By the time Bryce Harper’s contract with the Phillies ends in 2031, he won’t be the same player he is today. But what Harper does in the meantime has a chance to be pretty special, writes bnicholsonsmith:
All of that guarantees the Phillies nothing, of course. There’s no prize for having an impressive roster on Feb. 28. But give them credit for the upgrades they’ve made since their 2018 season ended in disappointing fashion. This team looks like a legitimate contender.
And with the risk comes a reward that’s pretty easy to dream on. Harper has already shown what kind of impact he can make, winning the 2015 MVP with a 10.0 WAR season. No one’s counting on a repeat from that year, but it’s still conceivable that Harper raises his career .900 OPS in the coming seasons as he enters what would traditionally be considered his prime. If that happens, the Phillies will be the ones who benefit.
After suggesting early in the winter that he’d spend “stupid” money, owner John Middleton would have faced a PR nightmare if he wasn’t the high bidder for Harper. Some in the industry wonder if Boras had the Phillies bidding against themselves and whether interest from the San Francisco Giants and Dodgers was overstated. Those in the Phillies’ front office are too smart and prudent to bid against themselves, but of course decisions of this magnitude are typically ownership-driven.
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