Bill Streicher
Bryce Harper isn't Scott Boras' top priority this offseason, but the sport's most powerful agent continues to push for one of his top clients.
Boras held his annual press conference with reporters yesterday at the MLB General Manager's Meetings in San Antonio. Obviously, free agent Juan Soto—whom Boras represents—was the main talking point. Other Boras clients such as Pete Alonso, Corbin Burnes, Blake Snell and Alex Bregman also were discussed.
But buried deep in a recap of Boras' press conference for Ronald Blum of The Associated Press is this nugget on Harper.
"Boras repeated that Bryce Harper remains open to adding to his deal with the Phillies, a $330 million, 13-year contract through 2031."
Harper has talked about wanting to play into his 40s, though he's sometimes changed the exact amount of years he's aiming for. In October, he told ESPN's Jeff Passan that his goal is to play "until he's 42 years old." The 13-year/$330 million contract that he signed with the Phillies prior to the 2019 season runs through 2031, which will be his age-38 season.
Though it's been less noticeable in 2024, both Harper and Boras made pretty clear during 2023 that he was hoping for more years to be added onto his current deal. Harper said this after hitting his 300th home run in August of 2023.
“I’m very fortunate, very blessed to put this uniform on each day with the Phillies across my chest and so thankful that me and [managing partner] John [Middleton] were able to sit down after the 2018 season and get something done,” Harper said. “Like I said, very fortunate to have a long-term deal, and play this game for a long time. Hopefully I’m able to do it for even longer than what my contract looks like right now. I love being a Phillie, plain and simple. It’s something I dreamed about.”
I asked Phillies managing partner John Middleton about a potential Harper extension last December.
“So let me put it to you this way — my intention is that Bryce will never play baseball for any other team,” Middleton said.
“Now, he wants to play longer than his contract,” Middleton continued. “So if he’s still gonna feel that way in the long-term, we’re gonna have to address that issue at some point. It’s not as simple as do you address it today or tomorrow or next year or two years from now.
“But the intention remains the same. I want Bryce to always wear a Phillies uniform until the day he stops wearing a baseball uniform at all,” Middleton said. “And when that happens, I want him to switch into a long-term relationship, like Mike Schmidt or Larry Bowa has had with the team. So I expect Bryce to be a Phillie for decades — long after I’m gone.”
It's unclear what conversations may have been had over the last year between Harper's camp and the Phillies. President of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski didn't tip his hand when asked where things stand with Harper in last month's season-ending press conference.
"Really, as I've said all along, when it comes to contract negotiations, I always keep private," Dombrowski said. "I don't think there's anything to be gained by sharing any type of contract discussions, yes or no."
Bryce Harper bringing the Phillies alive 💣 pic.twitter.com/qe20WSo7Wx
From the perspective of the Phillies, the 13-year/$330 million contract they signed Harper to has turned into a very team-friendly deal, almost regardless of what happens in the seven remaining seasons of it. Soto could very well get double that amount of money over the same term in free agency this offseason.
The Phillies have also benefitted from Harper's insistence — against the advice of Boras — to not include any opt-outs in the contract. Harper may regret that, though, because if he had an opt out in any of the recent offseasons, he likely would have had the Phillies over a barrel and been able to get more money and years than what he's currently got.
Under the current arrangement, the Phillies don't have much of a motivation to tack on extra years with Harper. He made his MLB debut at 19. He's got seven more years on his contract, at which point he will have played 20 seasons in the sport. Harper may think his body is going to hold up beyond that, but the Phillies would probably rather wait and see.
H/T Bailey Digh of Phillies Nation
