Bryce Harper Reportedly Wants A 400 Million When He Hits Free Agency In 2018

According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Nationals have begun contract talks with Harper to try to get an extension done before he reaches free agency. But according to a “high-ranking Nationals executive,” the team is preparing to move on from the 24-year-old superstar, once his contract expires in 2018 as a result of the money he is looking for. Per the unnamed Nationals executive, an exact figure hasn’t been brought to the table by Harper or his agent Scott Boras. But he believes that Harper is seeking a contract somewhere in the neighborhood of over $400 million that spans 10-plus years. According to Boras, he hasn’t had discussions with the Nats on his superstar client, only arbitration-year discussions. Harper currently makes $6 million a year on his current deal, though he is eligible for arbitration this season. Boras though, has a long-standing reputation for not allowing his clients to sign long-term extensions before they can reach free agency. While this strategy is a gamble for some players, eschewing security now for a bigger payday in the future, if Harper remains healthy, it is a gamble that will surely pay off. If Harper does end up getting the $400 million contract he is seeking in 2018, it will be by far the largest contract in MLB history, eclipsing the 13-year, $325 million contract signed by Giancarlo Stanton in 2013. So, it looks like the clock is ticking on the Bryce Harper/Washington Nationals relationship. The team has two seasons to make the most of their young stud, so it will be interesting to see how aggressive they will be in free agency and the trade market as a result.