Bryce Harper???

They did once you take into consideration that his play is probably going to be declining around 34. Then you are on the hook for 5 more years of a declining (even more) player at that figure as well.

I for one am glad the Nats didn't put that kind of length into any offer. Not sure why he didn't take the 10yr/300 million they offered. Makes you wonder if the Nats were really serious about the offer to begin with.

Maybe. But when Ryan Howard and Chase Utley's play declined I thought to myself well this sucks but 2008 made it all worth it.

If the Skins won the SB in 2020 and then found themselves in cap prison from 2024-2026, would you be OK with it? I think I know how most would answer.

Of course there are no guarantees the Phils will get a ring with Harper under contract. If it doesn't happen, then it wasn't worth it. If it does, then it was. Sports in a nutshell right there.

Good call.Not being a super big baseball guy, ......is he worth the money?

He wouldn't have been worth $30M per season. But $25M per season I'm good with.

His defensive value isn't great. He's not a liability on defense at all, but he's also not adding a lot of value. In Citizen's Bank Park though where the OF is small, his range isn't as important.

What is important is the lineup impact he has. Rhys Hoskins has never had this kind of lineup protection, his numbers should get better just because of the presence of Harper. Harper led MLB in walks last season, his career OBP is 0.388. He'll be on base a lot, and he'll drive in his fair share as well.

It's not just about Harper as an individual, it's about how he affects the rest of the lineup. The Phillies had already made big improvements by acquiring Jean Segura to play short, JT Realmuto behind the plate, and a declining Andrew McCutcheon to play OF who is no longer the all star level player but still an offensive threat.

Segura consistently hits 0.300 so he fits perfectly at the top of the order. Harper being the lefty power hitter breaks up the right handed heavy order, so he slots naturally into the 3 hole. That puts Hoskins the young slugger right behind him in the 4, with Harper and Segura on base ahead of him plenty.

Realmuto slots in as a nice 5th, a guy with good gap power who had 30 doubles and ~20 HRs each season the last two years.

And then your 6 7 8 become McCutcheon, Odubel Herrera, and Maikel Franco in some order. McCutch is on the downside but still gets 20+ HRs per season. And Franco and Herrera don't make for great middle of the order hitters the way the Phillies had to use them the last few seasons. But they make for a great bottom of the order. For your 7 and 8 hitters to be guys who hit 0.260 - 0.270 and 20 HRs apiece, that's dangerous and gives you the ability to score in any inning.

Harper works the count. With the rest of the lineup around him, the Phillies will run pitch counts up and get deep into the bullpen of opposing staffs in a hurry. His fit into the lineup as a lefty slugger is perfect.

And best part of all, this should make Mike Trout want to come home in 2021, for certain.

Phillies line up is fairly stacked...the only issue with the team is outside of Nola there isn't great pitching. Arrieta is about done.

13 years is long, but you get his prime years. I just don't think he's a great an offensive player as many believe.

I think the east will be extremely competitive, should be fun.

Update, the more I read the better I like the deal for both.

Now you got Bryce calling Philly the greatest city in the world. :laughing-


https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2823062-leveon-bell-shares-bryce-harper-recruiting-him-to-eagles-in-instagram-story

Well if you're a fan of Max striking out Bryce, last night was alright. If you're a Nats fan, a fan of competent bullpens, a fan of the Nats lineup, a fan of Trea Turner or Matt Adams, a fan of curly W's, or a fan of Bryce doing nothing, last night sucked. Congrats to Bryce on a successful return to Nats Park.

I'm a Braves fan, we can all hate Harper together now.

That worked out well, Harper with a epic bat flip too


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Well if you're a fan of Max striking out Bryce, last night was alright. If you're a Nats fan, a fan of competent bullpens, a fan of the Nats lineup, a fan of Trea Turner or Matt Adams, a fan of curly W's, or a fan of Bryce doing nothing, last night sucked. Congrats to Bryce on a successful return to Nats Park.

Lol...oh shit did trea turner get hurt? I saw him get hit...and thought wow that’s a guy who can’t go down right now.

Bryce’s bat just passed over my house down here...yup still flipping

O's fan but I pretty much hate all things about philadelphia so F philly

O's fan but I pretty much hate all things about philadelphia so F philly

Including me?? :D