As 2018-19 MLB free agency draws near, the anticipation and guesswork steadily increases. Expectations hold that Bryce Harper, Josh Donaldson, Clayton Kershaw and Manny Machado will be among the All-Stars to hit the open market.
In Kershaw’s case, he will need to opt out of the remaining two seasons and $65 million on his seven-year deal. As for Harper, heralded as one of the game’s best players, he’ll reach free agency so long as a new contract is not signed prior to that point.
Harper and the Nationals agreed to a one-year deal for 2018, buying out the final year of his arbitration. Harper will become the highest paid arbitration-eligible player next season with a $21.65 million base salary.
As for his forthcoming free agency, the Nationals view the Los Angeles Dodgers as the primary threat to sign the 2015 National League MVP, according to Jon Heyman of Today’s Knuckleball:
The Nats sense the competition for Bryce Harper could come most prominently from the Dodgers, one Nats person said.
At present time the Dodgers have nearly $65 million committed to six players for the 2019 season. That does not include players who are eligible for salary arbitration or have options in their contracts.
While the organization has moved to reduce payroll the past two seasons, the likelihood of needing to re-sign Kershaw and adding Harper is no small feat and one that doesn’t appear plausible.
Nonetheless, the deep-pocketed and motivated Dodgers presumably will continue to be linked to Harper and other marquee free agents until the ink has dried.
