Many assume that Bryce Harper will leave the Washington Nationals at the end of this season. He will be a free agent and several teams will be interested in signing him. Although he has struggled this year with a low batting average, he is considered a five tool player. Many view hims has someone who can hit for average and power, steal bases and field his position well.
While he will receive much interest, maybe he should stay in Washington and play for the Nationals.
The Nationals have an ownership and front office that are committed to winning. They invest every season in their team and are willing to commit financially to improving their team. The organization signed pitcher Max Scherzer a few years ago. The Nationals are always interested in signing top free agents.
Although, they are underachieving this year, they were expected to be one of the better teams in the National League. They have the rest of the season to get themselves together and prove they can make the playoffs.
Harper could consider playing his career with one team. There is a certain appeal to being loyal to a city or a team. Modern day players like Derek Jeter, Cal Ripkin and the late Tony Gwyn and Kirby Pucket all played their careers with one team. They are all associated with one city.
Sometime free agents do not want to leave their original team. At times, they leave simply for more money. The Nationals should be able to offer Harper a competitive offer during the off season. Additionally, Harper can continue to make money in off field endorsements.
If Harper stays in Washington, he will be considered the best player in Nationals' history for a long time. He will be the face of the organization and the franchise.
General Manager Mike Rizzo has said that he thinks that the Nationals have a chance to re sign Harper after 2018. That's good.
Harper could consider going to another team, but why? If he went to the Yankees, Cubs, Red Sox or Phillies, he would be known as simply another great player for those organizations. They have had many great players. Harper would join a list of great players. If he stays in Washington, he will be known as the best players in Washington Nationals history.
Harper could mean as much to Washington as Ernie Banks means to Chicago or Derek Jeter means to New York. He can mean as much to Washington as Stan Musial means to St. Louis or Mike Schmidt means to Philadelphia. He would be able to put his unique stamp upon a franchise. It would be a great legacy to have.
Recently, he won the home run hitting derby in his home stadium the night before the All Star game. These are moments that cannot be bought. They are authentic and unforgettable moments. They are memorable for the players and the fans.
For his career, Harper has 855 hits, 173 home runs and 475 runs batted in. He is 25 years old. He has as chance to get 3,000 hits, 500 home runs and maybe even between 1,700 and 2,000 runs batted in. He may come close to all three bench marks or one or two of those benchmarks. In any event, has a chance to reach those benchmarks or come close. Why not reach these goals in one uniform?
Harper has a chance to help the Nationals reach the World Series for the first time in their history. The city of Washington has not had a world series champion since 1924 when the Senators beat the New York Giants. It would be good for the city of Washington if Harper continually tried to help the Nationals reach the World Series. Maybe they eventually will reach the Fall Classic. That would be good for the city of Washington.
Free agents have the right to go to the team and the city that they want to. They have the right to manage their careers. Players have often left for more money or a chance to win a championship somewhere else. However, it would be good for baseball and the city of Washington if Harper spent his whole career with the Washington Nationals. Only Harper can decide if it would be good for him to spend his whole career in Washington. It will be interesting to see what he decides to do.
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