Free agent Harper and Padres in talks: reports

The San Diego Padres were to meet with free-agent outfielder Bryce Harper on Thursday, reports said.

Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic tweeted the meeting was expected to include representatives of Padres ownership and would occur in Las Vegas.

San Diego already has a crowded outfield situation with Wil Myers, Manuel Margot, Hunter Renfroe, Franchy Cordero, Franmil Reyes and Travis Jankowski listed on the roster, but Padres management is doing “due diligence” by talking to one of the two biggest names on the market.

The Padres are also talking to the other big off-season target, infielder Manny Machado, but a meeting has not taken place, reported MLB. com’s Jon Morosi.

The 2019 free-agent market has been a slow one, especially at the top, much like it was last year. Serious talks for the services of Harper and Machado have yet to emerge, but there are reports Harper and his agent Scott Boras have met with other teams recently.

The Padres are no stranger to Boras, having signed one of his clients, first baseman Eric Hosmer, to an eight-year, $144-million deal last off-season.

But Harper has already turned down a reported 10-year, $300-million deal from the Washington Nationals, the only team he has played for. The 26-year-old has been beset with injuries in his career, having played in 150-plus games just twice in seven seasons.

The left-handed batter hit .249 with 34 home runs and 100 RBIs over 159 games in 2018. His peak year was 2015 at age 22, when he hit .330 with 42 homers and 118 runs scored in 153 games. He was voted National League MVP that season.

Machado, also represented by Boras, has been a steadier presence in the heart of the lineup, playing 156 games or more in five of the past six seasons.