Strickland: Harper’s OK

DENVER — One year ago, Giants reliever Hunter Strickland welcomed Bryce Harper to AT&T Park with a fastball to settle an old score, setting off a wild brawl.

On the anniversary of the incident, Strickland said he would be ready to welcome Harper as a teammate if the Giants were able to sign the 2015 National League Most Valuable Player as a free agent next winter.

“Go for it,” Strickland said Tuesday when asked about the possibility. “If he could make a difference, if he can help us, let’s go get him. We’re here to win.”

The bigger question is whether Harper would hold the Strickland incident against the Giants when he picks a team. One person who knows Harper well said it was “not an issue” and noted that Harper got along fine with reliever Jonathan Papelbon in 2016 after the teammates had a physical altercation in the Nationals’ dugout the previous September.

Strickland has admitted that hitting Harper over something that happened three seasons earlier was a mistake. Giants outfielder Michael Morse sustained a career-ending concussion in the brawl when he knocked heads with Jeff Samardzija, who was going hard after Harper.

Strickland has not reached out to Harper, saying, “That’s in the past. I just want to keep playing ball and competing.”

Many around the game believe the Giants are staying under the luxury-tax threshold this year because they plan to pursue Harper, who should land the biggest free-agent contract in majorleague history. Estimates have reached $400 million because Harper will enter free agency in his prime, just after his 26th birthday.

The early line does not favor the Giants. Some are touting the Cubs, so he can play alongside fellow Las Vegan Kris Bryant; the Dodgers, who also figure to spend big next year; the Phillies, who are a year ahead of their contention schedule and might seek one big acquisition for 2019 and beyond; and even the Nationals, whose owners have done a lot of business with Harper’s agent, Scott Boras. Bumgarner timetable: Madison Bumgarner will throw around 75 pitches in his second and final rehab game for Class A San Jose on Thursday night, manager Bruce Bochy said.

“We’re just giving him another start so he can get a little more stretched out, so we don’t have to be so careful with him” when he rejoins the Giants, Bochy said. “Going back, we said he’d get three, so he’s ahead of schedule.”

If all goes well, Bumgarner could make his 2018 debut against the Diamondbacks at AT&T Park on Tuesday.