Bryce Harper on the Cubs? The Nationals would have made it available

In the middle of the 2018 season, the Washington Nationals have a .500 record at 52-53, six games behind their division and a wild card spot, and they are supposed to be franchise franchise players Bryce Harper at the trade deadline. According to Marc Feinsand of MLB.com, the Nationals are listening to offers on Harper.

According to a source, the Nationals let other teams know that Bryce Harper is actually available

– Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) July 31, 2018

Harper is a free agent at the end of the season and should break records with his next contract, making it a lease for 2018 in the same way as Manny Machado. Feinsand joined the MLB Tonight on the MLB Network where he was invited by former Yankees manager and Chicago Cub Joe Girardi is that the Cubs could be a potential candidate for Harper. @Feinsand joined #MLBTonight to develop his report that #BryceHarper is available at #TradeDeadline . pic.twitter.com/MZrL0SLrTT

– MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) July 31, 2018

Feinsand, as well as many others, have made it clear that he does not Is not certain that the Nationals are CEO Mike Rizzo is likely evaluating the market and looking for an overpayment for two months of Bryce Harper.

Sources confirm: #Nationals sending "tricks" on Bryce Harper. "I would be shocked if they do," said a rival leader. "They see if anyone wants to go crazy." First with the news that Harper was available: @chelsea_janes and @Feinsand .

– Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 31, 2018

The 25-year-old outfielder is experiencing a somewhat declining year, averaging .220 / .369 / .473 with 25 homers and 62 points products, but even with a subsystem sub line, Harper is not going to come cheap. The result would be a return similar to the one the Dodgers had to abandon for Machado, but unlike the Orioles, the Nationals are still a solid team without Harper and are likely to compete again next season.

Which means it's good news for the Cubs because the Nationals would be more receptive to a pack of talented MLB players in exchange for Harper. But still, the cost would still be steep and should start with a player like Ian Happ and would likely include a player like Adolf Alzolay, the Cubs' best prospect pitcher, who is currently recovering in Arizona from a lat injury.

However, it is doubtful that the Cubs are doing a deal for Harper, it costs them anybody on the 25-player lineup, making any potential exchange between the two teams unrealistic.

What is more likely that Harper stays at the end of the season in Washington DC and is looking for his big salary this winter. However, if Harper is traded to a team that is not the Cubs, it's always good news for the Cubs because they will not lose a draft pick if they had to convince Harper to play on the North Side this season. .

Unless there is a day of trading deadline, it would take a mbadive effort for the Nationals to seriously consider moving Harper, and to let it know at an early date is probably a desperate effort to hope for a team . to be pretty desperate for pony for Harper. But as long as Harper is traded to a National League competitor like the Dodgers or the Brewers, the Nationals moving their franchise player is a win for the Cubs.