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MLB Power Rankings: Top 25 players in the game today

By Joshua Sadlock

ANAHEIM, CA - APRIL 09: Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) during an at bat in the second inning of a game against the Milwaukee Brewers played on April 9, 2019 at Angel Stadium of Anaheim in Anaheim, CA. (Photo by John Cordes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA - APRIL 09: Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) during an at bat in the second inning of a game against the Milwaukee Brewers played on April 9, 2019 at Angel Stadium of Anaheim in Anaheim, CA. (Photo by John Cordes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – MARCH 30: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies hits a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh inning against the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park on March 30, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Braves 8-6. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – MARCH 30: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies hits a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh inning against the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park on March 30, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Phillies defeated the Braves 8-6. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

3. Bryce Harper

It took nearly the entire winter, but Bryce Harper finally got what he wanted — the largest contract in MLB history. For a few weeks, Harper’s 13-year, $330-million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies was the biggest contract ever. It’s still the biggest contract ever signed by a free agent since Mike Trout gave up his own chance to ever test the open market. Given the trend of young players signing team-friendly extensions, Harper’s deal should stay the richest ever for quite some time.

The early returns on the contract for the Phillies and Harper are mixed. He got off to a scorching start, perhaps buoyed by a chance to torment the Washington Nationals right off the bat, but has since cooled. Harper will finish April with a line not much better than the .249/.393/.496 he posted last season in his walk year. He is putting up good power numbers but also leads the NL in strikeouts and has had a few tumultuous moments.

Harper’s 13-year deal may go down as one of the best or worst contracts in MLB history. Getting him for a little over $25 million per year is a bargain if he is posting lines resembling his .330/.460/.649 MVP age-22 season that invoked shades of Mickey Mantle. The deal will go down as an absolute bust, however, if his numbers continue to stay at these levels. Harper is one of the greatest raw talents in the game, but he must show he can consistently produce at an MVP level on a yearly basis. Luckily for the Phillies, he has 13 years to figure it out.

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