WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — As the Bryce Harper sweepstakes continues for yet another day, people are wondering "what's taking so long?"
Sports Director Darren Haynes sat down to have dinner with Nationals manager Davey Martinez, and the two talked about the outfielder.
"How much do you want Bryce on your team?" asked Darren.
"You know what," responded Martinez. "Bryce and I have a special relationship, everybody knows that. Who wouldn't want Bryce on their team, honestly? He's one of the best young players in the game. For me, it's all about what he wants for his family, and his career. He's got big decisions to make."
If Harper did decide to return to the Nationals, how would the manager respond?
"Be like hey, welcome back," answered Davey Martinez. "Time to work, let's go to work you know?"
So does the Nats skipper ultimately think Bryce will be back in DC?
"You know part of me says no, and part of me says yes," answered the Nationals second year manager. "The way this game is, you just don't know. I can't lean either way. It's so weird."
Ultimately, the Nationals manager needs to worry about the players he has, not the one who's still a free agent.
"I try to say 'this is what I gotta do today,'" said Martinez. I gotta lead 59 guys tomorrow morning, get up at 6 o'clock, get to that ballpark, and get the day going when they start trickling in. My focus is on the day at hand, and the here and now. And that's kinda what I worry about."