Harper wants to win World Series 'for the fans of Montreal'

This one is for you, Montreal.

During an interview in which Bryce Harper touched on potentially highlighting the much-anticipated free-agent group of 2019, the 24-year-old former National League MVP also expressed his burning desire to win a World Series in Washington, and in the process give Montreal Expos supporters the chance to celebrate as well.

"I want to win it so bad, not just for the fans of D.C., but for the fans of Montreal as well," Harper said, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports. "That’s what people forget sometimes. It’s not just D.C., but the Expos organization.

"People forget how good those teams were in Montreal. Look at all of the studs they drafted that came through the organization. Randy Johnson. Cliff Lee. Delino DeShields. Marquis Grissom. It’s crazy to look back to see how good those teams were and what could have been," he said.

"We’d love to win it for all of those people."

Montreal relocated to Washington after the 2004 season following 35 years in the City of Saints. Despite the Expos' loyal following, the franchise made the postseason only once in 1981.

The Nationals, meanwhile, have qualified for the postseason three times since 2012 but have failed to advance past the League Division Series, posting a combined 5-9 record over that stretch. If Washington hopes to make some noise in October, Harper will need to improve on 2016 after the young outfielder struggled to recapture his MVP form of two years ago.

"I feel like everybody goes through aches and pains during the season," Harper says. "You can’t make excuses. What’s the point? You’re still playing. That’s just part of the game. Part of sports. You just play through those. I feel I should be out there every day, playing hard for my team."