Ugh.

Listen to this audio from former Mets and Orioles General Manager Jim Duquette, who now works as an analyst for MLB Network Radio on Sirius:

Ugh….

Duquette:

“The Phillies have made their offer and it hasn’t moved. Now they have a feeling that they’re not as likely to get him, at least right now.

It’s not the biggest offer from what I can tell.”

Look, if Bryce Harper wants to stay on the west coast, close to his hometown of Las Vegas, then I can’t fault him for that.

But if John Middleton will not go above $300 million in his attempt to bring Harper to Philadelphia, then he will never, ever live down the “stupid money” comment. You have to top $300 million before you can turn around and tell Phillies fans, “Listen, we tried to get him, he just didn’t want to be here. It was not about the money.

You can’t leave this door open.

(if the report is true)