RUMOR: Cubs Met With Bryce Harper Friday

According to a source that works for the Brewers, the Cubs “met” with Bryce Harper on Friday. I’m putting met in quotes because that meeting was most likely just a phone call between Harper’s agent, Scott Boras, and the Cubs.

Via Cubs Insider.

This all started when I got a text from CI staffer Michael Canter, father of The Rundown, that had some relatively interesting information about a certain huge free agent. It was intentionally vague and he said he’d be digging for more, so I teased a Twitter crowd hungry for any confirmation that the Cubs might still be in on Bryce Harper.

After a little more clarification, Canter posted a thread with more specifics. According to his source, a member of the Brewers’ front office, the Cubs met with Harper Friday as the superstar’s negotiations seem to be amping up a little bit.

I know what you’re thinking if you don’t know about Cubs Insider, or haven’t heard the name Michael Canter. This must be so fake. But Cubs Insider doesn’t just spread false information and even when Evan Altmann writes about ridiculous rumors he has fun with them. Plus, this does check out if you go back and connect other reports.

Anyway, here’s Canter’s source, who works for the Brewers.

Here’s what I’ve been told I can say. My good friend works in the MKE FO. He’s a PA to an executive. He heard from his boss that Harper met w/Cubs yesterday. Likely has an offer from another team. He has no idea if the Cubs will match or if they are in on Harper.

— Michael Canter (@MEdwardCanter) February 2, 2019

Earlier in the week we learned that the Padres met with Harper in Las Vegas and at the same time Ken Rosenthal reported that Harper had met with other teams as well recently.

Harper and/or his agent, Scott Boras, have met with a number of clubs in recent days, including second and third meetings in some cases, sources say. No indication a deal is close. https://t.co/LQgI9jceJD

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) January 31, 2019

Back in December, Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times reported the Cubs met with Boras in Las Vegas and told Harper’s agent to circle back to them after he got offers.

So, I don’t think anyone from the Cubs, Theo Epstein or Jed Hoyer, met in person with Boras or Harper, but a phone call? I buy it. However, that may not mean much because Tom Ricketts made it pretty clear before the Cubs convention that a big free agent signing wasn’t going to come this offseason.

I guess if you want to stay 100% optimistic, then you can think the Cubs are staying in contact with Boras, doing their due diligence and are still trying to get approval from ownership to offer a big contract to Harper.

He has said numerous times that his entire organization believes the Cubs can’t do a deal without moving players. So nothing ground breaking here but interesting because it seems the Cubs are in regular contact w/ Boras. That’s also nothing new. He reps Bryant.

— Michael Canter (@MEdwardCanter) February 2, 2019

In his opinion, he thinks Cubs will not under any circumstance make a bad trade, even for Heyward, who they like a great deal, just to free up money for any FA. If they get Harper, it will be because budget increase approved AND they can move an outfielder for a comparable return

— Michael Canter (@MEdwardCanter) February 2, 2019

And then Patrick Mooney crashed the party.

Groundhog Day update: The Cubs did not meet with Bryce Harper on Friday, a source told The Athletic, dismissing one Harper rumor that's out there. For months, the Cubs have been clear about their expectations and limitations re: doing that kind of megadeal this winter.

— Patrick Mooney (@PJ_Mooney) February 2, 2019

C’moon, Mooney, I want to believe!

Anyway, do I think the Cubs are any closer or even in on Harper right now? Probably not, but I bet Scott Boras talked to someone with the Cubs and if the Brewers heard about it, then other teams most likely know too.

Maybe at the end, it’s just the Cubs getting used to drive up Harper’s price for other teams involved.