According to recent Washington Nationals rumors, the initial price tag for Bryce Harper has been set at a hefty $350 million over the next 10 years.
Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper hasn’t even officially hit free agency yet, but he’s already the talk of the free agent class. If you believe the latest Nationals rumors, then a starting price may have already been set for the talismanic outfielder.
According to a recent report from Bruce Levine of 670 The Score, “The bidding for in free agency will start at 10 years and $350 million”. That figure would be enough to make him the highest paid player in the league, beating Giancarlo Stanton‘s $325 million deal.
This seems like just the starting point for negotiations, and the final contract that gets agreed could exceed that amount. It remains to be seen which teams would be in for Harper if the reports are true, but if that’s the price, the Nationals should be in the mix.
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Although the team reportedly exceeded the luxury tax threshold last season, they’re expected to be much better off heading into free agency, with a few of their contracts off the books. They could definitely fit in $35 million per season for Harper and still stay a fair way clear of the threshold of $206 million for 2019, so aren’t restricted on that front.
The ball seems to be in the Nationals court so far, with Harper often declaring his desire to stay in D.C. if he’s in the team’s plans. He even teased his fans with an Instagram story of him alongside young sensations Victor Robles and Juan Soto, as part of a dream team outfield.
With all these subtle, and some not-so-subtle, signs that he wants to stay, it’s possible he could take a hometown discount to stay with the Nats too. Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post previously told 106.7 The Fan that there’s a growing chance that he may do just that, however, the amount saved in that discount is still not clear.
Many fans have been clamoring for their homegrown superstar to stay, and that’s certainly a factor to consider for the team. The Nationals could make up some of that proposed $350 million back from numbers of people that Harper himself will put in seats over the next decade or so.
This is just the start of the Nationals rumors this offseason, and Bryce Harper is bound to be the subject of several of them. Don’t expect a resolution quickly though, as based on previous Scott Boras clients, it could be a long wait.