A new report claims that Bryce Harper is looking to be rewarded for his loyalty to the Philadelphia Phillies with more years added to a contract that still has eight seasons left on it.
When Bryce Harper left the Washington Nationals to join the Philadelphia Phillies on a record-setting 13-year contract worth $330 million, there were massive expectations for the then-six-time All-Star. While he could not help them be more than a team hovering around .500 during his first three seasons, things have changed a lot in the last two years.
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In 2022 and 2023 the Phillies were on the brink of their first World Series title since 2008 because of the outstanding play of Harper, especially in the postseason. Furthermore, being the heart and leader of the team may have been key in some impactful free-agent signings in recent seasons. And it seems that that two-time National League MVP wants to benefit from that unique value.
On Thursday, New York Post MLB insider Jon Heyman revealed some surprising information regarding the six-time All-Star’s current contract.
Bryce Harper stats (2023): .293 AVG, .401 SLG, .499 OBP, 21 HR, 72 RBI, 84 R
“Phils superstar Bryce Harper has eight years to go on his then-record $330 million contract but is very interested in an extension,” Heyman wrote. “Harper’s case is that he didn’t seek an opt-out when he did his deal to show other star free agents how committed he was to Philly, and he’s worked hard to recruit stars, many successfully, including Nick Castellanos and Trea Turner. He also did a video to try to lure Yoshinobu Yamamoto.”
Bryce Harper will be 39 years old when he becomes a free agent in 2032. While he has been a huge part of their resurgence since joining the franchise, it would be surprising for them to lock themselves into extra years for a player who will be in his 40s at the time.
However, there is the chance the Phillies could do something to keep their top star happy that is similar to what the Dodgers did this offseason with Shohei Ohtani and defer much of the cost for those years.