Bryce Harper has big goals for Jonathan Papelbon in 2016

On Sept. 27, Jonathan Papelbon barked at Bryce Harper from the dugout railing, instigating a fight which left the veteran closer's hands clasped around the young slugger's throat before players and coaches ripped the two apart. A day later - after serving a baffling one-game suspension - Harper brushed off the scrum with Papelbon, saying he hoped they could win a World Series together in 2016.

Nobody believed it at the time, as the sure bet had general manager Mike Rizzo dumping Papelbon this offseason to regain harmonious times in the Nationals clubhouse.

But then came word in November that Harper had reached out to Papelbon on his own, looking to smooth things over. A few weeks later, several Nats veterans expressed no concern that the two All-Stars would cause a disruption in 2016.

Yet, just four days from pitchers and catchers reporting, it still seems somewhat bizarre that Papelbon will find a Nationals jersey hanging in his locker when he arrives.

There figure to be countless questions from the media during spring training about the scuffle followed by showers of boos for Papelbon on opening day. But if Harper is OK, should everybody else let the drama disappear?

"That was squashed that day," Harper said during a Friday interview on 106.7 FM The Fan. "I think everybody made such a big deal of that, and too much of a big deal of that. It's all in the past and we haven't even brought it up since that day.

"We're looking forward to this year, like I said, and I want him to go out there and save 60 games, try to win a Cy Young and do everything he can to help this team win, and likewise, I'm going to try to do everything I can to help this team win, as well. It takes 25 guys, not just one. As a team, we're going to go out there and do everything we can to build on what we can in spring training and do everything we can to bring something back to D.C."