Philadelphia Phillies: Bryce Harper
The Philadelphia Phillies were patient all winter, and finally got their man in Bryce Harper for 13 years and $330 million. As free agency dragged on, it became obvious that either Harper or Manny Machado would end up with the Phillies. Turns out, Harper was the team’s first choice all along, and both sides were rewarded with a historic deal.
With Harper in the fold, the Phillies have one of the deadliest lineups in the National League, and he has been thriving so far in Philadelphia. It’s obviously still the honeymoon phase for one of the league’s most mercurial superstars and one of the most passionate fanbases. For his part, Harper seems overjoyed to be playing in front of a park full of rabid fans every night instead of the sometimes lukewarm fans in Washington.
For the amount of money they’re paying him, the Phillies need Harper to step up and deliver consistent production. The 26-year-old has yo-yoed back and forth between MVP-caliber production and barely above-average production the last four years. He hit just .249/.393/.496 in his walk year. Harper looks locked-in so far this season, and that may be attributable to a feeling of calm after having a concrete idea about what his future looks like for the next decade.
Harper is now the cornerstone for the Phillies to build their next World Series team around. He is the perfect player to thrive in Philadelphia, where a winner becomes a living legend. Say what you will about Harper’s on-field persona, but there’s no denying that he is desperate to win. That’s all it takes to win over the City of Brotherly Love.