Little doubt a deal would get done

by Phil Wood

That the Nationals would sign Bryce Harper was never in much doubt. That they would give him a major league contract at age 17 is somewhat surprising, but not overwhelmingly so.

The exact details of Harper's deal aren't yet known, but industry sources have insisted for weeks that he'd get the biggest deal ever given a 17-year-old.

If it's in that $10 million range (as MASNsports.com's Byron Kerr is reporting), it's done just that; if it took a big league deal to get it done, so be it.

Harper seems to be extremely motivated to make the majors before he's 20. There haven't been many who have done so as position players, but everything about Harper, from his swing to his Gene Simmons-esque eye black, seems to defy convention.

The Nats never reassigned #34 after they released Elijah Dukes in March. The only question now is whether Harper merchandise will be available at the team store by the next homestand.

By the way, I'd love to be a fly on the wall in Scott Boras' office to find out how he manages to multi-task with so many first round clients who were still unsigned with only an hour to go before the deadline.