Wire Taps: Juan Soto keeps hitting home runs; Bryce Harper rumors + more Nationals links...

Juan Soto keeps hitting home runs, though he’s not a teenager hitting homers any longer, and Bryce Harper keeps generating headlines without doing much but waiting for offers.

It’s already a weird winter and it’s only going to get weirder. Go get up to date on the latest news and rumors...

NATS BEAT:

How Scott Boras plans to get a $400 million deal for Bryce Harper - (WaPost)
”Boras and his staff have trimmed the Harper binder from its original length of 100-plus pages. Every second of the sales pitch has to be perfect.”

Nationals fans ask about Harper, offseason - (MLB.com)
"For now, no one on either side has closed the door on a reunion between Harper and the Nats, but at some point, Washington may be ready to move on."

Nationals likely to be left out of Bryce 'Harper's bazaar' - (Washington Times)
"Enter Ted Lerner and the Washington Nationals, in the infancy of their ownership, offering Teixeira an eight-year, $160 million contract — raising the stakes for the free agent."

Yuki Yanagita homers as Japan beats MLB - (MLB.com)
"Nationals outfielder and National League Rookie of the Year finalist Juan Soto got the MLB All-Stars on the board in the fifth, mashing a homer down the left-field line for the second straight game..."

Arizona Fall League roundup for November 9 - (MLB.com)
"Nationals No. 2 prospect Carter Kieboom and Daniel Johnson (No. 7) had rather pedestrian days at the plate as Kieboom went 1-for-3 and Johnson finished 0-for-2."

Instructional league wrap-up: hitters Antuna, Garcia and Harrison - (MASN)
"Shortstop Luis Garcia, the Nationals’ No. 3-rated prospect, moved up from Hagerstown to high Single-A Potomac after making some early-season adjustments."

Each MLB team's top trade candidates - (MLB.com)
"With Juan Soto, Victor Robles and Adam Eaton in the outfield -- not to mention the potential return of Bryce Harper -- Taylor would appear to be the odd man out."

Not many quality catchers available this winter - (MASN)
"If there’s only one move the Nationals are 100 percent guaranteed to make this winter, it’s the acquisition of a catcher."

NATIONAL(S) BEAT:

Trevor Rosenthal contract with Washington Nationals - (ESPN)
"If the mutual option for 2020 is exercised, he could earn $6 million in performances that year for games finished: $2 million each for 30, 40 and 50."

Bryce Harper, Manny Machado Free Agency Rumors: Odds Favor Phillies Among Teams Stars Could Sign - (Newsweek)
"Harper and Machado are both prized stars in their mid-20s, meaning they're likely just now hitting their prime."

Postcard from California: How much will David Ross and Willson Contreras factor into the 2019 Cubs season? – (The Athletic)
"Executives with obvious needs and money to spend like Philadelphia Phillies general manager Matt Klentak and Chicago White Sox GM Rick Hahn chose not to speak of any free-agent targets by name, while Washington Nationals team president Mike Rizzo openly spoke of courting different players via trade and free agency."

A look at the six Rookie of the Year finalists for the 2018 MLB season - (Yahoo!Sports)
"The 19-year-old wasn’t in the Nationals’ plans for 2018, but like all of the Nationals plans that quickly changed when injuries struck early."

NL EAST UPDATES:

Seidman's 5-point Phillies offseason plan: Bryce Harper, Zach Britton and a trade - (NBC Sports Philadelphia)
"If the Phillies were to get Harper on a nine-year deal, they'd avoid paying him $40 million or so after the age of 35."

J.P. Ricciardi leaves NY Mets front office, team announces - (NorthJersey.com)
"Special assistant JP Ricciardi is exiting the organization after the parties mutually agreed to part ways. Ricciardi joined the organization after the Mets hired Sandy Alderson, and is exiting now as Brodie Van Wagenen has taken charge."

Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto not distracted by trade rumors - (Sun Sentinel)
"Miami Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto isn't letting trade rumors become a distraction either at home or in Japan, where he is currently part of an MLB All-Star tour."

Nick Markakis wins Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger Award - (MLB.com)
"The Atlanta Braves congratulate OF Nick Markakis on winning a 2018 National League Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger award, the first such honor of his career."