that the biggest name in MLB free agency after the 2018 season will be Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper.

The 2015 National League MVP could get a contract approaching (or exceeding) $400 million.

Baltimore Orioles shortstop Manny Machado, who also will be a free agent after the season, will also bank millions.

But with the Orioles in a tailspin (they own the worst record in the majors at 19-45), there is an almost endless supply of Machado trade rumors.

However, you most likely will not see many rumors regarding the Nationals, who are tied for first place in the NL East, trying to move Harper before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.

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Washington Post columnist Tom Boswell explains why any suitors interested in Harper, including the Yankees, will have to wait for the off-season, using the Stanley Cup-winning Washington Capitals as a model:

You don’t break up a contending team just because it has a couple of ultra-depressing endings to its seasons in ’16 and ’17. The Nats lost in the first round twice, but to top teams and historic players — Kershaw in relief in G5 in ’16 and the defending champ Cubs in ’17 in G5. The Caps lost in both those seasons to the Penguins who went on to win the Cup. Both teams decided to keep their core together for another run. IOW, they believed in their own internal judgment that they still had really outstanding teams that hadn’t yet played their best at the right time or gotten the breaks. …

My point: You don’t give up on teams that are “close” — maybe not the favorite or as good as they were in their best season — but still “close.”

The Lesson of the Caps, for me at least, is “Don’t Give Up Too Soon.”

Harper leads the National League with 19 home runs this season.

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