WASHINGTON — A hush settled in over the baseball world recently, a polite quiet that allowed everyone a break for the holidays, at least on the outside. But as the calendar turned, the free agent market continued to churn, seemingly held in place by Bryce Harper and Manny Machado, who simply will not make up their minds.
Machado’s market is taking shape, with the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies emerging as legitimate suitors, according to reports. But Harper’s remains maddeningly unclear. The Washington Nationals remain the only team known to have made him a formal offer.