By Matt McCarthy, 985TheSportsHub.com
The Philadelphia Phillies and outfielder Bryce Harper have agreed to the largest contract in the history of American sports.
According to multiple reports, the is deal for 13-years and $330 million, surpassing the $325 million contract Giancarlo Stanton originally signed with the Miami Marlins.
The signing was first reported by Jon Heyman of MLB Network.
Harper did not receive any opt-out clauses in the contract and none of the money is deferred.
Harper’s total guaranteed money is the largest in baseball history, but it does not come close to the highest average annual value in the game, which was set by Colorado’s Nolan Arenado earlier this week at just over $33 million per season.
The 13-year, $330M deal for Harper will include an average annual value of $25.4M - the 14th-highest in major-league history. With no opt-outs, per @JeffPassan and others, massive commitment by #Phillies.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) February 28, 2019
The contract does include a no-trade clause, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
Bryce Harper’s deal with the Philadelphia Phillies includes a no-trade clause, league sources tell ESPN. Combine that with the 13-year, $330 million term, and this much is clear: Bryce Harper is committed to being a Philadelphia Phillie for the rest of his career.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 28, 2019
The 26-year-old Harper won the National League Most Valuable Player award in 2015. He hit 34 home runs in 2018, but saw his average dip to .249. He did, however, put up the third-highest OPS of his career at .889.
Harper is now committed to the Phillies until he is 38 years old. That move that was deliberate, according to his agent, Scott Boras.
Boras: “The goal was to get the longest contract possible. Bryce wanted 1 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.” #Phillies
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) February 28, 2019
Harper’s contract lasting for 13 years helps the Phillies when it comes to luxury tax purposes. According to Jayson Stark of The Athletic, the Phillies are about $50 million below the tax threshold, giving them flexibility to add in the coming years.
The #Phillies projected to be $74 million under the tax threshold this year before signing Harper. So at just over $25 million in AAV, this deal gives them the flexibility to do more, both this year and beyond. Big reason for extending it over 13 years.
— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) February 28, 2019
Angels centerfielder Mike Trout, a Philadelphia-area native, is a free agent following the 2020 season.
You can hear Matt McCarthy on 98.5 The Sports Hub’s own Hardcore Baseball podcast and on various 98.5 The Sports Hub programs. Follow him on Twitter @MattMcCarthy985.