15 most expensive contracts in MLB history and how they turned out

7. MLB contracts: Bryce Harper, PHI – $330M/13 years

Heading into the 2019 season as a free agent, Bryce Harper signed a 13-year, $330M contract as a free agent, moving in the NL East from the Washington Nationals to the Philadelphia Phillies.

Four seasons into one of the most expensive MLB contracts in history, the 30-year-old Harper has played up to the level the Phillies expected when they gave him the deal.

In his first season in Philadelphia, Harper played 157 games, and while his .260 average was down from his .280 career mark, he put up 35 homers and a .510 slugging percentage. He drove in 114 runs, scored 98 and added 15 stolen bases. Unfortunately, team success didn’t follow, as the Phillies finished at .500.

After the team missed the playoffs in 2020, the former first-overall pick exploded in 2021 with his second MVP-winning season. He hit .309 and led the majors with a 1.044 OPS. But again, the Phillies missed the postseason, finishing 82-80.

Ironically, team success finally came in 2022 despite Harper only playing 99 games after missing two months with a broken thumb. With Harper taking up residence in the DH spot due to elbow problems, the Phillies grabbed the final Wild Card and made their unexpected playoff run.

Harper showed the team and the fans that he’s worth the money. Through four rounds, he slashed a gaudy .349/.414/.746 with 12 runs, 13 RBI and six home runs, none more impressive than the two-run shot that sent the Phillies to the World Series.