The current offseason might belong to outfielder Juan Soto, however, it was not long ago that Bryce Harper was the most sought-after name on the open market. After a successful tenure from an individual standpoint with the Washington Nationals, the star outfielder hit the open market in search of greener pastures in 2019.
The likely future Hall of Famer was approached by several different MLB teams before signing with the Philadelphia Phillies for a then-record 13-year, $330 million contract. Some of the teams that reached out to Bryce Harper about his services were the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Harper and his wife Kayla spoke in interview in 2019 with "The Magazine" after signing with the Phillies, specifically about some of the meetings they had with teams. It was during meetings with the Los Angeles Dodgers that the couple witnessed one of their favorite rumors of the free agency.
"My favorite was the time we met with Magic Johnson and the Dodgers. That was a good one. We never met with him," Bryce said of the rumor.
Coincidentally, when Bryce Harper entered the MLB in 2012, Magic Johnson joined up with Guggenheim Partners and Stan Kasten to purchase the Los Angeles Dodgers.
"It was a disappointment that I didn't get to meet him, but at least everyone thought I did," Bryce's wife Kayla Harper said of the alleged meeting with NBA great Magic Johnson.
Since that time, Magic has continued his ownership stake, winning two World Series titles.
The Los Angeles Dodgers might be the biggest obstacle for Bryce Harper
Although Bryce Harper signed with the Philadelphia Phillies, it would be interesting to have seen what would have happened if one of the most famous players in the MLB suited up for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
That being said, if Harper is finally going to hoist the Commissioner's Trophy, he will likely need to defeat Magic Johnson's Dodgers. Thanks to the powerhouse trio of Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani, and Freddie Freeman, the Dodgers have the making of a dynasty after winning the 2024 World Series.