Nationals have ‘expiration date’ on Harper talks

THE NATIONALS made a significant long-term proposal to

Bryce Harper late last season, the Washington Post reported. While meeting with reporters on Tuesday, Nats GM Mike Rizzo said, “We took advantage of our exclusivity late in the season.” Now, that exclusivity is gone and Harper can sign with any team.

The Nats will continue to try to keep their biggest star since moving to Washington, but Rizzo said, “It behooves us to have an expiration date.” Translation: The Nats have to address, at minimum, their rotation and want to

know how much money they have to spend, plus don’t want to have doors slam while waiting for Harper, a client of Scott Bo

ras, who often waits deep into the offseason to fully gauge the market for his best players.

With Adam Eaton, Victor

Robles, Juan Soto and Michael Taylor, the Nats could form an outfield without Harper. So could Washington use that group and upgrade elsewhere with money not used on Harper to be a better team?

“I’m comfortable with the alternatives,” Rizzo said. “I am un-

comfortable with the statement that without him we could be a better team. We certainly made attempts to sign him.”

➤ As part of early-offseason due diligence, the Yankees requested medical information from the agent for pitchers Charlie Morton, Daniel Hudson and David Phelps, the former Yankee who missed all of last season following Tommy John surgery.

➤ Lance McCullers Jr. underwent Tommy John surgery

Tuesday, which means he will be lost to the Astros for 2019. Houston already was dealing with the free agency of Dallas Keuchel and Morton and have Gerrit Cole and Justin Verlander set to hit the market next offseason.

➤ In the preliminary stages of their search for a new bench coach, the Mets are doing background work on recent NL managers such as Jim Riggelman, Fredi Gonzalez, Bryan Price, Pete Mackanin and John Russell.