Harper to Phillies on record $330M deal

It took a long time and a lot of money, but the Phillies finally landed Bryce Harper with a record contract.

The young star outfielder and the Phillies agreed Thursday to a 13-year, $330 million contract, the largest deal in baseball history.

The deal is subject to a successful physical.

Phillies manager Gabe Kapler and his players learned of the agreement from fans behind the team’s dugout who saw media reports on their mobile devices during a spring training game in Clearwater, Fla.

“If the reports are true, it’s a huge moment for our baseball team,” Kapler said. “Certainly I think that the city of Philadelphia would embrace Bryce Harper. I think he would be very happy in this city because our fans care deeply about winning.”

A 26-year-old All-Star who had spent his entire career with the Nationals, Harper topped the 13-year, $325 million agreement outfielder Giancarlo Stanton reached before the 2015 season with the Marlins.

“Harp’s goal was he wanted the largest contract and he wanted his value,” Harper’s agent Scott Boras said. “He wanted the largest length he could get because he really wanted to stay in one city and one uniform, wanted to get a ballpark he hit well in, saw the ball well.”

Harper has a .279 career average with 184 homers and 521 RBIs, including a .268 average with 14 homers, 32 RBIs and a .930 OPS in 47 games at Citizens Bank Park. He likely would 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 surpasses the previous high for a free agent, set last week when infielder Manny Machado signed a 10-year, $300 million deal with the Padres. Harper’s average annual value of $25.4 million ranks 14th in baseball history, well below the high of $34.1 million set by Diamondbacks pitcher Zack Greinke as part of a six-year, $206.5 million contract that started in 2016.

Harper gets a $20 million signing bonus in equal installments this June 1 and Nov. 1, 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.

The Phillies will forfeit their second-highest draft selection, currently No. 55, and $500,000 of its 2019-20 international signing bonus pool allotment. Because the Nationals paid luxury tax last season, their compensation pick will be after the fourth round, about 140th.

The Giants and the Dodgers also pursued Harper in recent weeks, and the Giants offered $310 million over 12 years. That deal would have been less lucrative because of high California taxes.