WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Pitchers and catchers and even a few early position players filed into the Nationals' clubhouse in West Palm Beach, Fla., throughout Wednesday morning, rain preventing them from doing much more than playing some light catch before the team's first workout on Thursday. There is excitement around the club after an active offseason spent reloading after missing the postseason a year ago, yet one notable absence created some lingering awkwardness.
Bryce Harper remains a free agent as camps begin. By now, surely there was supposed to be some sort of resolution. Either the Nationals would be ready for the beginning of the post-Harper era or perhaps he would have re-signed, the cherry on top of a productive winter.