Chicago Cubs made the right call in passing on Bryce Harper

With less than two months until postseason baseball begins, a struggling Bryce Harper in Philadelphia is a welcome sight for many Chicago Cubs fans.

The 2018-19 offseason for the Chicago Cubs was largely defined by the team’s pursuit – or lack thereof – of former National League MVP and Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper. Of course, Chicago was never seriously in the hunt for him – but that didn’t stop us all from playing the ‘what if’ game.

Imagine it – Harper paired up with Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo and Javier Baez. That would, at least in theory, be one of the most fearsome combinations in the game today – maybe in baseball history.

But it wasn’t meant to be. Harper signed a record-breaking 13-year, $330 million free agent contract with the Philadelphia Phillies – putting a bow on one the biggest question of the offseason. Perhaps even more intriguing is the fact the deal lacks any type of opt-out, all but guaranteeing Harper will finish his career in the City of Brotherly Love.

Year one of the Harper era hasn’t been what Phillies fans had hoped for. The slugger hasn’t lived up to the hype – despite the increased ticket sales and the abundance of #3 jerseys that fill the seats at Citizen Bank Park.

Given how the season has played out for the Chicago Cubs, you can’t help but think they dodged a bullet in this case – no matter how the next 12 years play out for Harper in Philly.