Cubs Rumors: Would Bryce Harper accept a shorter-term contract?

Buckle up. One of the latest Cubs rumors to come out of the Winter Meetings? Superstar Bryce Harper may be open to a shorter-term, high AAV deal. 

The annual Winter Meetings are officially off and running this week in Sin City, and the main talk of the town is, of course, Bryce Harper and where he will ultimately land. Many teams are predicted to be serious players for Harper, and if the latest Cubs rumors are to be believed, the North Siders may be looking for a way to make it work financially with the slugger.

Many expect Harper to land a contract somewhere in the $400 million range, across a span of ten to twelve years. Teams such as the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers have been the main clubs linked to the young star.

As a potential longer shot landing spot, the Cubs could swoop in with an offer lucrative enough to sign Harper. Many signs over the last few months have raised the hopes of fans expected to him landing on the North Side. If the club can reach his preferred average annual value, what is stopping them from offering Harper a shorter-term, higher-AAV deal this winter?