In the high-priced world of Major League Baseball, coveted free agent Bryce Harper signed with the Philadelphia Phillies today, striking a deal that should keep the 26-year-old in the City of Brotherly Love until age 39.
The 13-year, $330 million transaction marks a new record in Major League Baseball for overall dollars.
“Because the player is entering the prime of his career, you’re really talking about a unique and rare opportunity,” his agent, Scott Boras said. “Anyone who’s done what Bryce Harper has done at 25, if you’ve done that, you’re almost a lock to be a Hall of Fame player.”
Harper became a free agent after turning down a $17.9 million qualifying offer from the Washington Nationals.
Harper’s deal just edges out Giancarlo Stanton’s whopping $325 deal, which has an average annual value of $25 million.
The decision comes just one week removed from MLB’s first $300 deal, as the San Diego Padres inked Manny Machado for the biggest free-agent contract in the history of the four major North American professional sports.
Alex Rodriguez owns the following two largest contracts with two 10-year deals worth $252 and $275 million respectively.
The next two are evenly deadlocked at 10-year, $240 millon deals, and owned by Albert Pujols and Robinson Cano.
On the mound, David Price owns the largest free agent contract ever awarded to a pitcher, with his seven-year, $217 million signing. He joined Zack Greinke, Max Scherzer, and Clayton Kershaw in the $200 million pitchers club.
Harper’s deal with Philadelphia includes a no-trade clause.
Is he worth it?
Harper comes to the Phillies with a .279 career batting average, a .388 on-base percentage and a .900 OPS.
He already has 184 home runs and 521 RBIs.
Mike Schmidt is the only man in franchise history to hit his 500th home run in a Phillies uniform, and his numbers entering his age-26 season — .248 batting average, .366 on-base percentage, .857 OPS with 93 home runs and 266 RBIs — did not compare to what Harper has already accomplished.
Only 11 men in baseball history had more home runs than Harper’s 184 before age 26.
The roll call: Alex Rodriguez (241), Eddie Mathews (222), Jimmie Foxx (222), Mel Ott (211), Mickey Mantle (207), Frank Robinson (202), Mike Trout (201), Albert Pujols (201), Orlando Cepeda (191), Ken Griffey Jr. (189), and Andruw Jones (185).
You could say he’s $330 million worth it.