Source: Giants, Harper have second meeting

February 27th, 2019

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- The Giants’ bid for superstar remains alive.

Giants CEO Larry Baer and president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi made a second trip to Las Vegas on Tuesday in an attempt to woo Harper, a source confirmed to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. The club has not confirmed.

Baer, Zaidi and manager Bruce Bochy previously met with Harper and his agent, Scott Boras, on Feb. 5, and Zaidi said at the time that there was “mutual interest” between the two parties.

“You don't make a trip out there to meet with a player just for show," Zaidi said afterward.

The Giants’ second meeting with Harper comes mere days after the rival Dodgers sent their own contingent to meet with the six-time All-Star. The Phillies, who saw free-agent target Manny Machado sign a 10-year, $300 million deal with the Padres last week, have been viewed as the front-runners for Harper, though the Giants and the Dodgers can offer Harper greater proximity to his Las Vegas home and the ability to train in Arizona for Spring Training. Phillies owner John Middleton also flew to Las Vegas to meet with Harper this past weekend, though he departed without closing a deal.

While the Giants were believed to prefer a short-term deal with Harper, they now appear to have shifted from that stance. The two sides have discussed a 10-year contract, according to NBC Sports Bay Area. Harper reportedly turned down a 10-year, $300 million offer from the Nationals, who publicly bowed out of the bidding for their homegrown outfielder last week.

Harper, 26, is expected to command a higher price tag than Machado, and Harper will likely be aiming to break the record for guaranteed money set by Giancarlo Stanton’s $325 million extension in 2014.

Bochy, who did not attend Tuesday’s meeting, said he is glad the Giants are still engaged in their pursuit of Harper, though the skipper stressed that his focus remains on the players he currently has in camp.

“I don't think about it,” Bochy said. “Right now, this my club. We don't know what his decision is going to be. The fact that we're one of the teams that's talking to him, we appreciate that. We're grateful that we're in the mix. We hope things work out. But I can't be concerned with something I don't have. So my focus right now is with this club. I'm sure [a decision’s] got to be close. I don't know. I would think it would be.”