MLB Rumors: Nationals set to move on from Bryce Harper after 2018 season
The Washington Nationals may already be preparing for life after Bryce Harper. He will be a free agent after the 2018 season.
By now, Bryce Harper’s eventual demands when he hits free agency after the 2018 season have been made clear to the Washington Nationals. Harper and his agent, Scott Boras, will be seeking a record-smashing deal that could exceed 10 years and $400 million. According to Bob Nightengale, that is far too rich for the Nationals, and the team is preparing for life without the precocious slugger.
“I have had no long-term discussions with the Nationals on Bryce,” Boras said in a text message to USA TODAY Sports. “No terms, no offers discussed. Only arbitration-year discussions.”
It’s hard to blame the Nationals for being unwilling to even consider handing out a contract that could reach half a billion dollars by the time all’s said and done. The current record for largest single contract belongs to Giancarlo Stanton of the Miami Marlins, who is signed for 13 years and $325 million. Alex Rodriguez previously held the record with a ten-year deal for $275 million, a contract also negotiated by Boras. Rodriguez had also previously signed a ten-year deal for $252 million at the age of 26, the same age Harper will be when he hits free agency.
For the past few years, baseball has been building towards a $400-million contract. Currently, nine players are signed to contracts in excess of $200 million. Miguel Cabrera became the first position player to exceed $30 million in annual salary when he signed a $240 million extension with the Detroit Tigers that kicked in last season. Zack Greinke holds the record for highest annual salary in baseball with his six-year, $206.5 million contract signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks last winter. The runway, especially with a less-punishing luxury tax structure in the new CBA, is cleared for Harper to become the first $40-million-per-year player in the league.
The 2018 free agent class is already shaping up to be one of the best in the history of Major League Baseball. In addition to Harper, Manny Machado, Adam Jones, Andrew McCutchen, Zach Britton, Matt Harvey, and possibly Clayton Kershaw, will all be free agents.
Washington is well prepared to contend for the next two years, with a formidable rotation that includes Cy Young winner Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg. They finished last season with over $150 million in payroll, but may not have much room for expanded payroll with close to $90 million committed to Scherzer, Strasburg, and first baseman Ryan Zimmerman in 2019.
The Nationals have been the most aggressive team on the trade market so far this offseason, a fact that may be explained by their impending loss of Harper. Washington has already been linked to McCutchen, Chicago White Sox ace Chris Sale, Tampa Bay Rays defensive whiz Kevin Kiermaier, and could possibly bid on Kansas City Royals closer Wade Davis after losing out on Mark Melancon. Last winter, they attempted to sign Yoenis Cespedes and Jason Heyward.
Next: Derek Jeter and MLB's 20 Richest Players
With a deep farm system, the Nationals believe they have what it takes to acquire both McCutchen and Sale, even without giving up shortstop Trea Turner. Pitching prospects Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez, along with outfielder Victor Robles, will headline any trades the Nationals ultimately do make. Sale is a very intriguing option for the Nationals because he can be controlled through the 2019 season at a very low cost.
Having already wasted most of Harper’s time, and still seeking their first postseason series victory, it’s now or never for the Nationals. With creative deal-making, the front office can load up for the final two years of Bryce Harper’s time in Washington, while still remaining positioned to win beyond 2018.