fielder Bryce Harper reportedly went well for both sides.According to Fancred's Jon Heyman Ken Boyer Jersey , Harper "really hit it off" with Phillies manager Gabe Kapler during the meeting.Heyman previously reported that the Phillies may be leaning toward signing Harper over free-agent infielder Manny Machado, and he cited the meeting as one reason for that.Additionally,Heymannoted that the acquisition of shortstop JeanSegurafrom the Seattle Mariners could cause the Phillies to focus more on the outfield.Also, Harper has had success against the Phillies in the past http://www.stlouiscardinalsteamshop.com/authentic-marcell-ozuna-jersey , and they can hurt an NL East rival by signing him away from the Washington Nationals.On Tuesday,BobNightengaleofUSA Todayreported that Phillies executives "have visions" of signing Harper, starting pitcher DallasKeucheland closer CraigKimbrelin free agency.Harper would be the grand prize given his remarkable resume at just 26 years of age.He is already a six-time All-Star and one-time National League MVP award winner, plus Harper is coming off another strong campaign.Although he hit just .249 last season Whitey Herzog Jersey , Harper led the NL in walks with 130 and finished with 34 home runs to go along with a career-high 100 RBI.Over seven MLB seasons, Harper owns a career batting average of .279 with 184 homers and 521 RBI.Last season, the Phillies ranked just 21st in Major League Baseball with 677 runs scored, 15th in home runs with 186 and last in batting average at .234.Harper would give Philadelphia a significant boost in all of those areas http://www.stlouiscardinalsteamshop.com/authentic-marcell-ozuna-jersey , and he would enter the heart of a lineup that has already been improved by the acquisition ofSeguraand the signing of veteran outfielder AndrewMcCutchen.The Phillies were in playoff contention for much of last season before fading down the stretch and finishing 80-82, but if they can sign Harper, they will likely supplant the Atlanta Braves as the favorites to win the NL East in 2019. Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman is no fan of the constant championship parades in Boston."After watching the Patriots win and with the Red Sox beating us last year, there's no other city that I would like to beat more this year than Boston Orlando Cepeda Jersey ," he said on the Going Deep with Chad and JT podcast (h/t David Schoenfield of ESPN.com).The Red Sox notably defeated the Astros in last year's American League Championship Series on their way to a World Series crown. Houston beat Boston in the 2017 American League Division Series before winning its own championship.Bregman's comments could add fuel to the fire between two teams that have dominated the league of late, but Red Sox manager Alex Cora said, "That's my guy, so I'm not going to react to that one."Despite Cora's tampering of any potential drama Keith Hernandez Jersey , Schoenfield noted there was a sign-stealing controversy during last year's ALCS. Major League Baseball cleared the Astros of any wrongdoing, but "Red Sox president Dave Dombrowski wasn't happy with Houston general manager Jeff Luhnow's explanation that the Astros were merely being proactive in policing other ballparks for 'suspicious activity,'" Schoenfield wrote.Perhaps there will be a third straight postseason matchup in 2019 where Bregman's comments would surely be brought up again leading into the series.FanGraphs' 2019projectionspredicted the Red Sox to finish with the best record in baseball at 97-65 with the Astros third at 94-68. That would set the stage for a potential rubber match after the past two years.Houston will likely need Bregman to continue playing at the level he did in 2018 to reach those heights. He made his first All-Star Game and slashed .286/.394/.532 with 31 home runs and 103 RBI.
