Multiple sources told MLB.com on Thursday afternoon that the Phillies and Harper have agreed to a 13-year, $330 million contract, pending a physical. The club has not confirmed the deal.
It will be the most lucrative free-agent contract signed in American professional sports history, eclipsing the 10-year, $300 million contract that Manny Machado signed with the Padres just last week, and the second-largest contract in professional sports history, eclipsing the $13-year, $325 million contract extension that Giancarlo Stanton signed with the Marlins in 2014. Only Mexican boxer Canelo Alvarez, who signed an 11-fight contract worth $365 million, beats Harper.
The contract includes a complete no-trade clause and no opt-out clause, meaning Harper could be in a Phillies uniform through 2031. A source said the Phillies extended the term of the contract -- many seemed to believe it would be a 10-year deal -- to spread out their cash outlay and lower the average annual value of Harper’s deal to $25.4 million per season. The number should help the Phillies as they pursue future talent (Mike Trout, anybody?) and try to avoid eclipsing the luxury tax threshold.
The Phillies had been interested in Harper for years, constructing rosters and planning for this offseason, but their pursuit intensified last month, when they visited Harper, his wife, Kayla; his agent, Scott Boras; and his associates in Harper’s hometown of Las Vegas. They met Boras again in Florida two weeks ago. Phillies managing partner John Middleton then flew his private jet to Las Vegas on Friday to meet with Harper and his wife. Middleton met with Boras on Saturday morning before returning to Florida that night. Read more HERE.
No comments:
Post a Comment