In the hopes of inking a deal that will keep him in Philadelphia for the remainder of his career, Bryce Harper
Not only is Bryce Harper happy with his current deal, but he is also considering a longer stay with the Philadelphia Phillies and is prepared to start talking about extending it. At Wednesday’s baseball winter meetings, Harper, 31, stated that he would like to finish his career with the Phillies. His agent, Scott Boras, echoed this sentiment.
At the conclusion of his 38th season, Harper’s current megadeal, a 13-year, $330 million contract, is scheduled to expire. But Harper is keen to sign an extension that will guarantee he plays for the Phillies for the balance of his legendary career because he wants to play into his 40s.
Boras emphasized Harper’s dedication to the Phillies by saying, “Bryce has let me know that he wants to work out an extension so that he knows that he’s going to be there for the remainder of his career.” Experienced agent Boras believes Harper is a franchise player, and he has told Dave Dombrowski, the Phillies’ president of baseball operations, of this.
Boras suggested Harper include an opt-out clause after a few years when he first signed with the Phillies in 2019. This is a typical provision in many contracts that the agent negotiated. But Harper made it known that he was not interested in pulling out, saying that he wanted to make sure that everything was stable and that he wanted to be a major player recruiter for Philadelphia.
Boras elucidated Harper’s position, saying, “I want the fans in Philadelphia to know that I’m going to be there for the duration and that I’m committed.” Harper has established himself as a significant player in the Phillies’ recruitment process thanks to his outspoken support of the team’s efforts to hold onto players like J.T. Realmuto and pursue free agents like Trea Turner.
Harper moved to first base during the previous season and will start playing there full-time in 2024. During his five seasons with the Phillies, he has amassed an outstanding batting line of.284/.395/.536 with 122 home runs. In addition, his postseason accomplishments—11 home runs in the previous two seasons and a.324/.432/.705 slash line—highlight his significance and worth.
READ MORE
In his first five seasons with the Phillies, Bryce Harper has transformed into a Philadelphia legend, setting the stage for the team to become a dominant force in the National League. The slugger’s contract expires in 2031, but he’s already planning how to leave Philadelphia at the end of his career.
Harper’s agent, Scott Boras, stated at the Winter Meetings on Wednesday that Harper intends to speak with the team about a contract extension already.
According to ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez, Boras stated, “Bryce has certainly expressed to them that he wants to end his career in Philadelphia.” “He went there to meet the fans.” In addition to my advice, he says, “I just want to go make sure I can recruit players in Philadelphia, let the fans know that I’m committed to the team and that I’ll be there for the duration.” He has, in my opinion, been a crucial voice in helping them draw in big free agents.
Before the 2019 season, Harper agreed to a 13-year, $330 million contract with the Phillies, and he has fulfilled his end of the bargain ever since. Before the team lost to the Astros in the World Series, the left-handed hitter led the team to the NL pennant in 2022 and was named the NL MVP in 2021.
Despite signing as an outfielder initially, Harper moved to first base last season due to a right elbow injury sustained in 2022. It is anticipated that he will stay at first base for the Phillies going forward. Harper participated in 126 games for Philadelphia in 2023, scoring.900 with an OPS of 21 home runs and 72 RBIs.
