Dodgers Quick Hits: Yusei Kikuchi, Free Agents, Bryce Harper

The twists and turns in Bryce Harper’s free agency story continue. Last week, it was reported that Harper was close to signing in Los Angeles and this week it was announced that both the White Sox and the Phillies are willing to offer the super-free agent a 10-year deal, the length Harper originally desired.

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Harper will be meeting with the Phillies ‘next week or so’ according to NBC Philadelphia and should they make a good case with a great offer, signing Harper in Los Angeles could be a tall task.

Similarly, the White Sox could make a lot of sense for Harper who, despite being around the league for the last seven seasons, is still just 26-years old. The White Sox are on what some would call the tail end of their rebuild with a farms system that is unrivaled by most and a fairly minimal payroll. Adding Harper now would only expedite the process and, as the Astros did, they can go from zero to hero real quick in a very week division.

The Harper situation is well worth monitoring at this crucial stage as teams are preparing to make big offers and are having sit-down meetings with the Dodgers top target in 2019.

Harper has to be the Dodgers’ top priority right now as a relaxed approach could end in Harper playing for another team.