Phillies reportedly sign Bryce Harper to baseball's biggest contract ever

(Image credit: Dustin Bradford / Getty Images)

published 28 February 2019

Superstar outfielder Bryce Harper, whose free agency after seven years with the Washington Nationals had dragged on into the early days of spring training, was on Thursday finalizing a $330 million, 13-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, ESPN reports.

The deal exceeds that of Manny Machado, this off-season's other prize free-agent slugger, who last week signed a 10-year, $300 million contract with the San Diego Padres, and makes Harper's deal the largest in baseball history. It reportedly includes a no-trade clause and no opt-outs, meaning Harper could be in Philadelphia for the rest of his career.

Harper, who was anointed "Baseball's LeBron" by Sports Illustrated at age 16, hasn't exactly been that — in his time in Washington, the Nationals never advanced past the National League Division Series — but he has been very, very good, winning the 2015 National League MVP and averaging 32 home runs, 91 RBI, and a .279 batting average, according to Baseball Reference. "If the reports are true, it's a huge moment for our baseball team," Phillies manager Gabe Kapler told ESPN. "We get a lot better on the field, and Bryce Harper is a great teammate. We'd love to have him in our clubhouse, if the reports are true."

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Jacob Lambert is the art director of TheWeek.com. He was previously an editor at MAD magazine, and has written and illustrated for The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Weekly, and The Millions.

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