Philadelphia Phillies managing general partner John Middleton took the team jet to Las Vegas on Friday night to meet with free agent Bryce Harper, sources confirmed to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
Barring something completely unexpected, Harper and the Phillies will not be consummating a deal Friday night, league sources tell Passan. It is more of a meet-and-greet than a sign-a-deal, sources said.
It was not the Phillies’ first trip to Las Vegas to meet with Harper. They also met with him in January. And the offseason began with Middleton saying, “We’re going into this expecting to spend money. And maybe even be a little bit stupid about it.”
On Thursday, the San Diego Padres announced they had signed the other big name of the free-agent market, Manny Machado, to a 10-year, $300 million deal. It was the biggest free-agent contract in American sports history.
Other teams that have met with Harper this winter include the San Francisco Giants, Chicago White Sox, Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers and Washington Nationals, with whom Harper spent the first seven seasons of his career.
Harper, 26, is looking for a deal in excess of the 10 years and $300 million the Nationals reportedly offered at the end of the regular season. The left-handed hitting Harper batted only .249 in 2018, but had 34 home runs and 100 RBIs and came on strong after the All-Star break.
The Phillies were 11th in the National League in runs scored last season, and their right-handed-heavy lineup could use a lefty power hitter.
NBC Sports Philadelphia was first to report that the Phillies jet was in Las Vegas.