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It appears Bryce Harper is heading back to college and Manny Machado may join him:
Early Friday morning, Harper declared on his Facebook page that he’s, “Probably going back to [the College of Southern Nevada] to win a National Championship!” and Machado quickly joined in by saying he’d like to join Harper there. The deadline for both players to sign with the clubs that drafted them is Aug. 16.
This comes weeks after Andy MacPhail told season ticket holders he was very confident Machado would sign:
I’m very confident Machado will sign. Most of those top-round players will sign around that Aug. 16 deadline.
Joe Jordan added:
Playing for the Orioles is what he wants and that’s what we want. And if it’s what both sides want, we will find a way to get it done.
I’m not sure I buy all of the hype, but this certainly makes things interesting as we approach the August 16 signing deadline. I’m going to take these rumors with a grain of salt.
UPDATE: 2:38 AM – Here’s a picture with Machado’s comments, which he deleted shortly after posting them:
UPDATE: 1:28 PM – Jim Callis makes a good point over Twitter. He still believes both will sign:
Neither, just teenagers being teenagers on Facebook. @JimmyKoury: machado & Harper really going to same school? Or posturing for more money?
Jim Callis
jimcallisBA
Sounds like Boras trying to exert some leverage over the situation.
Well let them posture…
It is one of those items that really makes you lose in the long run. Lets go back to the same top ten player to say “No” to a deal…….Wade Townsend. He may have gotten drafted by the Rays in the top ten again, but time off and going into a new deal, he sets so long out of sync that I tend to think it is a serious reason for hitting the injury bug.
Play with fire and go back… Levon Washington tried it and is losing alot of money because his skills were exposed when going against better than high school level talent.
If they go to college, won’t they be stuck there for 3 years
Not at a CC.