There’s still no telling where Bryce Harper will end up playing for the 2019 MLB season. But despite that uncertainty, at least one major sportsbook is already making the 26-year-old outfielder its favorite to win the National League MVP award this year.
The Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook has installed Harper as the 6/1 top choice to win the NL MVP award, putting him just ahead of Nolan Arenado (7/1) as the man to beat for the honor.
Harper Linked to Three NL Teams
That decision may not be as crazy as it sounds. After all, Harper’s biggest suitors appear to be National League teams, with the Philadelphia Phillies, San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers all being considered likely landing spots for the superstar.
“We think Harper’s favorite destination is Philadelphia,†Las Vegas SuperBook director John Murray told ESPN. “That’s a Little League park. You can imagine how many home runs he’d hit there as his home park. If he ends up going to the Dodgers, you could see the odds tweaked a bit since that’s such a pitchers’ park. He’s an elite player and is going to be one of the favorites for MVP for a while.â€
Harper won the NL MVP back in 2015, when he led the league in home runs, runs scored, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage for the Washington Nationals. While 2018 may have been somewhat disappointing by his standards, there’s no reason to think that the 26-year-old won’t be one of the top players in the National League if he ends up at one of his most likely destinations.
After Arenado, who just signed an eight-year deal to stay with the Colorado Rockies, other top NL MVP contenders include Paul Goldschmidt (10/1), Kris Bryant (12/1), and Manny Machado (15/1).
Trout Leads AL MVP Contenders
Mike Trout (3/1) opened as the top choice in AL MVP betting ahead of Mookie Betts (4/1) and Aaron Judge (10/1).
The Las Vegas SuperBook is also offering Cy Young betting. Max Scherzer (5/2) is the favorite over defending winner Jacob deGrom (7/2) in the National League, while Cory Kluber (7/2) has been given a slight nod over Chris Sale (4/1) in the AL.
Harper could still ultimately end up in the American League, as the Chicago White Sox have been one of the teams that have pursued the outfielder. But all of the top contenders now look to be NL franchises, and Harper is expected to make a decision on where he will sign sometime in the next few days.
Phillies Fading in Harper Sweepstakes?
In just the past day, the sands appear to be shifting when it comes to where Harper may end up. According to an ESPN report, the Giants had a second meeting with the slugger on Tuesday, with multiple media outlets reporting that the team is willing to offer Harper a 10-year deal.
Until recently, the Phillies were thought to be the favorite to land Harper, though MLB Network Radio’s Steve Phillips is now saying that Philadelphia believes their chances of getting him have taken a major hit. Meanwhile, reports have suggested that the Dodgers are primarily interested in offering Harper a short-term deal rather than a massive long-term contract.