Atlanta Braves Morning Chop: how to get Bryce Harper

It’s almost a ridiculous, fantasy-baseball-like possibility… but in the absence of any real news, we may as well address the possibility.

The Atlanta Braves don’t need another outfielder.  Not this year, at least.  The available crop of those capable of improving the club have been signed – save for one – and none of the possible non-free agent upgrades are being traded.

So it’s kind of nutty to even discuss the notion that still-free-agent Bryce Harper could end up with the Braves… though I believe I could walk us through a scenario to get there.

But first, Ken Rosenthal wrote yesterday for TheAthletic (subscription required) about the possibility of baseball’s first $300 million player.

He was not talking about either Bryce Harper or Manny Machado.  No, this was all about Nolan Arenado.

First off… a fun fact:  did you realize that Arenado is exactly 18 months older than Harper?  And yet, Rosenthal is talking up the chance of the elder player being a $300 million player… despite this new-found practice of teams not giving out contracts that run a player deep into their 30’s.

Well, there’s a reason for that.  Arenado is just about as good offensively and excels at defense while playing a coveted skill position… and Bryce Harper doesn’t quite measure up.

There’s also some other reasons:  the Rockies new TV contract (coming in 2021), the strong attendance in Denver, additional added revenue from some additional property they have available to develop, and more.  Plus, Arenado simply plays better in Denver then he would anywhere else.

Precedents Needed

It almost seems that while teams are thinking that Harper and Machado just aren’t quite up to that level, they might also be waiting on Arenado to see if an extension happens for him now… which could effectively set up the pecking order for others (this pair of free agents, plus Mike Trout in another couple of years).

But all of that taken together seems to be sending a message to Harper and Machado (whose fates seem to be conjoined at the hip, given that both names often have to be said together)… the message being “you’re good, but not $300 million good; and you’re not 10 years good”.

So choices are going to have to be made, which is why some others teams are still lurking about in the shadows to see if those choices could bring them up to the table.

Last week, we knew about 4 (Padres, Phillies, WSox, Nats) of these and the existence of a myster team.  At that time, I opined that the ‘mystery team du jour’ was perhaps the Angels.

If, in fact, there’s actually 3 more clubs hanging around, then yes – that could bring the Braves into the mix… under extremely limited circumstances.

(For the record, I’d guess that the 4 extra teams are the Angels (as noted), Giants, Dodgers, and Braves)

But I think I can at least satisfy some curiosity and explain how it might work.

It’ll be fun.  Really.