Dylan Buell/Getty ImagesTwo weeks after ESPN analyst Alex Rodriguez ripped Chicago Cubs pitcher Yu Darvish during a broadcast Tucker Barnhart Jersey , he and Cubs manager Joe Maddon cleared the air."Alex and I had a really nice discussion," Maddon said before his team's Sunday night game against the Washington Nationals, per Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com."I felt good about it. Hopefully he felt equally the same.""We had a brief, very positive conversation," Rodriguez added.The controversy began on July 29, when the Cubs faced the St. Louis Cardinals onSunday Night Baseball. During the broadcast, Rodriguez claimed Darvishwas creating a rift in the clubhouse with his slow return from a triceps injury that has sidelined him since May."I totally disagree with that http://www.redsfanproshop.com/authentic-matt-harvey-jersey ," Maddon said at the time, perMark Gonzalesof theChicago Tribune. "Everyone knows what's going on. We know there is an injury there. We support his recovery. Everybody in there knows and everyone in the coaches' room knows also, throughout the organization."Darvish's agent, Joel Wolfe, called Rodriguez's comments "classless" and said they "bordered on unprofessional," perPatrick Mooneyof The Athletic.Rodriguez didn't take back his comments, but he at least acknowledged the complaints from the Cubs' perspective."We don't always have to agree on everything Scott Schebler Jersey ," the 22-year MLB veteran said, "But I do have a lot of respect for Joe and the Cubs organization...and that hasn't changed." The Washington Nationals reportedly offered free-agent outfielder Bryce Harper a 10-year deal worth $300 million.According to Chelsea Janes of theWashington Post, that offer did not include any opt-out clauses.Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic noted the Nats likely knew Harper wouldn't accept the offer, and he mentioned Washington as a "fallback" for Harper if he doesn't get the deal he wants.Rosenthal added that Harper is hoping to receive a bigger contract than the 13-year, $325 million deal New York Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton signed with the Miami Marlins in 2014.Last year, an anonymous MLB general manager suggested to ESPN.com'sEddie Matzthat Harper could land a $400 million contract in free agency.On Tuesday, Nationals GM Mike Rizzo toldESPN.comthat Washington isn't giving up on bringing Harper back into the fold:"We've had conversations and we utilized our exclusivity to negotiate with him late in the season through when he became eligible to sign with a team. We didn't get anything done Scooter Gennett Jersey , but he's a guy that is near and dear to us and we are not closing any doors."The 26-year-old Harper is coming off his sixth All-Star nod in seven MLB seasons after he hit .249 with 34 home runs and 100 RBI in 2018.While Harper's batting average left something to be desired, he walked an MLB-leading 130 times and posted an on-base percentage of .393, good for ninth in the majors.Harper made his MLB debut in 2012, just two years after the Nationals selected him with the No. 1 overall pick in the MLB draft.He was named the National League Rookie of the Year, and three seasons after that, he won the National League MVP Award when he hit .330 with 42 homers and 99 RBI.In 927 career games, Harper is hitting .279 with 184 home runs and 521 RBI.Because of his age and impressive resume George Foster Jersey , Harper is seemingly in line to land a record-breaking contract. His agent, Scott Boras, has the reputation and skills to get him that sort of deal.Harper leads a strong free-agent class that includes shortstop Manny Machado, starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel, closer Craig Kimbrel and several other top-flight options.