MIAMI _ Good news: Bryce Harper likes playing in New York.
But ...
Answer to a question from a Chicago reporter: Harper likes playing there, too.
Los Angeles? Yep, has always enjoyed the trip.
Oh, and the Nationals outfielder also has an affinity for the only home he's known as a major leaguer, D.C.
Still nearly two years out from what is anticipated to be perhaps the most scrutinized free agency in any sport since LeBron James', Harper already is fielding a remarkable number of questions about it.
And, truth be told, the 24-year-old doesn't mind.
"I think it's fun," Harper said Monday. "I think it's fun for fans, I think it's fun for baseball. I think it's part of the world that we live in and the way people want to know and always have an opinion about it. I think everybody's going to have an opinion about it the next year and a half, two years."
Many assume the Yankees will end up with Harper _ yet it's always useful to remind those doing the assuming that managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner isn't his father when it comes to such things _ but the right fielder wasn't providing any clues.
"I've always said I enjoy playing in D.C., I love the city of D.C.," Harper said. "I love driving to Nats Park. I don't like 395, but I don't think anybody does. Being able to go to Nats Park every single day, have the team that we do, the respect I have for the Lerner family (owners) and (general manager) Mike Rizzo is above and beyond. The young guys that we have, we have a great club. So I'm looking forward to what we can do this year and go from there."
