Despite the constant stream of news that Bryce Harper and the Phillies now prefer each other, Las Vegas oddsmakers haven't yet bought in — still handicapping Harper's former team, the Nationals as the favorite to land the slugger.
- MORE ON THE PHILLIES
- Man admits he faked being Phillies player to score free stuff
- Why exactly can't the Phillies sign both Manny Machado and Bryce Harper?
- Report: Phillies won't sign both Harper and Machado — and may not sign either until February
According to BetDSI.com, the Phils have a +175 chance (the return on a $100 bet), while the Nats have a +150 chance. The Dodgers, White Sox and Cubs all are given an outside chance of signing the outfielder.
And even though many have stated that the Phillies will not sign both Manny Machado and Harper, Vegas seems to think there is a pretty goods chance it does happen. Bettors will find that Machado IS favored to ink with the Phillies, with almost even-money odds of +120.
While we're on the topic of baseball and gambling, it's interesting to note that this ongoing saga has the Phillies on the map as World Series contenders, though it seems the longer it drags on, the lower their World Series odds get:
Not even a playoff team last year, the Phillies have the ninth best odds of winning a championship (of 30 teams). They are behind the defending champs from Boston and then the Astros, Yankees, Dodgers, Cubs, Indians, Braves and Cardinals in that order. These odds will change based on who Philly signs — but if you are a true believer, place your bet now before the Phillies spend "stupid money" and move up in the betting hierarchy.
As we do every day, here's our live stream/open thread. Follow along to keep tabs on all the MLB free agency rumors and news that break:
Follow Evan on Twitter:@evan_macy
Like us on Facebook: PhillyVoice Sports