October 29, 2018

The Phillies are now the favorites to sign Bryce Harper and Manny Machado this winter

By Matt Mullin
PhillyVoice Staff

With the Boston Red Sox's victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5 of the World Series on Sunday night, the 2018 MLB season officially came to a close. And, as is the case every year, when one season ends, another begins: hot stove season.

Just like last winter, when they landed Carlos Santana and Jake Arrieta, the Philadelphia Phillies have a lot of money to spend and are expected to be quite active in free agency, which officially begins on Saturday, the day all players not currently under contract are allowed to negotiate and sign with any team in the league.

All season, two of the biggest names in this year's free agent class — Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper and Dodgers infielder Manny Machado, who Matt Klentak was unable to acquire at the trade deadline — have been linked to the Phillies.

And now, according to OddsShark, the Phillies aren't just the favorites to land both in free agency this winter, but they're also even-money to land Harper, who has owned Citizens Bank Park in his time with the Nats.

Updated odds for what team Bryce Harper will be on for the first game of the 2019 regular season (@BovadaOfficial):

Phillies EVEN
Cubs +300
Nationals +400
Giants +750
Yankees +800
Dodgers +850
Red Sox +1500
Angels +1500
— OddsShark (@OddsShark) October 29, 2018

Opening odds for which team Manny Machado will be on for the first game of the 2019 regular season (@BovadaOfficial):

Phillies +150
Dodgers +225
Yankees +300
Marlins +800
Angels +900
Braves +1400
Nationals +1400
— OddsShark (@OddsShark) October 29, 2018

Whether or not the Phillies are able to attract one or both of those players remains to be seen, and it will be interesting to see if Andy MacPhail prefers Machado, whom he knows from his time with the Orioles, over Harper.

Here's a look at the career stats for both players:

BRYCE HARPER

	TM	R	2B	HR	RBI	BA	OPS
2012	WSN	98	26	22	59	.270	.817
2013	WSN	71	24	20	58	.274	.854
2014	WSN	41	10	13	32	.273	.768
2015	WSN	118	38	42	99	.330	1.109
2016	WSN	84	24	24	86	.243	.814
2017	WSN	95	27	29	87	.319	1.008
2018	WSN	103	34	34	100	.249	.889
TOT	- - -	610	183	184	521	.279	.900

Manny Machado

	TM	R	2B	HR	RBI	BA	OPS
2012	BAL	24	8	7	26	.262	.739
2013	BAL	88	51	14	71	.283	.746
2014	BAL	38	14	12	32	.278	.755
2015	BAL	102	30	35	86	.286	.861
2016	BAL	105	40	37	96	.294	.876
2017	BAL	81	33	33	95	.259	.782
2018	BAL/LAD	84	35	37	107	.297	.905
TOT	- - -	522	211	175	513	.282	.822

But either way, it appears as though Phillies GM Matt Klentak won't have to engage in a bidding war with the likes of the New York Yankees.

According to Andy Martino of SNY.tv, neither Harper is "not a part" of their offseason plans.

As the Yankees wrapped their pro scouting meetings last week and determined a preliminary offseason strategy, a pursuit of free agent outfielder Bryce Harper was not part of the plan, according to major league sources.
As with Manny Machado, who the Yankees will monitor but not likely pursue aggressively, ownership could step in and mandate a Harper signing. The Steinbrenner family just watched the Boston Red Sox win yet another World Series, and might be in the mood to load up on superstars.
But the Yankees' early feeling is that Harper simply doesn't fit. [sny.tv]

There are plenty of other teams, however, that are expected to be interested in either Harper or Machado, and with both still in their mid-20s, they're in line for monster paydays.

Landing both is still a total pipe dream for Phillies fans, but at least it's looking more and more likely that they'll come away with one or the other.

Follow Matt on Twitter: @matt_mullin

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