MLB Rumors: These Two Teams Lead Pack In Bryce Harper Sweepstakes

Most believed Bryce Harper would have a bevy of suitors on the open market.

While that might have been the case out of the gate, it appears the field vying for the superstar’s services has been narrowed down to two.

A pair of National League East clubs are looking like the frontrunners to acquire Harper in free agency, Fancred Sports’ Jon Heyman reported Friday.

It seems as though the Philadelphia Phillies are hellbent on reeling in either Harper or Machado — the two crowned jewels on the open market. Machado reportedly is the Phillies’ preference, but there’s a chance the New York Yankees could rain on their parade.

The Washington Nationals reportedly have made a fair share of effort to bring back their homegrown star. After allegedly offering an initial deal of $300 million over 10 years, the Nats reportedly pitched Harper “much more” than $300 million. As such, you can get a good idea of the type of money Harper is looking for in free agency.

So regardless of who Harper ends up signing with, there’s no doubt he’ll be seeing a whole lot of dollar signs.