Washington Nationals: Previewing a Bryce Harper extension

The Washington Nationals want to keep superstar slugger Bryce Harper next year. Here is a guide on how the two sides do that.

After a strange off-season where major fee agents remained unsigned until March, the Washington Nationals have a new road map inking Bryce Harper to an extension.

As Thomas Boswell points out in The Washington Post, the idea of a ten-year, $400 million deal is out the window. Even at Harper’s tender age of 26 this fall, he will have a tough time selling that to interested teams. Yes, even with Scott Boras as his agent.

If Jake Arrieta could not get six years, or J.D. Martinez’s tug of war with the Boston Red Sox after he got to Fort Myers, then for all Harper’s leverage…