Phillies Hot Stove: Boras, Harper Could Put On ‘Big Show’ at Winter Meetings

By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

The Philadelphia 76ers went "star-hunting" and came away with Jimmy Butler. The Philadelphia Eagles landed wide receiver Golden Tate. Both acquisitions came arguably out of nowhere, and seem to finalize without delay. So, if the Philadelphia Phillies are the "favorite" to sign Bryce Harper, when will they get their chance to shine?

Unlike the NBA and NFL, the MLB and Harper have agent Scott Boras, who tends to take his time before crossing the "Ts" and dotting the "Is."

Read: Salisbury: Harper 'Plays Hard, Hustles' Despite 'Showman's Personality'

Saturday on SportsRadio 94 WIP with Glen Macnow and Ray Didinger, NBC Sports Philadephia's Jim Salisbury noted the time it took Boras' two top clients last offseason to ink a deal, J.D. Martinez with the Boston Red Sox and Jake Arrieta with the Phillies.

"Last year, J.D. Martinez went right as spring training was starting. Jake Arrieta was like three weeks into spring training. So, [Boras] has a way of dragging these things along," Salisbury said.

Salisbury believes Harper will be a "similar case," and that negotiations will take "a while" because of its complexity and the "magnitude of the player."

Read: Harper’s Agent ‘Pretty Good Buddies’ With Phillies Managing Partner Middleton

"It's so far beyond a front office; it goes right to the ownership level," Salisbury said. Phillies Managing Partner John Middleton has not refrained from sharing his viewpoints, to at least reporters, on his desire to improve the Phillies this offseason. He wants to sign both Harper and Manny Machado.

Yet, the exact time frame of when the Phillies can sign those players is out of their control, and solely in the control of the players themselves and their agents.

Salisbury said the only factor that may prevent Boras from stretching Harper's contract negotiations out of 2018, and into 2019, are the annual Winter Meetings, which will take place in Harper's hometown of Las Vegas, Nevada, Dec. 9-13.

"There's a 'showman' kind of feel to Bryce Harper. There's a showman feel to Scott Boras," Salisbury said. "I wouldn't put it past them to at least consider a 'big show' in Las Vegas — the kid's hometown. Not saying it's likely, because I think the negotiation will be more complicated than that, but you never know.

We're a month away from the Winter Meetings. There could be a big show there."

"Big show" or not, Phillies fans will certainly be glued to every television set, social media feed and radio interview throughout the offseason, awaiting the news of what they hope to be a signing of the longtime Nationals outfielder.