harper signs in philly (13 yrs, $330m) and...

[gwells]

D0h3yk1WoAEcVPx.jpg

[four20]

That comment pretty much sums it up

He's not worth that kind of money. They would have been better off waiting for the Trout Sweepstakes

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[59yukon01]

No professional athelete is worth that kind of money imo.

[HapaHapa]

It speaks to heaps of money that the sports team business pulls in.

[gwells]

yeah, the numbers are ridiculous.

what's really amusing to me is how the philly fans were already trashing him when he was listening to offers from LA and SF this week.

[JBZ]

He's gonna have a ton of fun in Philly if he gets off to a slow start. Harper's had phenomenal years and he's had average years. It's a legitimate question as to whether anyone's worth this kind of money or contract length, but Harper definitely isn't.

[gwells]

even in his phenomenal year (only one was really phenomenal), he had slumps. in general, he's prone to long streaks both ways. we'll see how that plays in philly. it's not like he didn't have a close friend to tell him all the +/- of philly (werth).

i like the kid, and for the right money i'd have loved to see him stay. i think he gets a bad rap. he plays hard (with occasional lapses, but not as bad as manny), wants to win, is respectful, treats the fans well. people have wanted to dislike him since he was on the cover of SI at 16 and he did do a few stupid things in the minor leagues. but he's played with a target on his back since he was 16. he's not perfect, he's human. i won't root against him in philly unless it affects the nats winning.

[JBZ]

even in his phenomenal year (only one was really phenomenal), he had slumps. in general, he's prone to long streaks both ways. we'll see how that plays in philly. it's not like he didn't have a close friend to tell him all the +/- of philly (werth).

i like the kid, and for the right money i'd have loved to see him stay. i think he gets a bad rap. he plays hard (with occasional lapses, but not as bad as manny), wants to win, is respectful, treats the fans well. people have wanted to dislike him since he was on the cover of SI at 16 and he did do a few stupid things in the minor leagues. but he's played with a target on his back since he was 16. he's not perfect, he's human. i won't root against him in philly unless it affects the nats winning.

It's not just the money - it's length of contract. As a Red Sox fan, I'm happy that the Sox seem to have figured out that no one's worth this kind of long term deal. I don't dislike Harper. He seems like a decent guy who dogs it every now and then. His biggest problem probably is that everyone compares him to Trout because they broke into the big leagues at the same time, and Trout may actually be a cyborg from the future.

And no one had lapses like Manny. He once took a leak behind the green monster during the middle of a game. But he sure could hit.

On edit: My bad - I think were referring to Manny Machado. No way I'd take that guy over Harper - such wasted talent.

[jtbenson]

great stat on npr about this yesterday: every time he lifts a bat in a philli uniform under this contract he will earn more than the yearly average household income in that state

[dukerules]

13 years is ridiculous. Look, I'm a big Harper fan, but Trout is the only guy who deserves a contract longer than 10 years.

[rockmastermike]

Manny + Harper together still don’t = Trout (cyborg from the future) based on the WAR advanced metric:

From Fangraphs (if you’re a baseball fan and haven’t already - take some time this weekend and surf fangraphs)

“Here’s a fun fact about these young free agent phenoms, Bryce Harper and Manny Machado: together, 2012-2018, they’ve produced 60.9 WAR. Not averaged but combined.

Over that same time, Trout has produced 64.0 WAR. “

[JBZ]

Manny + Harper together still don’t = Trout (cyborg from the future) based on the WAR advanced metric:

From Fangraphs (if you’re a baseball fan and haven’t already - take some time this weekend and surf fangraphs)

“Here’s a fun fact about these young free agent phenoms, Bryce Harper and Manny Machado: together, 2012-2018, they’ve produced 60.9 WAR. Not averaged but combined.

Over that same time, Trout has produced 64.0 WAR. “

Mookie Betts is arguably the second best player in baseball right now behind Trout. He won the MVP last year, helped no doubt by the fact that the Red Sox were the best team in baseball, and he did edge Trout in WAR last year by 0.7. Mookie entered the big leagues in 2014, while Trout entered in 2011. Comparing their respective WAR since 2014 puts Trout at 44.3 to Mookie's 35.2. There's a reason Mookie is second best.

[CGSshorty]

I’m amazed he got such a ludicrous contract. There didn’t seem to be a lot of competition for him at that price.

[sierra11b]

CA crazy taxes likely played a huge factor vs. Pennsylvania 3% flat tax but you likely won’t hear that mentioned.

At ~300M you’d think climate and proximity to what interests you would play a huge factor but I guarantee taxes was the kiss of death on such a massive deal.

[rockmastermike]

Manny + Harper together still don’t = Trout (cyborg from the future) based on the WAR advanced metric:

From Fangraphs (if you’re a baseball fan and haven’t already - take some time this weekend and surf fangraphs)

“Here’s a fun fact about these young free agent phenoms, Bryce Harper and Manny Machado: together, 2012-2018, they’ve produced 60.9 WAR. Not averaged but combined.

Over that same time, Trout has produced 64.0 WAR. “

Mookie Betts is arguably the second best player in baseball right now behind Trout. He won the MVP last year, helped no doubt by the fact that the Red Sox were the best team in baseball, and he did edge Trout in WAR last year by 0.7. Mookie entered the big leagues in 2014, while Trout entered in 2011. Comparing their respective WAR since 2014 puts Trout at 44.3 to Mookie's 35.2. There's a reason Mookie is second best.

Absolutely right

[unsub073]

when has a contract that long worked out for the team? Pujols comes to mind of the angels getting hosed on that one. yes, I am still a bitter card's fan on that one, but I'm happy St. Louis isn't stuck with it.

[Bradystraps]

Stupid money. I'm so glad the Yankees passed. They have truly learned their lesson the past 10 years and have stopped making dumb $$$ deals and stockpiled prospects turning their farm system into one of the best in baseball.

[gwells]

when has a contract that long worked out for the team? Pujols comes to mind of the angels getting hosed on that one. yes, I am still a bitter card's fan on that one, but I'm happy St. Louis isn't stuck with it.

there have been a few. i think scherzer is working out pretty well for the nats so far. there was an article at the beginning of the FA period that i read. there have been a few that have. but a lot more that haven't.

[jimyritz]

Nolan Arenado 8 yrs 260 mm 32.5 mil per...Rockies
Machado 10 yr 300 mm 30 mil per...Padres
Harper 13 yrs 330 mm 28.5 mil per....Phils

Harper's contract is manageable on a yearly basis...I don't see any of the above in the World Series any time soon...
I thought the Price contract was crazy....

[jswing]

even in his phenomenal year (only one was really phenomenal), he had slumps. in general, he's prone to long streaks both ways. we'll see how that plays in philly. it's not like he didn't have a close friend to tell him all the +/- of philly (werth).

i like the kid, and for the right money i'd have loved to see him stay. i think he gets a bad rap. he plays hard (with occasional lapses, but not as bad as manny), wants to win, is respectful, treats the fans well. people have wanted to dislike him since he was on the cover of SI at 16 and he did do a few stupid things in the minor leagues. but he's played with a target on his back since he was 16. he's not perfect, he's human. i won't root against him in philly unless it affects the nats winning.

Werth gets boo'd mercilessly here, but that's because he jilted us over money to go to the Nats. It's actually pretty funny to be at CBP when he comes up to the plate, and I get the impression it amuses him as well. Philly fans have a bad rap nationwide, and it's somewhat deserved, but really there are some idiot fans in every city. I think Harper will be well received here, because he hustles, so he'll get some slack during a slump. As far as fans getting on him before he even signed, the media basically portrayed him and his agent as using the Phils to get the deal he really wanted out west. We just don't like being used. To be honest, I didn't even really want them to sign him. Not because he's not a great player, but those long term deals rarely look so good toward the last half. Ryan Howard's mega deal really hurt the team back in the day. Still, it'll be nice to see a competitive team again, it's been a while.

[gwells]

so he'll get some slack during a slump.

yeah, i'll believe that when i see it.

[jswing]

so he'll get some slack during a slump.

yeah, i'll believe that when i see it.

Well, I mean as long as he doesn't strike out or something.