After his recovery from Tommy John surgery necessitated a move to first base last season, Bryce Harper took well enough to his new position that the Phillies announced in November that Harper would be their regular first baseman in 2024 and beyond. The two-time NL MVP spoke to reporters (including The Athletic’s Matt Gelb) about the situation today, saying “I wanted them to know that I was on board with anything they wanted to do,” and that Harper left the decision about his position up to the club. “I said if you want me in right field, I’ll play right. If you want me at first, I’ll play first base. I think collectively, they said, first base is where we want you. I said, ’OK, I’ll do everything I can to be there,’ ” Harper said. He is now spending his Spring Training further working on what seems to be his permanent new position, noting that “I don’t think I’ll move back out to right. I don’t. But never say never.”
Harper also confirmed that he is interested in extending his contract, as agent Scott Boras stated in December. The idea caught many by surprise given that Harper still has eight seasons and $196MM remaining on his original 13-year, $330MM contract, and he’ll be turning 39 years old in October 2031. While Harper said “I haven’t really thought too much about” his contract situation, he said that “playing into my 40’s, I mean, that’s the biggest thing for me. So I want to get that done.” It remains to be seen if Harper, Boras, and the Phillies could possibly reach some kind of deal to add two (or more?) years onto Harper’s contract, yet president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski has downplayed the idea of a renegotiation.
More from around the NL East…
- Chris Sale has battled through several injury-plagued seasons, but the winter of 2023-24 “was the first time going into an offseason without dealing with something since 2018 or something like that,” the new Braves starter told The Athletic’s David O’Brien and other reporters. “It’s been a long time. I had a lot of fun this offseason, being able to play baseball and do things that I haven’t been able to do.” In both acquiring Sale from the Red Sox and then signing him to a two-year extension, the Braves are putting a lot of faith that the southpaw is ready to rebound as he enters his age-35 season. Atlanta even looked into acquiring Sale during the 2023 season, according to manager Brian Snitker.
- Mets reliever Kyle Crick is recovering from a Grade 4 calf strain and might not start throwing bullpens until closer to the end of spring camp, MLB.com’s Anthony DiComo writes. New York signed Crick to a minor league deal in December and he has no issue with pitching in the minors for the start of the season, given how his injury will seemingly prevent him making the Opening Day roster. Crick posted a 3.56 ERA over 187 1/3 relief innings with the Giants, Pirates, and White Sox from 2017-22, though he didn’t pitch in 2023 until surfacing in Dominican Winter League action a few months ago.
- There’s enough happening within the division that this is our second batch of NL East Notes today. Earlier on, Nick Deeds compiled another set of items about the Marlins, Phillies, Nationals, and Braves.
Harper needs to pitch for the Phillies. Maybe come out of the pen for the 9th inning save.
I have genital Harpers
If he adds two more years does that potentially lower the AAV and give the team more flexibility?
Wouldn’t change the current contract. Would be a complete new deal that activates after this one I believe. He’s set in stone for that $25m-ish a year until 2031, which I’m sure already gives them flexibility because he would definitely be worth upwards of $30-35 million in today’s game. Hell, maybe he already was in 2019 lol
Extension for a 39 year old who’s had multiple significant injuries????? I’ll pass on that but predict that there’s going to be an issue with Harper and the Phillies when they don’t offer him one.
I think Boras and Harper both have an idea that the chances of an extension are ZERO and rightfully so. 13/330 million is a monster contract and nobody pointed a gun to his head to sign what is a below market $25 million per avv but bottom line $330 million is nothing to sneeze at. Boras screwed up not adding opt out clauses
100% Anthony. Harper saw some of the deals that mf’s are getting these days and is absolutely punching the air lmao. $25m a year is an absolute steal for him and there’s nothing he can do about it
“Chances of an extension are ZERO”…Only a Scott Boras client would ask for an extension with 8 years and 190M+ left on his current deal. The upside of Boras? Major, life changing money that any of several competent agents could negotiate. The downside of Scott Boras?…You almost always end up looking like a greedy overpaid player, a cheater, a juicer, a liar or otherwise unsavory character. If you doubt this just ask Alex Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez, Gary Sheffield, Barry Bonds and Eric Gagne.
@mlbfan, to be fair you *did* kind of just name 5 known juicers
“5 known juicers”…Not coincidentally, they are ALL Boras clients. That was my central point by the way. I could have listed more but I have to go to work soon.
What time does wawa open ?
Ah I’m looking and don’t see Bryce saying more money. Source ? Other than yourself.
It’s just obvious that’s the issue. He’d absolutely be worth $30-35 million in this market but he’s stuck with $25 million/yr for the next 8. So he wants to try and tack on a few extra years to make up for it. Obviously he wouldn’t go out and say that on record because it’s a bad look, but it’s definitely his M.O.
So Bryce would be extended being paid in headbands and merch — if not an issue about “more money”? So bizarre this is only about money. He gave them a discount to add more to the roster, which they’ve done, and now wants a thank you, cause that will be easier to attain than a championship with them.
Bryce requested no opt out. Get facts straight before commenting. You are dismissed Tony.
Why not just correct the incorrect statement? I’ll never understand the need to be a d-bag when someone just makes a simple mistake.
If you go back and look at the articles at the time of the signing it was Harper himself that insisted on no opt-outs…iut was Harper himself that said…$25m a yead avg is fine as long as I get 13 years. He wanted the security and stability of playing for one club. He called the shots himself.
I believe Bryce is 29-30. Certainty not 39.
He’s signed until he’s 38, so an extension would not kick in until he’s 39. Thats why theres 0 chance of said extension happening
The extension talk isn’t serious. He simply makes comments about wanting to be a Philly for life…etc. The media takes his every word and runs with it. I highly doubt an extension is even talked about.
He was pretty healthy until he got into that bicycle accident or whatever it was… wishing Sale the best.
For reasons known only to him, I get the impression Chris is glad to be out of Boston. I, too, hope he stays healthy and has a great season.
really you can’t make a guess?, maybe it is the fact that the Sox seem to be trying to lose 100 games this season by the lack of signings or improvement of the team, or the fact that he is now playing for an Atlanta team that won their division I think it’s 6 years in a row now, won a world series in the last three years and had the best record in baseball last season, yep can’t imagine why he would be happy to be out of Boston, and it could be more he is happy to be in Atlanta then out of Boston, or that he is getting a fresh start after all his injuries the last couple of years
He actually made some comments to his situation and talked about how he had to accept the trade. Look it up. He thanked Boston but mentioned he felt he sort of let us down and the trade was his way of giving back.
Bicycle, punching the Red Sox AAA’s TV, the comebacker that broke his hand…. am I missing any?
Rib cage stress fracture that caused him to miss Opening Day 2022. FWIW, he didn’t injure anything but the supposedly broken TV and provide a viral moment.
I can’t believe The Braves gave Sale TWO years with that injury history of his….
Braves cheating lab will earn him his long awaited Cy Young. Hell they’ll probably get Kelenic an MVP too cause why not.
Could an extension be how Sale was convinced to waive his NTC from BOS? He was extended for 2 years/$38M with ATL (and a club option for $18M for a 3rd year), but if you consider the $17M BOS included in the trade, it really is a 2 year/$21M deal OR a buy 2 years get the 3rd year for $1M offer.
Did he cut himself in that jersey-cutting tantrum?
Why can Cody Bellinger bounce between 1B and all three outfield positions but Harper has to be anchored to 1B like some cripple? That’s a position for fat guys and someone who can’t run.
Is Harper a core player or the Phillies new mascot?
Wasn’t Cody non-tendered two years ago? Maybe if he would have stuck to one position he would have earned a 13 year 330 million dollar contract. But here we are…
Heels, yes Bellinger can play all 4 positions. Harper is now limited to 1B due to the torn UCL he suffered in ’22 and subsequent surgery. The team, in the interest of keeping him on the field going forward, wanted Harper to play the less stressful (on his elbow) 1B. Harper agreed. I’m shocked that you couldn’t figure that out for yourself but maybe you are new to MLB or maybe just dim. You’re welcone.
CD
“Harper is now limited to 1B due to the torn UCL he suffered in ’22 and subsequent surgery. ”
Corey Seager had the same and returned to SS. So, a return to RF doesn’t seem out of the question
“I’m shocked that you couldn’t figure that out for yourself but maybe you are new to MLB or maybe just dim. You’re welcone.”
Muted (being a [penis] for no reason.
Paul Goldschmidt is neither fat nor unable to run. Just one example.
Freddie Freeman also comes to mind
And Keith Hernandez a few years back.
Boras and Harper got embarrassed by Machado turning his deal with the Padres into 550 million. Laughable they want an extension. You signed the deal at the time for 13 years largest ever.
“Boras and Harper got embarrassed “Machado’s agent, Dan Mosano, gets his clients as much or more than any agent(Boras), minus the drama, PED accusations, recriminations and bad blood between team and player. Monsano is probably the best baseball player agent out there. Boras gets more press because he’s bombastic, quotable and loquacious, but Mosano gets his players better results overall. What kind of agent lets a client ask for an extension with 8 yrs and 190M+ left on his current deal? I guess one who doesn’t mind his clients looking foolish or greedy. A good, forward thinking agent would STRONGLY counsel against this request and certainly not publicly.
You gave Machado’s agent a good negative sell pitch to players under the marketing delusion that only Boras can get players a great deal. “Look at that guy who valued setting a guarantee record for ego vs foresight to take little less for an opt-out on a still massive contract.”
Didn’t the Dodgers offer him 3/135 and he rejected it?
It would be insane to give Harper my favorite current Philly more money. I don’t see any advantage for the Phillies to do that,however Middleton does love this guy. So my prediction is probably.
“It would be insane”..I’m a big Harper guy as well, but I really doubt this request is honored. I can’t see a billionaire giving out money he doesn’t have to and especially when he’s holding all the important cards in this equation. Bryce Harper should have listened to his better judgement and not Scott Boras on this one.
A few quotes from Harper at the time of his signing. I am no Boras fan or apologist……it was Harper that called the shots….not Boras…..
“[Boras] knew from the beginning I didn’t want to be traded, and I didn’t want the opt-out at all,” Harper said. “I wanted to be able to go through the ups and downs with a city. I wanted to build my family in a city. I wanted to be instilled into a city, the community, and really let that city know that I’m part of them.”
An opt-out can be a valuable tool to procure more value out of a deal, often valued at $20 million or more. But Harper figured that it would be easier for his new team to improve with a full commitment to him, similarly to how LeBron James signed a four-year deal with the Los Angeles Lakers instead of the series of one-year deals he asked for with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“After three years, why would I do that with a team?” Harper said. “I can go for three years, but how much trust can they have in me for that, as much as I put my trust in them? I’m asking them to trust me, and they’re asking me to trust them. I didn’t want the opt-out. There’s no reason to. I have all the money in the world, to do whatever I want with it. I have more money than I’ll ever know what to do with. It wasn’t about that.”
sports.yahoo.com/bryce-harper-explains-why-he-didn…
Harper signed the contract and I bet the Phillies wait till he’s a free agent again to try to resign him. Chances are he will be winding down by then and have to settle for scraps.
If he would have signed with the Dodgers he would have a championship and more money to date plus a long term contract with whomever he wanted to well into his 40s
Update on Kyle Crick? Geez we better update the fantasy team before the season starts, thanks mlbtr
Krook and Crick should be in the same bullpen.
No extension whatsoever. Instead, give him some incentives. Example, if he averages 400 AB last 3 yrs of his contract, an additional yr will be added on. Another good incentive could be 2 mvp will add another yr. 🙂
Harper thinking he can play into his 40s reminds me of Carlton saying he could pitch till he was 50. That didn’t go well.
Ambition is one thing, but Harper turning himself into a laughingstock by lying shamelessly to try to squeeze a few more dollars from the Phillies on top of the $325 million they already owe him, was unpleasant to see.
Crick’s another one Stearns believes his pitching lab can fix.
High strikeouts, 6-7 walks a game.
Not to mention in Crick’s case, zero durability and missed 2023.
How are they going to convince these guys to finally throw strikes consistently? Wire them up to car batteries and inflict shocks when they miss by more than six inches?