Boras, Harper fielded record offers of $45M AAV: 'We had a full buffet'
Bryce Harper reportedly landed a record-breaking $330-million, 13-year deal with the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday, ending a months-long negotiation during which he fielded some intriguing offers.
"We had average values of $45 million offered on shorter-term deals," Harper's agent Scott Boras told Joel Sherman of the New York Post, without admitting which team offered it.
That average annual value would easily eclipse the record earned by a position player, which was set by the Colorado Rockies and Nolan Arenado when they agreed on an eight-year, $260-million extension - worth $32.5 million per year.
It would also blow by the all-time AAV record set by the Arizona Diamondbacks and Zack Greinke back in 2016 when they agreed on a six-year, $206.5-million contract worth more than $34.4 million per year.
Instead, Harper's average annual value sits just north of $25 million per year, right around Alex Rodriguez's $252-million contract he signed back in 2001 with the Texas Rangers.
In total guaranteed money, Harper's $330-million deal is the new high watermark, surpassing the 13-year, $325-million contract Giancarlo Stanton signed as a member of the Miami Marlins following the 2014 season. Stanton - who has since been traded to the New York Yankees - negotiated an opt-out clause into his contract, which can be used following year-six of the deal, whereas Harper reportedly did not.
"The goal was to get the longest contract possible," Boras continued. "Bryce wanted one city for the rest of his career. That is what I was instructed to do. It is very difficult in this time to get length of contract that takes a player to age 37, 38, 39.
"To get great length, you have to give something up," Boras said regarding Harper opting for longer security over short-term value. "Frankly, the Philly ballpark had a lot to do with it. Bryce hits great there. And ownership flew out twice (to Vegas) and really went through the hoops to show how much (they) wanted Bryce."
Before officially hitting free agency, the incumbent Washington Nationals reportedly offered Harper a 10-year, $300-million contract to lock up their former first overall pick. $100 million of the contract was reportedly deferred until Harper turned 62 years old, according to Sherman.