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Chicago Cubs rumors: Bryce Harper reportedly wants to play for the North Siders

By Dan Schmelzer

Apr 16, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) gestures to the dugout while rounding the bases after hitting a game-winning walk-off three run home run against the Philadelphia Phillies in the bottom of the ninth inning at Nationals Park. The Nationals won 6-4. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 16, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) gestures to the dugout while rounding the bases after hitting a game-winning walk-off three run home run against the Philadelphia Phillies in the bottom of the ninth inning at Nationals Park. The Nationals won 6-4. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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Will MLB superstar Bryce Harper end up with the Chicago Cubs? At least one prominent reporter is suggesting that it could happen.

While they haven’t been playing like it for most of the year, the Chicago Cubs have the best collection of young position player talent in Major League Baseball. Led by Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, Kyle Schwarber, Addison Russell and Javier Baez, the Cubs are loaded with exciting young talent all over the field. That being said, it could always be better.

While on the Mully and Hanley Show on 670 The Score, veteran MLB insider Peter Gammons dropped a bombshell that should have Cubs fans giddy.

"“I have people tell me that Bryce Harper, really, would prefer to play for the Cubs,” Gammons said on the radio show."

Whoa, now that is an interesting note. First, let’s get some context here. Mully and Hanley were not asking Gammons whether Harper would come to the Cubs. The conversation started with the hosts asking him about a Kris Bryant contract extension. They asked whether Harper’s upcoming free agency would have an impact on any contract extension between Bryant and the Cubs.

Instead, Gammons decided to give us this. Harper is clearly one of the best baseball players in the world. Adding him to the Cubs’ already loaded lineup would simply be unfair.

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The Washington Nationals star is set to hit free agency as part of the loaded 2018 free agent class. The Nationals will obviously be in the mix, the New York Yankees are known to be ready to make him a huge offer and all other MLB teams will be interested.

Harper is already one of the best players in the game and will only be 26-years-old when he hits the open market. He is extremely likely to set the record for the largest contract in the history of the league when he becomes a free agent, with a deal over $400 million clearly in his sights.

There will be a long list of teams lined up to offer massive contracts to Harper and the Chicago Cubs are unlikely to be an exception. If Gammons is right and the Cubs are his preferred destination, it would obviously give them an edge if the money between teams is similar.

How it affects the rest of the roster

Signing Harper to a massive free agent contract would probably make a Bryant extension unlikely. However, he will not hit the open market until after the 2021 season. If the Cubs sign Harper in 2018, that would give them at least three years with two of the top five players in baseball in Harper and Bryant. Add that along with Rizzo, Russell and company and they could put up historical scoring numbers.

Another interesting wrinkle here is the contract option decision for Jason Heyward. The Cubs signed Heyward to a massive eight-year, $184 million free-agent contract prior to the 2016 season. In his contract, Heyward has a player option after the 2018 and 2019 seasons, allowing him to hit free agency in his prime years again if he wishes.

As an elite defender who seems to have his stroke back at the plate, it could be in Heyward’s best interest to opt-out of his contract with the Cubs after next season. This would only open more money (and right field) for the Cubs to throw at Harper.

Next: Cubs: No need to sound the alarms

There are obviously a ton of moving parts going on and Harper will not even be available for a long time. However, according to a prominent baseball reporter, one of the best players in the game is extremely interested in the Chicago Cubs. That is an incredibly exciting bit of news.

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