Bryce Harper helped re-establish the District as a baseball town. Now, after months of “will he, won’t he,” the longtime Washington Nationals starhas decided to move on in free agency.
Reports from ESPN and MLB Network on Thursday said Harper was finalizing a contract with the Philadelphia Phillies for 13 years and $330 million, a new record for total salary in North American team sports.
The news marks the end of Harper’s seven-year Nationals career.
The contract includes a full no-trade clause and does not include opt-outs, reports said, facts that seem to indicate Harper’s willingness to play in Philadelphia for what likely will be the rest of his career.
Philadelphia emerged as the favorite to sign Harper during the offseason, partly thanks to less competition than expected and to owner John Middleton’s stated strategy to be “a little bit stupid” about spending to transform the Phillies into a World Series contender. The team also signed outfielder Andrew McCutchen and traded for shortstop Jean Segura and catcher J.T. Realmuto.
The Phillies held several meetings with Harper over the winter, including for five hours in his hometown of Las Vegas Jan. 3. After the meeting, the Phillies were “strongly encouraged” they would land Harper, USA Today reported.
But this week, the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers seemed to turn up the heat by also meeting with Harper.
Harper will stay in the National League East and face the Nationals 19 times in 2019. The first showdown will come at the beginning of the season — a two-game series April 2 and 3 at Nationals Park.
Then the two sides will play a three-game set in Philadelphia one week later, April 8-10.
The absurd length of the contract is only matched by Giancarlo Stanton’s 13-year, $325 million deal which Harper eclipsed in total money. Harper’s agent Scott Boras told the New York Post that Harper wanted the longest contract he could get, saying, “Bryce wanted one city for the rest of his career. That is what I was instructed to do.”
Harper’s other suitors was disappointed, as expected, but Giants manager Bruce Bochy admitted Philadelphia was where “a lot of people thought” Harper was heading in the first place.
The Nationals made no official statement about the Phillies’ signing, but ace pitcher Max Scherzer happened to be speaking to reporters at spring training when the news broke.
“13-year deal? That’s good for the game,” said Scherzer, who is likely to face Harper some time in April.
The 26-year-old slugger was the face of a Washington franchise that won the NL East four times in the last seven years. The NL Rookie of the Year in 2012 and league MVP in 2015, Harper hit 184 home runs, 183 doubles and 521 RBI in a Washington uniform — living up to the high expectations he entered the league with when the Nationals drafted him first overall in the 2010 draft.
A beloved figure in the region, two youth baseball facilities were dedicated in Harper’s name in 2018, one in the District and another in Virginia. His come-from-behind victory in the 2018 Home Run Derby at Nationals Park — decked out in American flag colors and smacking pitches his dad tossed to him — electrified the home crowd.
But for all of Harper’s success, it led to zero playoff series victories, falling well short of the city’s World Series aspirations. Fans also seemed resigned that Harper would move on, knowing the Nationals’ ownership would not be willing to meet Harper’s salary demands.
In December, Nationals managing principal owner Mark Lerner told 106.7 The Fan that the franchise’s rejected 10-year, $300 million offer to Harper was the “best we could do.” Lerner said he didn’t expect Harper to return.
“This was a special six years,” Lerner said. “And he’ll still be iconic in the city, when he comes in playing for another team. We’ll do right by him and have a real ceremony. You can’t be mad at him, and I don’t think he’d be mad at us if we can’t go any further.”
Meanwhile, the Nationals were the busiest team in free agency this offseason. The team signed Patrick Corbin (six years, $140 million) and Anibal Sanchez (two years, $19 million) to bolster their starting pitching rotation. Washington also added catchers Kurt Suzuki and Yan Gomes, reliever Trevor Rosenthal and second baseman Brian Dozier — the latter of whom provides power to the lineup.
In total, the Nationals have doled out $189 million worth of contracts this offseason.
The moves suggested the Nationals planned on competing in 2019 rather than rebuilding, regardless of whether Harper returned. The team’s outfield includes breakout star Juan Soto, Adam Eaton and Victor Robles, a top prospect and September call-up each of the last two years. Pitcher Max Scherzer is a perennial Cy Young candidate. Trea Turner and Anthony Rendon will feature another talented infield.
But to compete in the NL East, the Nationals now will have to get past the man who spent so many years in their uniform.
• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.
• Adam Zielonka can be reached at azielonka@washingtontimes.com.
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