Report: Harper claimed on revocable waivers by mystery team

The floundering Washington Nationals placed Bryce Harper on revocable waivers, and the superstar outfielder has reportedly been claimed, according to a report from Chelsea Janes and Jorge Castillo of the Washington Post.

Harper is one of at least three Nationals players to have been claimed, including second baseman Daniel Murphy and outfielder Matt Adams. Castillo notes that Mark Reynolds, Matt Wieters, and Gio Gonzalez had also been placed on waivers.

While the team that claimed Harper is not known, National League clubs do have the first opportunity since waiver claims are league-preferred. Washington, notified on Sunday of the claim, has 48 hours to either work out a trade with the team or pull Harper back from waivers.

The 25-year-old Harper is set to become a free agent for the first time this offseason, and avoided arbitration this past winter by signing a one-year, $21.6-million deal plus incentives. Over 122 games this year, Harper is posting a .246/.380/.511 slash line with 30 home runs and nine stolen bases.

At 62-63, the Nationals currently sit 7 1/2 games back of the division-leading Atlanta Braves, and 6 1/2 back of the second-place Philadelphia Phillies.