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Chicago Cubs Rumors: The latest in the Bryce Harper sweepstakes

By Janey Murray |
(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
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(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

It’s been pretty quiet to-date when it comes to juicy Cubs rumors. But with Winter Meetings approaching, we have some Bryce Harper news to share.

Superstar free agent Bryce Harper is still on the market and the Chicago Cubs still have the chance to pick up the former MVP and Rookie of the Year. In terms of Cubs rumors, we haven’t heard much – in fact, to the contrary. We’ve heard next to nothing. So, what’s the latest update on who’s pushing hard for him?

For all the talk this offseason about how the Cubs don’t have enough money to sign Bryce Harper, realistically, the former Nationals outfielder could absolutely still land on the North Side.

All it would take is a commitment to spend from owner Tom Ricketts and a good pitch from Theo Epstein, which will all know the Chicago president of baseball operations always has up his sleeve.

But while Cubs fans may still be wondering whether ownership is ready to go all-in on Harper, the sweepstakes are only heating up. More teams are meeting with Harper, with some of the usual suspects in the mix and others coming as more of a surprise.

Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs /

Chicago Cubs: Magic Johnson in the mix

According to a recent report by Jeff Passan and Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports, the Los Angeles Dodgers recently held a meeting with Harper, and minority owner Magic Johnson was involved.

Harper going to the Dodgers hasn’t been widely considered, although MLB Trade Rumors did predict he would end up there in its free agent predictions at the beginning of the offseason.

But if anyone has the money to go after Harper, it’s the Dodgers, who are generally among the highest payrolls in baseball from year-to-year.

While Harper going to the Dodgers would be better for the Cubs than him heading to an NL Central rival, it would also make the Dodgers a likely favorite to win the National League pennant for a third straight year. So this isn’t exactly the outcome Cubs fans should root for.

(Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
(Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

Chicago Cubs: South Side interest?

Still, nothing’s set in stone with the Dodgers, as the report also states that plenty of other teams will visit with Harper in the coming weeks and months to try to woo the star outfielder. One of those teams that might surprise some people is the Chicago White Sox.

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The White Sox are very much in the middle of a rebuild, with their peak still at least a season away. But the Yahoo Sports report also mentioned the White Sox sent Hall-of-Famer Jim Thome to Harper to try to steer him towards the South Side of Chicago, rather than the North Side.

Harper going to the White Sox would be a stunning development, and it’s still very much a long shot, as so many teams are still in the hunt for Harper. But it’s worth considering what him going to the Sox would mean for Cubs fans.

Harper could certainly steal some attention away from Wrigley in heading to the South Side, and he could help carry the Sox to contention, fast.

However, it still seems unlikely he would choose to leave a Nationals team where he couldn’t win a playoff series and put himself in a rebuilding situation. It would make much more sense for him to choose an immediate contender—be it the Cubs, Phillies, Dodgers or someone else.

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While Harper still seems like an option for the Cubs, the buzz is around other teams right now – some of which Cubs fans won’t be happy about. But it’s important to remember that the Cubs can absolutely get Harper if that’s what the front office feels is necessary and right.

All it takes is a commitment to spend the money and accept the consequence of going over the competitive balance tax.

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