Dodgers: Scott Boras Could Keep Bryce Harper Out of Los Angeles
The Bryce Harper saga has turned on us once again. We knew that it would be this way. Moreover, Michael Duarte of NBC Sports Los Angeles has been a consistent source of Harper news and rumors this winter. The big one was when Duarte heard that the Dodgers were ‘on the 10 or 20 yard-line’ in regards to signing Harper.
On Friday, he released a couple more items on twitter.
Bryce Harper’s agent, Scott Boras, wants a 10-year mega deal. The #Dodgers are interested in a 4-5 year deal. It appears LA is out of the running for now, but if Harper really wants to be a Dodger, he can still tell Boras to get the deal done.
— Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) January 5, 2019
Sources believe #Nationals are now favorites to land Bryce Harper. Followed by #Phillies and then everyone else. Washington offered Harper “Well over $300 million” (as reported by @JimBowdenGM) on a 10-year deal and source indicated “I would be surprised if he doesn’t sign It.”
— Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) January 5, 2019
It’s possible that the Dodgers were the frontrunner for a long while. Still, it’s important not to underestimate the power of super-agent Scott Boras in all of this. Boras is the commanding hand that is paid to advise his client – and it’s in Boras’ best interest if Harper signs a 10-year pact for as many dollars as possible.
Moreover, this has the Nationals back in the mix. They offered Harper a 10-year deal before the season ended. Now that that Harper and Boras have shopped the market and suitors have died down, that agreement is starting to look more attractive.
Most recently have been reports that Harper’s friends believe privately that he desires to be in Los Angeles. As Duarte indicated – it’s not out of the realm that the Dodgers still make this splash. However, it would take Harper jumping in the mix and telling his agent that he really wants to be a Los Angeles Dodger.
The only certainty at this point is the Harper story likely takes a few more twists and turns before being finalized either way.
Dodgers’ Chance At Cleveland Ace Diminishing
If Dodgers give a 10 year contract to anyone it will be Corey Seager.
I doubt that highly, with Seager’s injury history at age 24.
LOL! Injury history at 24! He had TJ surgery and hip cleanup. Let’s see how he plays before labeling him with “injury history.” He had 1300 plate appearances in 2 previous seasons. By the way, “IF” is conditional.
Injury history? LOL TJ for a ss is a non issue
Dodgers should structure a deal as follows: five years guaranteed starting at $31 million for year one and reaching 35 for year five; a team option to go for five more years at a continued 36-40 escalation but with a $50 million team buyout; however, if the Dodgers win two World Series, or three NL Championships during the first five years the option for the second five years converts to a player option. That should give all three parties (Dodgers, Harper and Boras) a chance to claim victory. A five year guarantee which when added to th buyout equates to a minimum contract value of 215 over five years or ten years at total value of 355 (but with the Dodgers having won either a minimum of two World Series or having appeared in at least three from 2019 thru 2023.
Now that is the best offer I have seen yet and there is no way Harper nor Boras can turn that down, and it would make Harper bust his balls each and every year to earn his $$$ no goofing around like he did last year with Washington. Like Godfather, that is an offer HE CAN’T REFUSE!!!
This is a great deal structure…. forward this to Friedman.
Close the deal, pick up Kluber, and trade for Realmuto.
Here is a list of successful 10 year contracts, all to far superior players than Harper.
Oops cant find any sucessful 10 year contracts. Does that give you a hint about what most teams are thinking?
Dave winfield
make it an incentive laden contract and then the 10 years and he could earn more!
I don’t want to sound like I am a broken record and all but Harper is a LH batter. I again would prefer that kind of an impact player be a RH bat for middle of lineup. It looks like Harper will end up back with Nats anyway. We do not need to issue out any 10 year deals to anyone in order to fill the holes on this current team.
I agree, unfortunately there aren’t many great right-handed bats available, whether via free agency or trade. LeMahieu is good and the Dodgers were once looking at Castellanos, but there’s really no one else available. I would like to see the Dodgers trade away one of their lefty bats and then sign Harper. Maybe they could trade Muncy and play Bellinger at first. Or maybe they could just trade directly out of their outfield by dealing Joc Pederson.
I agree with ElysianPark and PaulDodgerFan65. No one is worth $30M/year for each of 10 years. Period. It would be an insane judgement call if Dodger management forks out that kind of money for anybody. Don’t do it. Don’t do it. Don’t do it. Let the Nats have him. Pitching is the name of the game…always has been, always will be.
You are wuse beyond your years. For what it’s worth I agree 110% with your comments.
I love the kids & can’t wait ro see what they can do. If they are not good enough, so be it.
Friedman has done an admirable job undoing the reckless spending of the previous regime. I would be shocked and disappointed if he recklessly spent on Harper. A right-handed hitting outfielder and a stopgap catcher to share duties with Barnes. Those are the biggest needs and neither player has to be a star.
I would agree, I don’t think Friedman is ready to start being reckless with the money. Especially considering it’s not like they have been losing every season. They’ve been successful, I don’t think he will see a need to throw ridiculous money at anyone.
Well said
The choice for Harper is does he want to be the highest paid MLB player for a year or does he want to wear a World Series Championship ring.
Boras is looking for the best deal for boras.
Harper can make more money than he can spend. Long term deal suck in the last few years.
I am all for players making the most that their talent and skill sets demand in the market. They are the reason we enjoy the game and go to the ball park. The team owners and the league continue to profit so much in the likes of billions. They like to create the narrative that the players are ones are to blame for eating up their budgets and limiting their maneuverability but it’s completely unfair to the labor force that is the players. Look it up and see how much these owners really earn in profit and your perspective will shift.
300 million dollars to play a game until he is 36, which is when he can retire. From playing a kid’s game.
I bust my hump at a blue collar job with the hope I can retire as a broken old man, and yet over my entire life, I won’t make ten percent of what Harper will make in one year.
You want to talk about fairness? Talk about minor league pay. Now that is a talk worth having.
Completely agree with most , Dodgers are a complete team with the vets and the kids. Do not need Harper or Machado and their ball and chain contracts.