Brad Mills – USA Today Sports
You can’t say that Scott Boras does not have a sense of humor. This week, the super agent was in town to see some of his clients on the Washington Nationals, and he floated the idea that got a great deal of press. Boras told a group of reporters half-jokingly:
“I’m more into 12-year deals for young players … The M.O. is that you want to keep within the franchise, you want him there for a long time and you want to be there for the fans and be a marquee for them. … You’re going to have to do something different if you’re going to be a team of distinction.”
Bryce Harper, the person that Boras is likely taking about, is not eligible for arbitration until after the 2015 season and cannot test free agency until after the 2018 season. He would be a 25-year old free agent in his prime if no extension is reached. Harper’s current contract pays him $2 million this year, and then $2.15 million and $2.25 million in 2014 and 2015, respectively.
But let’s play Scott’s new game of “What if …”
Harper would sign a 12-year extension after this season that would go into effect in 2016. The extension would eat up his three arbitration years, as well as seven years of free agency. Harper would be 32 the next time he is eligible for free agency.
There can be no doubt that the majority of the risk in signing Harper to a 12-year extension lies with the Nationals. The key problem is that Harper plays as hard, if not harder, than any other player in baseball. He is prone to possible injury, and a 12 year deal seems a bit too risky, even for a talent as good as Harper.
The 20-year old phenom has a career batting average of .273 and 40 career home runs, including 18 this year. Harper is just the third player in MLB history to hit 40 home runs before the age of 21.
At this point in time, the Nationals would likely extend Harper in 2014 or a year before he is eligible for arbitration, which is what they did with the Ryan Zimmermann extension. So while Boras might want a 12-year extension for Harper, it’s more likely that he and the Nationals will work out a long-term deal in more of the 8-9 year range.
Rant Sports columnist James Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award winning, producer, director and writer. Follow him on Twitter @Wordmandc and be part of his Google+ group.
