The Nationals had projected payroll and personnel for the '19 season with the anticipation Harper would leaveGETTY IMAGES
Bryce Harper's 13-year, $330M deal with the Phillies may have closed "one of the more curious free agency periods in the history of sports," but the Nationals "moved on months, even years, ago," according to Todd Dybas of NBCSPORTSWASHINGTON.com. The Nationals had projected payroll and personnel for the '19 season "with the anticipation Harper would leave" (NBCSPORTSWASHINGTON.com, 2/28). In DC, Jesse Dougherty notes the Nationals had "largely moved on since December and certainly since the start of spring training." The team even "replaced a handful of Harper photos at their spring training complex in West Palm Beach" (WASHINGTON POST, 3/1). ESPN.com's Eddie Matz wrote it is "hard to imagine a world" in which the Nationals would have "committed a third of a billion dollars to [Harper], and still would've had the resources to land the top free-agent pitcher on the market." The team would not have had the "flexibility to do all the other things they did this offseason" had they resigned Harper (ESPN.com, 2/28).
CLOWN OFFER, BRO: In DC, Barry Svrluga notes the Nationals' early offer of 10 years and $300M "included a massive amount of deferred money," which is "simply the way the Lerner family ... does business." The difference this time was the "amount of the deferrals and the time it would take Harper to get paid the entirety of the money." One source said that both were "so extreme" that MLB "wondered about the offer's legitimacy." Another source said that around $100M was deferred and that Harper "would have received payments for more than 40 years" (WASHINGTON POST, 3/1). THE ATHLETIC's David Aldridge wrote the Lerners "made a financial decision, and that's their right as owners." Fans can "make financial decisions, too." There was no "Harper Discount on the season-ticket invoices that went out last fall to Nationals fans" (THEATHLETIC.com, 2/28).
BIRTH OF A RIVAL: In DC, Thomas Boswell writes in the Nationals' 14 years in DC, they have had no "marrow-deep rival that made you circle the date of its next visit in town." Boswell: "The Nats have that now" (WASHINGTON POST, 3/1). Also in DC, Thom Loverro writes under the header, "Washington Loses A Hero But Gains Baseball's Best Villain" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 3/1).
