The Latest Breaking News from Bryce Harper

Let’s not kid ourselves. The biggest story of Phillies spring training is the 19-year-old who could end up in the starting rotation when the season opens March 30. But, then, you knew that. So, let’s give Andrew Painter a break and take a look at the three other plot lines…

MINNEAPOLIS — Now that they have taken their relationship with super agent Scott Boras to another level, one thing is certain:

LOS ANGELES — Mike Trout's beloved Philadelphia Eagles play Saturday. He'll be in attendance.

These are the most likely stars at their age to reach Cooperstown.

PHILADELPHIA — In stretching out Trea Turner’s $300 million contract over 11 years, the Phillies diluted the average annual salary for luxury-tax purposes and payroll flexibility. It’s the approach they took four years ago in signing Bryce Harper. The length of Turner’s deal, like Harper’s 13-year pact, was predicated on…

BOSTON — It’s not the Rafael Devers news Red Sox fans were hoping for.

What to do when your favorite story of the year is reduced to a work of fiction.

ATLANTA — The Phillies raised eyebrows when they signed Bryce Harper to a 13-year contract for $330 million. Harper was voted National League MVP at 22 years old and still was in his prime, but what about later? The Phillies are on the hook to pay Harper $288 million after…

The Giants began this winter with the intention of finding a new face of their franchise. They thought it would be a mighty slugger who loved them growing up. Instead, it will be a superstar shortstop signing up for his third team in three years.

PHILADELPHIA — Trea Turner owned the stage, but the venue belonged to the man wearing wire-rimmed glasses and a brown blazer with elbow patches. John Middleton went out of his way to make this something other than his day. But that’s what it was.

Last month — nobody seems to recall the exact date, but it was between the end of the World Series and Thanksgiving — Dave Dombrowski, Sam Fuld, and Rob Thomson flew to Florida, sat down at Trea and Kristen Turner’s dinner table, and talked.