The Phillies and Bryce Harper agreed to a 13-year, $330 million contract Thursday afternoon, and the Phils announced the deal on Saturday morning. It is the largest guaranteed contract in North American sports history.
Here is a look at the deal and more:
Why 13 years?
The Phillies had a specific reason to extend the length of the deal: financial flexibility. Many people assumed the Phillies would sign Harper to a 10-year deal, much like Manny Machado’s 10-year, $300 million deal with the Padres. But because the Phillies extended the contract it spreads out their cash flow and lowers the average annual value of the deal to $25.3 million. It is significant because it helps the Phillies stay below the luxury tax threshold so they can acquire future talent or extend current talent like Rhys Hoskins. Remember, folks, Mike Trout is a free agent following the 2020 season.
What number will Harper wear?
Harper will wear No. 3. He wore No. 34 with the Nationals, but Roy Halladay will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this summer. Halladay wore No. 34 with the Phillies and there has been some talk that the team could retire the number. In the past, the club has retired only “Phillies” players in the Hall. Halladay is entering the Hall of Fame without a team logo on his cap.
Will playing half his games at Citizens Bank Park help?
Harper has hit .268 with 14 home runs, 32 RBIs, a .365 on-base percentage, a .564 slugging percentage and a .930 OPS in 50 career games at Citizens Bank Park. But the evidence suggests that Philly is not a home run haven for left-handed batters. MLB.com’s Andrew Simon found that the percentage of barrels hit for home runs from left-handed batters the past two seasons at Citizens Bank Park was 58.1 percent, while the league average is 57.8 percent. The gap between wOBA and xwOBA at Citizens Bank Park the past two seasons was +.012, which is roughly middle of the pack.
Where does Harper hit in the lineup?
Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said Harper is likely to hit third or fourth, but also noted that he has hit elsewhere. Still, third or fourth makes the most sense.
How does this affect the roster?
Harper will be the seventh outfielder on the 40-man roster. The Phillies entered camp with Andrew McCutchen, Odubel Herrera, Nick Williams, Roman Quinn, Aaron Altherr and Dylan Cozens. A trade seems likely, but nothing is guaranteed. A source told MLB.com last month that if the Phillies acquired Harper, Williams is a candidate to be traded.
Could the Phillies make more moves before Opening Day?
A source told MLB.com on Thursday that the Phillies are probably finished signing free agents. That includes left-hander Dallas Keuchel and closer Craig Kimbrel, unless one of them suddenly becomes available on a one-year deal. The Phillies like their rotation, and they love their bullpen. In fact, they believe they might already have one of the top bullpens in baseball.
When does Harper visit his old team?
Harper and the Phillies travel to Nationals Park for a two-game series April 2-3.
Do the Phillies love the idea of the DH now?
Somebody made a great point Thursday. Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association have been discussing potential rules changes for the future: the National League instituting the designated hitter, banning the infield shift and placing a three-batter minimum for pitchers. If those rules are adopted, it would seem to benefit Harper and the Phillies.