Was surprised that this hasn't been mentioned as yet in the OF discussion on the Main Board, so I thought I'd put it here, and maybe it'll get moved.
A report on baseballhotcorner.com (http://baseballhotcorner.com/red-sox-pursue-trade-bryce-harper/) say that the Red Sox are interested in trading for Harper, and that he may be available due to "maturity issues:"
Harper has already had several reported “falling-outs” with members of the Nationals organization specifically Manager Matt Williams. This is the main reason why the team would even entertain trading their young star. Boston has the prospects, the market, the payroll and as stated before the veteran presence to keep him in line. Harper is currently under contract for an extended period of time and is not scheduled to be a free agent until 2019, and he will since he is a Scott Boras client.
The report indicates that the package for Harper would have to start with Betts, and include one or more top pitching prospects (Owens, etc.), and also speculates that Swihart and Craig could also be involved.
Although I think this report should be viewed with a significant degree of skepticism, as a DC-area resident and Nats follower, I could view it as a possibility, if the reports of run-ins with Matt Williams are true (which I also think could be possible given Williams' hard-ass rigidity). IMO, Harper gets a bad rap about his "attitude," and if traded to the Sox would fit right in with (and learn a lot from) Pedey.
This report could be way off base, but if it's even a possibility it's one that should be heartily pursued. It would take a lot, but given the possible production and years of control, might well be worth a big package include several top prospects.
A report on baseballhotcorner.com (http://baseballhotcorner.com/red-sox-pursue-trade-bryce-harper/) say that the Red Sox are interested in trading for Harper, and that he may be available due to "maturity issues:"
Harper has already had several reported “falling-outs” with members of the Nationals organization specifically Manager Matt Williams. This is the main reason why the team would even entertain trading their young star. Boston has the prospects, the market, the payroll and as stated before the veteran presence to keep him in line. Harper is currently under contract for an extended period of time and is not scheduled to be a free agent until 2019, and he will since he is a Scott Boras client.
The report indicates that the package for Harper would have to start with Betts, and include one or more top pitching prospects (Owens, etc.), and also speculates that Swihart and Craig could also be involved.
Although I think this report should be viewed with a significant degree of skepticism, as a DC-area resident and Nats follower, I could view it as a possibility, if the reports of run-ins with Matt Williams are true (which I also think could be possible given Williams' hard-ass rigidity). IMO, Harper gets a bad rap about his "attitude," and if traded to the Sox would fit right in with (and learn a lot from) Pedey.
This report could be way off base, but if it's even a possibility it's one that should be heartily pursued. It would take a lot, but given the possible production and years of control, might well be worth a big package include several top prospects.