After reports that the team was entertaining offers for Bryce Harper, Nationals GM Mike Rizzo is reportedly denying rumors that superstar outfielder is on the market -- all this as the clock counts down to the nonwaiver trading deadline at 4 p.m. Tuesday. Keep up with the latest.
Washington Nationals’ Bryce Harper hits a three-run home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Wednesday, July 25, 2018, in Milwaukee.
(AP Photo/Morry Gash)
AP Photo/Morry Gash
Washington Nationals’ Bryce Harper is congratulated after hitting a three-run home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Wednesday, July 25, 2018, in Milwaukee.
(AP Photo/Morry Gash)
AP Photo/Morry Gash
Washington Nationals’ Bryce Harper and Adam Eaton celebrate after a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Wednesday, July 25, 2018, in Milwaukee. The Nationals won 7-3.
(AP Photo/Morry Gash)
AP Photo/Morry Gash
Washington Nationals’ Bryce Harper wipes his face during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Sunday, July 22, 2018, in Washington.
(AP Photo/Nick Wass)
AP Photo/Nick Wass
Washington Nationals’ Bryce Harper hits an RBI-single during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Sunday, July 22, 2018, in Washington.
(AP Photo/Nick Wass)
AP Photo/Nick Wass
Washington Nationals’ Kelvin Herrera (40) and Bryce Harper, right, celebrate after a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Sunday, July 22, 2018, in Washington.
(AP Photo/Nick Wass)
AP Photo/Nick Wass
Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper (34) walks off the field after striking out in the fourth inning of the Major League Baseball All-star Game, Tuesday, July 17, 2018 in Washington.
(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
AP Photo/Alex Brandon
Washington Nationals Bryce Harper stands with his father Ron Harper after Bryce won the Major League Baseball Home Run Derby, Monday, July 16, 2018 in Washington. The 89th MLB baseball All-Star Game will be played Tuesday.
(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
AP Photo/Alex Brandon
Most reasonable people who watched the MLB Home Run Derby would agree that Bryce Harper’s dramatic win was fun and exciting. Alas, the phrase “reasonable people” seldom applies to Cubs’ fans who evidently see a conspiracy.
(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
AP Photo/Alex Brandon
Washington Nationals Bryce Harper (34) waves to fans during the MLB Home Run Derby, at Nationals Park, Monday, July 16, 2018 in Washington. The 89th MLB baseball All-Star Game will be played Tuesday.
(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
AP Photo/Alex Brandon
Washington Nationals Bryce Harper reacts to his last home run to win the the Major League Baseball Home Run Derby, Monday, July 16, 2018 in Washington. The 89th MLB baseball All-Star Game will be played Tuesday.
(AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster
Washington Nationals’ Bryce Harper pulls off his batting gloves after striking out to end the top of the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Saturday, July 14, 2018, in New York. The Mets won 7-4.
(AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
AP Photo/Julie Jacobson
Washington Nationals’ Bryce Harper warms up during a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Nationals Park, Monday, July 2, 2018, in Washington.
(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
AP Photo/Andrew Harnik
Washington Nationals’ Bryce Harper stands in the dugout after striking out to the Blue Jays during the fifth inning of a baseball game Friday, June 15, 2018, in Toronto.
(Tijana Martin/The Canadian Press via AP)
Tijana Martin/The Canadian Press via AP
Washington Nationals’ Bryce Harper reacts after striking out against the Atlanta Braves during the eighth inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 2, 2018, in Atlanta.
(AP Photo/John Amis)
AP Photo/John Amis
Washington Nationals’ Bryce Harper looks out from the dugout before a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Sunday, May 20, 2018, in Washington.
(AP Photo/Nick Wass)
WTOP's Neal Augenstein asks fans what they think of a possible Bryce Harper trade.
WASHINGTON – The general manager of the Washington Nationals has denied rumors that the team is thinking of trading superstar outfielder Bryce Harper.
On Tuesday morning, The Washington Post reported that after a sleepless night, Nationals General Manager Mike Rizzo told them “Bryce is not going anywhere. I believe in this team.”
The denial caps off a 12-hour span in which it was reported that the team was entertaining offers for Harper and moving from potential contenders to potential sellers as the trade deadline approached.
The deadline for nonwaiver trades is 4 p.m. Tuesday. After that, any players involved in a trade must be waived, with any team having the opportunity to pick them up if they’ll take on the player’s contract.
MLB.com reported the Nationals had made it known to other teams that Harper is indeed available.
The website added the Cleveland Indians have had regular talks about a possible Harper deal, but those discussions have not picked up any momentum.
Ken Rosenthal of Fox reported the Nationals have been “sending out feelers” on Harper to gauge possible interest from other teams.
Harper is a free agent at the end of the season, and the Nationals face the prospect of losing him then to another team without getting anything in return. Before the start of the 2018 campaign, Harper made it clear he did not want to discuss his future.
Runaway division leaders the last two seasons, the Washington Nationals are struggling to stay in the 2018 race.
With the team set to begin a home series against the Mets Tuesday night, the Nationals are six games out of first place in the NL East and six games out of the second wild-card spot.
