NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Bryce Harper has expressed a desire to sign an extension with the Philadelphia Phillies, even though his contract spans eight more years and takes him through his age-38 season, his agent, Scott Boras, said Wednesday.
Harper's 13-year, $330 million free agent contract was the largest in major league history when he signed it in March 2019, topping Giancarlo Stanton's $325 million extension with the Miami Marlins.
The deal came with no opt-outs — something Harper said he requested in order to prove his loyalty to Philadelphia and help recruit other players — and a $25.4 million average annual value that paled in comparison to the $30 million secured by Manny Machado that same offseason.
Harper's contract is now the seventh-highest in the sport; 23 players have a higher average annual value. Boras, hosting his annual winter meetings scrum from the Gaylord Opryland Resort, brought up Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who restructured his contract in order to better line up with his QB counterparts.