February 25th, 2019 at 6:00 am 
by Ron Cervenka It was a question that immediately raised the eyebrows of those standing around me.
It was a question that I very much knew that Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman would not be answering, at least not with sincerity or conviction.
As such, it was a question that I asked more to get a reaction out of the Dodgers top boss than the answer itself, a question that every Dodger fan on the planet wanted asked; this in spite of the fact that the Dodgers had signed free agent outfielder A.J. Pollock just two days earlier.
Question: “With the elite outfield that you discussed (including Pollock), Does that close the door on negotiations with a certain Bryce Harper?”
Answer (with a nearly imperceptible wry smile): “I can’t speak about guys that are free agents right now.”
While it is – or at least would have been – against protocol and/or good faith bargaining to “…speak about guys that are free agents right now,” Friedman’s non-answer (coupled with that nearly imperceptible wry smile) left me with the impression that the door was, in fact, not closed on Harper … at least not closed and locked.
Lo and behold, around midnight on Sunday evening while most of America was nestling into bed following the Academy Awards and with spring training exactly two days old, MLB.com reporter Jesse Sanchez posted this on Twitter:
Who Knew? (Wink).
Will it happen?
Probably not.
Could it happen?
Stay tuned…
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Posted in 
Well it looks like Scott Boras is trying to use the Dodgers as a pawn to make the Phillies and Giants have a bidding war for Bryce. He’s an exceptional baseball player that will fill the stadium day in and day out. I would definitely be on board with 4-5 year deal. If he signs with Dodgers I would immediately flip Joc to White Sox for Abreu.
That’s kinda how I see it, although I don’t see a four or five-year deal in the cards. What I do (conceivably) see is a two or three-year offer with an absolutely ludicrous AAV with an opt-out for both parties.
I also see this as an “up yours” to the Padres for the Machado signing. Then again, it is the Padres.
I think the Dodgers FO is much too smart and negotiating savvy to be involved at this late hour only as a pawn. Boras also represents the Dodgers’ Seager, Bellinger, Ryu, Fields, and Urias so I doubt he would risk alienating the team by using it as a stalking-horse to drive up other team(s) offers. I think the interest is mutual, and the Dodgers have patiently waited until the 11th hour before making its BAFO. As I wrote a month ago,” The Dodgers have the wherewithal to sign Harper and the team should not pass up the opportunity to add a player of his talent who is just entering the prime years of his career.”
Hey … it could happen.
Maybe.
whats the point of grooming talent like verdugo and peters if you’re just going to block them with FA signings?
incidentally, i’d like to see a line up with peter, peters and pederson just for the novelty and confusion aspect.
Maybe they could pick up DJ Peterson from the White Sox.
picture this: peterson hits a fly ball to pederson who boots it to peters who picks it up and throws to second where peter puts the tag on peterson trying to stretch it into a two base error…..
They actually had a line-up very similar to that on Saturday, including the White Sox Peterson!
That’s how I found out about him. First thought: I didn’t know DJ Peters was old enough to have a son in professional baseball.
Who knows how many games the injury prone Pollock will play? Peters must prove that he can consistently hit ML pitching, so far he has consistently K’d in the minors. If Harper is signed look for Pederson to be traded. Bellinger can always shift to first base and Muncy sharing 2b with Hernandez. There are plenty of options available for talent.
SoCal, If I saw correctly somewhere DJ peters struck out about 40% of the time last year and so, he is the reincarnation of Billy Ashley. Remember him in his days at then triple A Albuquerque for Dodgers? He was so 1 dimensional it wasn’t funny. I agree Peters MUST show he can make more contact.
Good memory Paul, but Ashley was not nearly the athlete. And Peters has been working this off season on shortening his swing. There are never any guarantees with prospects, but I like Peters chances with his athleticism and commitment to being better. AND, he is a long time Dodgers fan!!
Has anybody considered how Puig and Harper would get along, especially since one would have to change positions?
did you forget puig is in cincy?
You ok Bob?
Minor brain spasm. Thinking on Mondays causes that, y’know.
I was pleasantly surprised when I heard this news on MLBN’s Hot Stove this morning. You never know.
Hello, OldBrooklynFan! I was surprised as well while watching Hot Stove this AM on MLBN. But I also read somewhere that by Tuesday, he could be signing with the Phillies. So all this talk and conjecture is just that and that is all. WSS
Not going to happen unless Harper is persuaded to lose the 10-year length. Most I would offer is 5 years, 30-35 million per, with an opt-out after year 2 or 3. Friedman should pitch it that he can become a marquee free agent at a relatively young age AGAIN.
that was my thinking as well, but I think Dodgers might go to a 7 or even an 8 year guarantee with multiple opt outs. Say 8 years, $300MM, with opt outs after 3 and 5 years
If the Dodgers wanted Harper they could sign him,trying to get him for less years even with offering more money will only work if Harper really wants to play for the Dodgers.I would rather have Kluber.
Signing Harper could open the door for a Kluber trade. Dodgers could then afford to trade both Pederson and Verdugo (along with a couple of others). Dodgers would have to clear more salary to stay below the $236MM payroll level where the penalties are much more harsh, Rich Hill?