WASHINGTON — The moment we have all been waiting for has finally come.
Sources say Bryce Harper is finalizing a deal with the Philadelphia Phillies.
Here’s what you need to know about this 13-year, $330 million deal:
- All of the money is guaranteed, meaning that Harper could not see the field and still get paid.
- It includes a no-trade clause and has no opt-outs, which ideally means that Harper is locked in with the Phillies until 2032.
- The luxury–tax on the deal is $25 million. The luxury-tax is enforced when a MLB team goes over their predetermined threshold.
This is one of the largest deals in pro team sports history. The top five largest deals are held by current and former MLB players.
- Bryce Harper, Phillies, $330M
- Giancarlo Stanton, Marlins, $325M
- Manny Machado, Padres, $300M
- Alex Rodriguez, Yankees, $275M
- Alex Rodriguez, Rangers/Yankees, $252M
Now that the numbers are sorted out, what does this trade do for the Phillies?
This deal puts the Phillies in a pretty good position to not only win the NL East but also the World Series. The only team that has better odds in the NL is the Dodgers.
The former Nat has a .279 average with 184 homers, 521 RBIs and a .388 on-base percentage over his career.
Harper is no stranger to his new home Citizens Bank Park. He has hit 14 career home runs at this venue the most at a road ballpark in his career.
The Phillies face the Nats in early April and it is building up to be a showdown between divisional rivals.
Moral of the story, Bryce Harper is getting paid a lot of money.
Every time that Harper steps to the plate he will be making more than the annual median household income of Philadelphia.
Let that sink in.