A suitor to sign Bryce Harper is off the table, and thankfully that team isn’t the Phillies.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are reportedly in agreement with outfielder A.J. Pollock on a multi-year deal, replacing the bat lost when Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp were traded to Cincinnati.
With Pollock now in Los Angeles, the Harper sweepstakes have lost another potential bidder.
By most accounts, the Phils and Nationals are the only serious contenders to sign Harper this offseason. Few teams are willing to give Harper the long-term deal Philadelphia and Washington have reportedly considered.
Reports suggest Manny Machado is likely to sign before Harper, and if Philadelphia is unable to land either of them they could be stuck in the outfield where they left off.