Paying the full Bryce
Philadelphia freedom as star outfielder Harper cuts $330 million deal with Phillies
NEW YORK — It took a long time and a lot of money, but the Philadelphia Phillies finally landed Bryce Harper with a record contract.
The star outfielder and the Phillies on Thursday agreed to a 13-year contract worth $330 million — the richest deal in baseball history.
Harper’s agent, Scott Boras, said the contract was finalized shortly before noon, subject to passing a physical.
Phillies manager Gabe Kapler and his players at spring training learned of the agreement from fans behind Philadelphia’s dugout who followed media reports on their mobile devices during an exhibition game in Clearwater, Florida.
“If the reports are true, it’s a huge moment for our baseball team,” Kapler said.
“Certainly I think the city of Philadelphia will embrace Bryce Harper. I think he will be very happy in this city because our fans care deeply about winning.”
A 26-year-old All-Star who had spent his entire big league career with the Washington Nationals, Harper topped the $325 million, 13-year agreement outfielder Giancarlo Stanton signed before the 2015 season with the Miami Marlins.
Stanton is now a member of the New York Yankees.
“Harp’s goal was he wanted the largest contract and he wanted his value,” Boras said. “He wanted the longest length he could get because he really wanted to stay in one city and one uniform. He wanted to get a ballpark he hit well in.”
Harper has a .279 career batting average with 184 homers and 521 RBIs, including a .268 average with 14 homers, 32 RBIs and a .930 OPS in 47 games at Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park. He likely will hit third or fourth, according to Kapler.
“We get a whole lot better on the field,” the manager said. “Bryce Harper is a sensational teammate.”
Harper’s agreement tops the previous high for a free agent, set last week when infielder Manny Machado signed a 10-year, $300 million deal with the San Diego Padres.
Harper’s average annual salary of $25.4 million ranks 14th in baseball history, well below the high of $34.1 million for Arizona pitcher Zack Greinke as part of a six-year, $206.5 million contract that started in 2016.
Harper gets a $20 million signing bonus payable this spring, a $10 million salary this year, $26 million in each of the following nine seasons and $22 million in each of the last three years.
None of the money is deferred, and he gets a full no-trade provision.
Philadelphia will forfeit its second-highest draft selection, curbaseball rently No 55, and $500,000 of its 2019-20 international signing bonus pool allotment.
Following a slow offseason of negotiations that sparked outrage from the players’ association, in the past 10 days three players agreed to deals guaranteeing a total of $890 million.
Colorado third baseman Nolan Arenado, who would have been eligible for free agency next offseason, signed an eight-year deal worth $260 million this week.
“We want out best players to sign the biggest, longest contracts,” said Milwaukee Brewers star Ryan Braun, the 2012 NL MVP.
“Overall, it’s a good day for all players to see Bryce get properly compensated.”
Phillies owner John Middleton met with Harper in a Las Vegas hotel suite and at dinner around the time of the winter meetings in December, then again last weekend.
“Bryce just really enjoyed John’s passion for winning and the commitment he could make to the franchise,” Boras said.
Philadelphia has been among the most active teams this offseason, adding outfielder Andrew McCutchen for $50 million over three years and reliever David Robertson for $23 million over two years, and acquiring catcher JT Realmuto and shortstop Jean Segura.
The Phillies also gave ace Aaron Nola a $45 million, four-year deal.
After leading their division in early August, the Phillies went 16-33 over the final 49 games of last season and at 80-82 finished with a losing record for the sixth straight season.
Harper will return to his old home in Washington on April 2-3 when the Phillies play at the NL East rival Nationals.
The San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers had also pursued Harper in recent weeks. Boras said shorter-term offers had average annual values as high as $42.5 million.
Boras is the agent for a record contract for the fourth time after pitcher Kevin Brown’s seven-year, $105 million deal with the Dodgers ahead of the 1999 season, Alex Rodriguez’s 10-year, $252 million agreement with Texas before the 2001 season and Rodriguez’s 10-year, $275 million contract with the Yankees before the 2008 season.
Harper has been an All-Star in six of his seven MLB seasons and was the unanimous winner of the NL’s 2015 MVP award.
An up-and-down defender and an unusual mix of popular and polarizing, Harper is known for occasional verbal sparring with opponents, one particular exchange with a reporter about a “clown question,” and, most infamously, a dugout dustup in which he was choked by then-teammate Jonathan Papelbon.
Washington took him with the No 1 overall pick in the 2010 amateur draft and called him up to the majors less than two years later at age 19. He was the 2012 NL Rookie of the Year for a Nationals club that won its first division title and made its postseason debut.
Harper was also an integral part of the team that added NL East titles in 2014, 2016 and 2017 and never finished lower than second place in his seven seasons.
Harp’s goal was he wanted the largest contract and he wanted his value. He wanted the longest length he could get because he really wanted to stay in one city and one uniform.” Scott Boras, Harper’s agent