Nationals Notes: McCutchen, Gio, Harper, Fedde, Ross - MLB Trade Rumors

 

Asked about what type of money Bryce Harper will command in free agency, the GM of another club tells Heyman that he believes Harper will command closer to $500MM than $400MM on the open market. Furthermore, he stated a belief that $400MM is the “baseline” for a Harper contract in free agency. There’s been plenty of consternation among fans about whether Harper has truly lived up to the hype surrounding him in his career, though his 2015 NL MVP and .376/.491/.744 start to the 2017 campaign are undeniably strong points in his favor. Harper won’t turn 25 until the season comes to a close, and he’s already been worth 24-26 wins above replacement (depending on one’s preferred version of the metric). Whether that makes him worth an investment approaching half a billion dollars is, of course, another debate, but he certainly looks to have rounded back into form after reports of a shoulder injury that plagued him throughout a “down” season (by his standards) in 2016.

If Harper is close to $500 million than Joey Votto is an absolutely steal for the Reds.

 

And please note people, I'm not saying Votto is better.

$500 million sounds like a lot. Half a billion dollars sounds like a LOT more.

 

When you put it in those terms, it is beyond ridiculous.

$500 million sounds like a lot. Half a billion dollars sounds like a LOT more.

 

When you put it in those terms, it is beyond ridiculous.

 

Yes it does. A 10 year contract would put that at 50 million a year.

15 years would be 33 million a year.

 

CRAZY

As long as he brings revenue to the team and the team makes a profit, than yes he is worth it. It's a business.

Who will actually pay it is the question.

As long as he brings revenue to the team and the team makes a profit, than yes he is worth it. It's a business.

 

I would say that's secondary to him helping the valuation of the club grow. That seems to be where owners are really hitting it big.

Who has the richest contract in baseball? Didn't Stanton get $300M? I don't think it'll jump from $300M to $500M

Who has the richest contract in baseball? Didn't Stanton get $300M? I don't think it'll jump from $300M to $500M

 

Stanton 13 yr $325m, mostly backloaded and he can opt out after 6 years. The final 7 years of the contract would be worth $218m.

I'll be shocked if Harper gets a 10 year contract.

I'll be shocked if Harper gets a 10 year contract.

 

Because a team wouldn't offer or because he wouldn't sign?

Because a team wouldn't offer or because he wouldn't sign?

 

I'd be very surprised to see a team offer a 10 year deal

I'd be very surprised to see a team offer a 10 year deal

 

He's 24 years old. 10 years locks him up through his prime, and regardless of how big it sounds right now, will likely be a discount when the contract is expiring. Sure there is some risk involved, but even if you only got 6 or 7 great years out of him, and 3 or 4 average years (for him), I think it's a pretty good risk vs reward situation. While it looks big now, it won't look so big in 2027.