The San Francisco Giants Should Not Pursue Bryce Harper

The San Francisco Giants find themselves in a bit of a quandary as the 2018 season winds down. With what we’ve seen from this 2018 team, it’s obvious that they’re superior to the 2017 Giants.

However, that’s an incredibly low bar and it’s apparent that changes need to and will be made this upcoming offseason for the San Francisco Giants.

A total rebuild is unlikely, but they will certainly target free agents and may even attempt some trades that will bolster a lineup that is in desperate need of a shot in the arm.

The San Francisco Giants thought Andrew McCutchen and Evan Longoria would be enough to get them over the hump, but it’s clear, especially with McCutchen being traded to the Yankees, that they weren’t enough.

So it’s understandable why a name like Bryce Harper is being floated out there as someone for the Giants to pursue. He’s a young phenom who will most likely be hitting the free agent market for the first time (barring him and the Nationals reach a deal before season’s end) and will command a boatload of money.

Well, I’m here to be that guy who says that going after Harper would be a bad move. But first, I’ll go over the obvious reasons that people would want to see him in orange and black.

He’s young, he’s pretty good, and we all know that he can hit the ball into McCovey Cove. Yet, in my mind at least, there are a plethora of reasons why the Giants should steer clear of Harper.

First of all, he’s going to be super expensive. Even with a somewhat down year, (his avg. is down at .247 although the power stats are still high) numbers approaching $300 million are still being tossed around.

There’s no doubt that the Giants can afford him, but I’m not so sure this is the guy to blow that much money on.

That brings me to my second point, I don’t think I could bring myself to root for Bryce Harper. From his hairstyle to the way he carries himself, for me at least, leaves a lot to be desired.

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The Giants aren’t strangers to having unlikable left-handed power hitters, but our old pal Barry was different.

Sure, Harper has matured over the years, but his general unlikable aura still lingers. A guy being unlikable isn’t enough to not go after him, but it certainly isn’t a reason to sign him.

Now, on to my final point, which is that going after Harper will be a waste of time. I think all of us, as idealistic yet practical Giants fans, know deep down in our hearts that Bryce Harper will not be a Giant next year, nor likely ever.

He doesn’t want to come here, and why should he? Unless the Giants get rid of Hunter Strickland, he’ll be teammates with a dude who chucked something at him and then punched him in the face! It would be Barry Bonds and Jeff Kent on steroids(joke kind of intended).

Although he wants to make a ton of money, he’s still probably intent on winning a ring, and the Giants are more than a Bryce Harper away from winning one of those. Oh yeah, and don’t forget the fact that AT&T Park is the most pitcher-friendly yard in the MLB.

There are those who say the Giants have nothing to lose in pursuing Harper, but I see it a different way. By pursuing Harper, they will expend so much time and effort that they may miss out on other, not as big-name free agents who could help the team just as much if not more.

That’s the lesson learned from the Giancarlo Stanton hunt last year. Going after a big bat like that is fun and all, but you know it’s just not meant to be.

So, there it is — I rest my case. Many of you probably disagree, and I understand. The Giants may or may not go after Harper but one thing is clear: they’ve got to improve somehow if they want to contend for a title in 2019.