Bryce Harper in Chicago is widely seen as the one that got away. Owner Tom Ricketts said in an interview with CNBC that the Cubs “spent a lot of time thinking about what Harper’s worth as a free agent.” The Cubs never initiated anything serious, and Harper ended up signing with the Phillies for 13 years and $330 million.
They are still kicking themselves for not seriously pursuing Harper. And if free agency went exactly as Harper planned, at least early on, he would have signed with the Cubs.
In an interview with The Athletic‘s Patrick Mooney over the weekend, Harper said that the Cubs were “without a doubt” the No.