SCOTTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Bryce Harper meets with the Los Angeles Dodgers and the very next day, a Brinks truck is parked right outside the team’s spring training complex.
Coincidence or correlation?
With the first full week of exhibition games on deck, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed he joined club executives in meeting with Harper in Las Vegas on Sunday night.
Roberts said it was a good session and gave the sides a chance to “get to know each other.” Roberts says the Dodgers were “vetting a certain process.”
Harper has been connected to the Philadelphia Phillies and the San Francisco Giants during a second consecutive slow free-agent market for the sport. Manny Machado, the other top free agent this winter, signed a $300 million, 10-year deal with the San Diego Padres on Thursday.
The 26-year-old Harper was the 2015 NL MVP and made six All-Star teams in seven big league seasons with the Washington Nationals. He batted .249 with 34 home runs, 100 RBIs and an .889 OPS last season.
WHITE SOX 4, GIANTS 4, 9 INNINGS
Chicago starter Manny Banuelos struck out four in two innings. Yoan Moncada had two hits, drove in a run and scored.
Derek Holland had a rough one-inning spring debut, allowing three runs on three hits for San Francisco. Drew Pomeranz threw two innings out of the bullpen, giving up a pair of hits and striking out two. Yangervis Solarte homered.
DIAMONDBACKS 4, ATHLETICS 3
Zack Greinke made his spring debut and worked two clean innings for Arizona.
Dustin Fowler homered and Cliff Pennington and Nick Martini each had two hits for Oakland.