The Bryce Harper free agency saga has officially come to an end. The Philadelphia Phillies agreed to a record 13-year, $330 million contract with the former NL MVP.
The contract is the largest contract in baseball history. The details are as follows in 2019: $10 million salary plus $20 million signing bonus paid in two installments June 1 and Nov. 1. In 2020-28: $26 million salary annually. Finally in 2029-31: $22 million salary annually.
Harper’s contract also does not include an opt-out clause and has a full no-trade protection. Harper’s contract also includes bonus packages and perks.
Harper would earn an extra $50,000 each time he is an All-Star, wins a Gold Glove or a Silver Slugger or is selected League Championship Series MVP. A World Series MVP trophy would be an additional $100,000. He would also get $500,000 if he is league MVP.
After the signing happened on 2/28/19 I asked a couple Bucks County Community College students what their thoughts were about the Philadelphia Phillies signing baseball superstar Bryce Harper.
This is what they had to say. Shawn Westerman, 18, of Philadelphia, Pa said, The Phillies just signed arguably the best player in the MLB. It’s the best thing the Phillies could have done this offseason. The Phillies also got an amazing deal only paying Bryce $25 million a year and still broke the largest contract in baseball history so everyone involved in the deal is happy in the long run.
Riley Masterson, 20, of Langhorne, Pa said, I am very excited about the Harper signing. We will 100% be celebrating another parade on Broad St in the years to come with the phillies biggest ever player signing Bryce Harper!
Michael Pietrangelo, of Southampton, Pa said. As a fan it made me happy and nervous all at the same time. I’m dreaming of multiple World Series Championships. As a realist though I’d be happy with just one. I think the low AAV of the contract will keep the Phillies relevant in signing more free agents in years to come.
Another reason Harper makes a major impact on the team is his Phillies Jersey ranks number one in sales overall for all time sales in the first 24 hrs into 48 hrs.
Ticket sales from the end of last season were around 200,000 sold. When news broke about the Harper signing. In 24 hrs 220,000 tickets were sold.
He hasn’t even played his first official game yet and he’s already making a huge impact for the ball club. Another huge thing Harper is doing is he’s already trying to recruit Mike Trout to the Phillies which would be huge signing in the 2020 free agency class.
Ashley Fairchild, 21, of Bensalem, Pa said. I am very excited about the Phillies officially signing Bryce after such a long offseason wait to sign him. I can’t wait to see Harper in those red pin stripes standing in right field at Citizens Bank Park on opening day it’s going to be like a dream come true.
He is arguably the best player in baseball. I can’t believe that he is truly all ours for the rest of his career. I also really like the signing of Harper because he is a big star in the game of baseball and all of sports. He could potentially bring other star players to the city of Philadelphia not just for the Phillies but for the other major sports teams in Philadelphia as well.