FILE PHOTO: Sep 26, 2018; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) looks into the stands while standing on the field after the Nationals’ game against the Miami Marlins was called for rain in the eighth inning at Nationals Park in what may be his final home game for the Nationals. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
February 28, 2019
Bryce Harper’s major payday finally arrived Thursday, as the outfielder landed a 13-year, $330 million deal with the Philadelphia Phillies, according to multiple reports.
The contract, when signed, would be the largest guaranteed deal in North American professional sports.
Harper, 26, is a six-time All-Star who was pursued to the end by the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers. The 2015 MVP with the Washington Nationals, Harper has hit 184 home runs with 521 RBIs over 927 games, with a .279 career batting average.
Harper reportedly rejected a $300 million offer to stay in Washington and instead entered a turbulent free-agent market. But while his deal did not come until teams already had started to play spring-training games, Harper still landed the major contract he was seeking.
The Harper deal came over a week after Manny Machado signed a 10-year, $300 million deal with the San Diego Padres.
According to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, Harper’s deal will not have an opt-out clause, per the player’s request. It will include a full no-trade clause, which Harper could waive.
Harper was the No. 1 overall selection in the 2010 draft and made his major league debut less than two years later with the Nationals. He hit 22 home runs and batted .270 in that first season to win the National League Rookie of the Year Award.
During his MVP season of 2015, Harper led the National League in runs scored (118), home runs (42), on-base percentage (.460), slugging percentage (.649) and OPS (1.109). He led the National League with 130 walks last season, while hitting 32 home runs and collecting a career-best 100 RBIs.
But while the Nationals advanced to the playoffs in four of Harper’s first six seasons, they did not reach the postseason last year, finishing a disappointing 82-80, while ending the season eight games back in the National League East.
In going to Philadelphia, Harper joins a club that has not reached the postseason since 2011, although their 80-82 record last season showed the Phillies to be a team on the rise. The club’s .494 winning percentage was their best since they went .500 in 2012.
–Field Level Media
