It's no secret that one day Bryce Harper will become the highest paid player in the MLB, whether it's through a contract extension with the Washington Nationals or a long-term deal with a new team. Rumors have constantly circulated as to what the dollar figure might be, and that argument was brought up again this week.
ESPN Insider Jim Bowden believes Harper will easily eclipse the $325 million contract the Miami Marlins gave to slugger Giancarlo Stanton last year and he says the contract will come from the Nationals before the outfielder hits free agency.
"Projected contract: 14 years for $407 million (average annual value: $29-plus million). [Agent Scott] Boras usually takes his guys to free agency, but perhaps a record-breaking contract will pique his interest. Harper would become the first $400 million player, and let me say this (while you're picking up your jaw from the floor): I went conservative here. If he were to actually reach free agency, I think he not only surpasses this projection, but he shatters it. Gulp."
Bowden is not alone in his thinking, as the topic was elaborated upon by Joe Posnanski of NBC Sports and Washington Post national baseball writer Barry Svrluga this offseason.
Here's what Posnanski said in his piece titled, "The $500 Million Man":
"Two years ago, a friend who gets paid (at least in part) to predict future trends told me this: 'Bryce Harper will get the first $500 million contract in American sports history.'
"'That's crazy,' I told my friend. 'There's no way.'
"You know what? I was wrong. He was right. After seeing the way baseball's going this offseason, I think Harper's going to get a half-billion."
And here's what Svrluga said in response to a fan's question asking if the Nats should sign him to a long-term deal as soon as possible:
"Harper is, right now, the best player on the planet. His agent is Scott Boras, who does right by his clients by not taking discounts. The Nats would like to start negotiations. Boras is patient. And he also believes that Harper is a once-in-a-generation player (maybe twice in a generation, if we count Trout). That means that the current comparable contracts (Giancarlo Stanton's $325M from the Marlins) don't necessarily apply to Harper, in Boras's mind. So are the Nats willing to pony up $400M or more? Can they fill in the other pieces on a roster with one player taking up that much money?"
If Harper stays healthy he will undoubtedly rake in the largest contract in American sports history, but it's probable the Nats will want to see how next year goes before Lerner family digs deep to keep him in Washington.
Harper, 23, just won the NL MVP after a stellar 2015 campaign, but that was his only fully healthy season outside of his rookie campaign. He was limited to a total of 218 games in 2013 and 2014, during which he hit just 33 home runs and 90 RBI. However, his historic 2015 season has really propelled the discussion of his future record-setting contract.
We'll likely be discussing this for at least another year if Harper stays healthy and continues to perform in 2016.
