MLB makes it official: the 2015 All-Star Game will be in Cincinnati

This was reported the other day, but now it’s official:

OFFICIAL: 2015 @allstargame awarded to @reds; will be 5th played in Cincinnati, 1st at Great American Ball Park. #ASG

— MLB Public Relations (@MLB_PR) January 23, 2013

The announcement was made by Commissioner Selig who is in Cincinnati today to make another announcement as well: Major League Baseball’s $1.5 million to the development of the Reds MLB Urban Youth Academy. It’s a new facility that will provide free, year-round baseball and softball instruction and educational programs to kids in the Queen City.

2015 will mark the All-Star Game’s first visit to Cincinnati since 1988. Which I still think of as Chris Sabo’s coming out party. Chris Sabo just turned 51. I feel very old.

Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports that Phillies owner John Middleton flew to Las Vegas for a meeting with Bryce Harper on Friday. Per ESPN’s Jeff Passan, it’s “more of a meet-and-greet than a sign-a-deal” affair, but as the club is still at the forefront of trade rumors involving the All-Star slugger, there remains a possibility (however slight) that something could be completed in the days to come.

Even now, the Phillies aren’t alone in the race to sign Harper, but recent rumors have helped whittle down the competition from five or more teams (Phillies, Nationals, White Sox, Giants, and Padres) to three strong contenders. The Giants are said to be interested in a lucrative short-term deal with the outfielder, while the Padres remain in the conversation despite inking Manny Machado to a mammoth 10-year, $300 million contract this week. It’s not yet clear just how far either team would go to outbid Philadelphia as talks with Harper intensify.

As for the Nationals and White Sox, the former officially bowed out earlier today, and MLB Network’s Jon Heyman adds that the latter won’t make a strong play for Harper as they feel the asking price and competing offers are “getting too high” for the 26-year-old’s services. If a mystery team is still in the mix, there’s been no word on their standing with Harper in the last month or so.