The years start coming and then they do stop coming in a potential Bryce Harper-Giants mega-deal, and Smash Mouth is not happy about it.
The Giants are not willing to offer Harper the long-term contract he has awaited because of hesitations from their new president of baseball operations, former Dodgers exec Farhan Zaidi, according to exclusive reporting by a ’90s pop band that is exerting all its credibility might and is coming up far, far short.
“We are hearing Giants ownership/upper mgmt might not be on the same page as Zaidi regarding Harper,” Smash Mouth’s official account tweeted Tuesday. It is unclear if frontman Steve Harwell uncovered the scoop or the entire group is collectively plugged in to the baseball scene. “They want to offer a long term contract like they did with Bonds and Zaidi does NOT want to. Sabean/Baer step the F up, this is your team, not some slappy’s from the Dodgers! @KNBR.”
The “reporting” does make a bit of sense, regardless of whether the only Venn diagram overlap between Harper and Smash Mouth is “All-Star.” The Phillies have long been the favorites for the free-agent outfielder and are believed to be willing to go the length — about 10 years — that Harper is after. On the other side of the spectrum is the Dodgers, who met this weekend with the 26-year-old and are trying to offer a shorter-term alternative that likely would break the average annual record (Zack Greinke’s $34.42 million). Somewhere in the middle are the Giants, who offer rough proximity to Harper’s Las Vegas home and are likely a more attractive destination than Philadelphia, but who have not blown Harper away with average money or years.
And Zaidi, an analytical mind from the Dodgers, may be the reason, as he comes from a background of valuing maneuverability and versatility, while Harper likely would handcuff the Giants’ team-building. Meanwhile, Brian Sabean, whom Zaidi replaced but is still around the Giants, and team CEO Larry Baer were part of the more free-wheeling group that went for it last offseason with Evan Longoria and Andrew McCutchen.
So if the Giants want to appease Smash Mouth and Harper, maybe Sabean and Baer will have to talk louder and meet Harper’s 10-year, $300 million-plus requests. What a concept.
