Bryce Harper Rumors: Phillies in "deep and serious" negotiations with Star FA | Bleacher's report

Nick Wass / Associated Press

The Philadelphia Phillies would be in "deep and serious" negotiations with independent player Bryce Harper, according to the report. Bob Nightengale of United States today.

Nightengale added that the Phillies owner, John Middleton, did not want to leave Las Vegas until an agreement with Harper was reached.

Jim Salisbury from NBC Sports Philadelphia and MLB.com & # 39; s Todd Zolecki reported Friday that Middleton's plane was on the ground in Las Vegas. MLB Network Jon Heyman later, Harper and his team were also in Vegas, which corroborated the idea that he was in talks with the Phillies.

Heyman noted that while the Phillies are perhaps the favorites to sign Harper, he was negotiating with two teams on Saturday and there is "more to follow".

The Phillies were also believed to be on All-Star Championship player Manny Machado, but after signing a $ 300 million deal with the San Diego Padres this week, Harper has become their primary goal.

In addition to Philadelphia, Harper has been associated with the Chicago White Sox, San Francisco Padres and Giants, and a possible return to the Washington Nationals.

The Nats may not be in the mix, however, as team owner Mark Lerner told Todd Dybas of NBC Sports Washington on Friday that he was "past" the idea of ​​bringing Harper back to life. .

Harper, 26, has spent his first seven seasons with the national and has been named star player six times. He has also won once the Silver Slugger Award and once MVP of the National League.

Harper scored only $ 249 last season, but he led the majors with 130 steps and also struck 34 home runs with 100 career wins. If the Phillies sign it, Harper would join Rhys Hoskins, J.T. Realmuto, Jean Segura, Odubel Herrera and Andrew McCutchen will give Philadelphia what could be one of the most powerful baseball formations.

It will probably take a big deal to land Harper because Machado has landed the Padres.

Harper's agent, Scott Boras, likely wants an agreement that will exceed the $ 325 million extension that Giancarlo Stanton signed with the Miami Marlins in 2014, according to Salisbury, and the Phillies have shown their willingness to pass this off season.

The Phillies have missed the playoffs in seven consecutive seasons, but signing Harper would be an initiative designed to end this drought in 2019.