Bryce ball:
Harper wanted length in his free agent deal; he got it along with a $330 million worth of motivation that he can deliver for the Phillies.
CLEARWATER, Fla. – The text message came in at four minutes past midnight March 1 on my cellphone.
It was from Philadelphia Phillies owner John Middleton.
“You tell me,” he said. “A little stupid? Or completely stupid?”
This time, he was joking, and he certainly didn’t need my assurance that it was a stroke of genius.
Middleton was the one who uttered the quote to USA TODAY heard ’round the baseball world.
“We’re going into this expecting to spend money,” Middleton said. “And maybe even be a little bit stupid about it.
“We just prefer not to be completely stupid.”
It was uttered in mid-November. But finally, on a glorious Saturday afternoon last weekend at Spectrum Field, there was Bryce Harper, being officially introduced by the Phillies, signing a record 13-year, $330 million contract.
Harper sat at a dais atop the first-base dugout, with Middleton beaming like a new father.
“Does this look like stupid money?” Middleton said to a crowd of reporters and Phillies employees.
When Harper walked onto Spectrum Field, at 9:57 the next morning, 11 video crews and photographers started their cameras with every step he took, capturing the historic moment.
“Where have ya’ll been,” Phillies outfielder Andrew McCutchen yelled out. “I haven’t seen these many people out here since the beginning. So why is everybody out here today?”
“You see him walk in,” said Phillies starter Nick Pivetta, who met Harper for the first time that day, “and it’s like holy (bleep). He’s actually here. There’s a generational player in our clubhouse.”
Yet as Middleton told agent Scott Boras during negotiations, he didn’t want to hear about Harper’s marketability or Q rating.
“I said, ‘Scott, I’m not interested in talking about marketing dollars, tickets sold, billboards, concessions. There’s only one reason I’m talking to you. And that’s because I believe this guy can help us win. And that’s all I care about.
“I’ve made enough money in my life. I don’t need to make more.”
Once Middleton made his feelings perfectly clear, the Phillies made their first official offer to Harper Feb. 24, and four days later, the deal was finally done.
“I want to be on Broad Street, on a frigging boat, bus, or whatever it is,” Harper said, “and hold a trophy over my head. …
“This whole city, it’s a winning city, it’s an amazing city. (Former teammate Jayson) Werth always talks about Broad Street and his stupid little thing that he had, a red glove, or whatever it was. It’s something I want to be a part of for a very long time.”
This is why Harper, tired of talking about the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers and everyone else about his potential free agent destination for the past six years, insisted on getting the longest contract possible, plain and simple.
He didn’t want an opt-out clause but insisted on a no-trade clause, ensuring that he would likely spend the rest of his career in Philadelphia.
He talked to Los Angeles Angels star Mike Trout, who grew up in nearby Millville, New Jersey, and assured him it was an ideal place as long as you’re not afraid of expectations or playing hard.
“I talked to him a lot,” Harper said, “all of the way through the process. Just seeing where he grew up in Philly, things like that. I was just trying to get a hometown kid to tell me how he felt about the organization, and the area, things like that.
“He’s a kid who grew up seeing the Phillies have success, so going through those times with the fans and things like that, it was good to get his perspective and hear how he felt.”
Well, considering how much Trout persuaded him to come to Philly, Harper plans to return the favor in two years, just in case Trout decides to test free agency.
“I want to be able to bring in other guys to help this organization win,” Harper said. “I know there’s another guy in about two years that comes off the books. We’ll see what happens to him.”
The way Middleton sees it, he was never interested in waiting two years to see if Trout leaves the comfort of Orange County. He realizes the unlikelihood of owner Arte Moreno letting Trout get away without locking him up to a deal that might eclipse $400 million.
Middleton doesn’t have the patience to wait. He wants to win. And he wants to win now.
Middleton, who met three times with Harper, wanted to make sure he understood just how badly he wanted to win. He provided gifts, including different aprons from the Philadelphia sports teams. He showed him a video, featuring everyone from NBA Hall of Famer Julius Erving to former Eagles safety Brian Dawkins to the Villanova basketball team singing to him.
And once the Phillies came up with the money, eclipsing the San Francisco Giants’ 12-year, $310 million offer, the deal was consummated, with Philadelphia celebrating the man they desperately coveted all winter.
“He is a magnetic personality,” Middleton said. “He has that presence. This is a special talent.”
He’s the man who’s expected to make the losing stop in Philadelphia. Win NL East Division titles. And perhaps bring home a few World Series trophies, too.
“We didn’t make this move to win 83 games,” Middleton said.
Life will forever now be different for Harper. When you’re making the most money in the game, with the longest guaranteed contract, it doesn’t matter that he still is the second-youngest player (26) in the lineup. There will be no room for patience.
But first, the love.
“All I really care about,” Middleton said, “is getting that trophy back. We’re going to do this together. This isn’t a contract. Really, this is a marriage.”