Harper prioritized a long-term deal that would keep him in one city for the rest of his careerGETTY IMAGES
Bryce Harper's desire to "stay in one city for the rest of his career" is a major reason he has agreed to 13-year, $330M deal with the Phillies that becomes the "most lucrative contract in American sports history," according to a front-page piece by Matt Breen of the PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER. The contract has a "no-trade clause, but it does not have an opt-out clause." Phillies Managing Partner John Middleton "created buzz in November that his team might spend 'stupidly' this offseason." He was "fully aware what the public perception would be if an offseason that started stupid ended without a superstar" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 3/1). In Philadelphia, Jim Salisbury noted Harper "prioritized a long-term deal that would keep him in one place" (NBCSPORTSPHILADELPHIA.com, 2/28). Agent Scott Boras said Harper "wanted to go to one city, stay there, build a brand and identity and recruit players." Boras said that made it "hard to get the length of contract" that Harper wanted. Boras: "I could have done 10 years with opt-outs, but that's not what he wanted" (N.Y. TIMES, 3/1). In Atlantic City, Mike McGarry writes the Phillies and VP & GM Matt Klentak "played the Harper pursuit perfectly." The Phillies were "right to stay patient and not panic or become frustrated when the Harper negotiations carried on past the start" of Spring Training (PRESS OF ATLANTIC CITY, 3/1).
POTENTIAL STEAL? The INQUIRER's Breen writes the Phillies "strategically spread out" Harper's contract over 13 years, which "allows them to keep their payroll flexible against baseball's luxury tax as much as possible." The Harper signing "will not prevent the Phillies from being aggressive in future offseasons or handcuff them from signing their own players to long-term deals" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 3/1). In Philadelphia, David Murphy writes Harper's deal is as "manageable and calculated a risk as a team can possibly take on a contract of this length." For luxury-tax purposes, it will count as a $25.4M charge in "each of the 13 seasons of the deal." In any given season, Harper's contract will have "less of an impact on the team's ability to spend" than Rockies 3B Nolan Arenado's recent extension or Padres 3B Manny Machado's deal (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 3/1). In Pennsylvania, Stephen Gross writes the Phillies this offseason "improved enough already and had the flexibility to still build a playoff-caliber team into the future" without Harper. But signing Harper "doesn't rid them of that flexibility" thanks to the "relatively low annual value" of his contract (Allentown MORNING CALL, 3/1). With Harper making $25.4M in each year of his deal, MLB Network's Brian Kenny wondered, "How much is that in 2030? Probably not what we're thinking $25 million is right now" (MLB Network, 2/28). ESPN's Tim Cowlishaw said there is "going to be, five, 10 years from now, lots of players making more per year" than Harper ("Around The Horn," ESPN, 2/28).
MO MONEY, MO PROBLEMS: FS1’s Cris Carter said he has not “seen any of these long-term contracts that were worth the money” (“First Things First,” FS1, 3/1). In DC, Neil Greenberg wrote under the header, "Even Over 13 Years, Bryce Harper Isn't Worth $330 Million In This Market" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 2/28). In Atlanta, Michael Cunningham writes Phillies fans right now are "happy," but they "may not be if, years from now, the team isn't winning" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 3/1).
PUTTING IN THE WORK: USA TODAY's Bob Nightengale notes Middleton, who was "negotiating the contract alone by the end of this 117-day journey ... kept increasing the offer." Middleton just "wasn't willing to give him an opt-out," as he "didn't want the Phillies' fanbase to think this was merely a rental" (USA TODAY, 3/1). The AP's Ronald Blum noted Middleton "met with Harper in a Las Vegas hotel suite and at dinner around the time of the winter meetings in December and then again last weekend." Boras said that Middleton's wife, Leigh, and Harper's wife, Kayla, were "part of the gathering" (AP, 2/28). SI.com's Tom Verducci writes the first time Middleton met Harper he was "impressed with the way Harper essentially ran the meeting himself." Manny Machado "preferred to let his agent run most of the meeting" when the team met with him this offseason. It eventually took "one last whirlwind of a week for Boras to work his stagecraft and get the years" Harper wanted for the deal (SI.com, 3/1).
STAYING TRUE TO HIS WORD: THE ATHLETIC's Matt Gelb wrote Middleton "validated his words" and has made Philadelphia a "baseball destination again" (THEATHLETIC.com, 2/28). In Pennsylvania, Jack McCaffery writes Middleton with the Harper deal "decided his Phillies would be the alpha franchise." He and the team "could have survived the public relations hit of missing out on Harper." However, Middleton "hung in and gave the fans what they craved: The right to say they won the free-agent season" (Delaware County DAILY TIMES, 3/1). In Tampa, Eduardo Encina writes it became "Bryce or bust" for the Phillies, and after missing out on Machado, the Phillies "simply had to sign Harper" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 3/1). NBCSPORTS.com's Bill Baer wrote under the header, "Harper Signing Saves Philadelphia From A Massive Collective Coronary Event" (NBCSPORTS.com, 2/28).
