For Cubs fans, the Bryce Harper dream won’t die until he’s putting on a different jersey at some other team’s press conference. And that would only begin their countdown until Harper can opt out of what might be the biggest contract in the history of professional sports.



Cubs fans, the Chicago media and national baseball writers have all been conditioned to never underestimate team president Theo Epstein, always anticipating the next bold move and another big name on the Wrigley Field marquee.



As Harper’s camp has staged a series of meetings in Las Vegas and Los Angeles, there are mixed signals on whether or not the Cubs are a factor in the talks and if the franchise’s financial limitations really are restrictive enough to keep him out of reach.



Cubs officials throughout the organization have privately downplayed or dismissed the idea of signing Harper this winter and it’s not a coordinated leak campaign to lower the...