Bora’s comments on Harper’s contract, Bohm rumors and Phillies free agency originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
DALLAS — It didn’t take long for the 13-year, $330 million contract Bryce Harper signed with the Phillies in February 2019 to go from the richest in baseball history to one of the league’s most team-friendly deals.
Harper chose not to have opt-outs in his contract because he wanted to settle in one place without any uncertainty or distraction about his future. If he had had the option to opt out in the last two or three years, he almost certainly would have received a much higher salary.
During spring training earlier this year, after the Phillies extended Zack Wheeler, Phillies managing partner John Middleton was asked if there was anything going on with a Harper extension or reworked deal.
“At this point, I really have no comment other than what I’ve said. My goal is for him to retire as a Phillie,” Middleton said on March 4. “My expectation is that he retires as a Phillie. We have to get something done, but when we get it done and how it gets done, it’s not clear to me.”
It appears that when Harper’s deal is reworked, it will take the form of an extension. His contract currently runs through his age 39 season and he says he wants to play until he’s 40.
Harper is one of Scott Boras’ most prominent clients. That includes Juan Soto, who this week agreed to a 15-year, $765 million deal with the Mets, dwarfing Harper’s contract. Soto will make $51 million a year. Harper makes $25,384,615 per season, which ranks 51st all-time (albeit among mostly shorter deals) and 28th among active players.
In his annual media interview at the MLB Winter Meetings Wednesday morning, Boras addressed Harper’s contract situation.
“There’s no question that these dynamics are being discussed,” he said. “John and Dave (Dombrowski) took the time to talk to me about it, so we’re in a place where there’s very good communication and understanding of what’s going on.”
Asked if Harper would be upset if it doesn’t happen, Boras said: “It’s certainly something we’ve discussed internally.”
When the topic came up before the 2024 season, the Phillies had more immediate fish to fry. Aaron Nola was a free agent and Zack Wheeler was entering his walking year. The Phillies re-signed them both.
They have key players returning to their walking years in 2025: Kyle Schwarber, JT Realmuto, Ranger Suarez and the newly signed Jordan Romano.
You would think that if Harper’s contract is reworked this offseason, it would come closer to spring training after free agency was done.
Boras on Bohm
Alec Bohm is another Boras customer. The agent said Wednesday that he has had “no indication from the Phillies that they are shopping him.”
“There’s been a lot of discussion in the media about it, but nothing has ever been said to us other than that Alec Bohm is the third baseman for the Phillies and will remain so,” Boras said.
An unexpected splash?
The Phillies haven’t faced Juan Soto or been players for top starting pitchers like Max Fried or Corbin Burnes, which is understandable given their roster construction.
Asked for his thoughts on the Phillies not playing for the top free agents in this class, Boras paused for a few seconds.
“I would say for the Phillies,” he began, “just because they’re not in the pool doesn’t mean they don’t have their trunks on.”
Dombrowski got a kick out of that comment when it was relayed to him by a reporter several hours later.
“We don’t do skinny dip,” he said, laughing. “So we have our shorts on.”
