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It's a huge moment for the Phillies. Bryce Harper finalized a 13 yr deal with them for $330 million, which set a record for total value in MLB, NBA,NFL, and NHL history. With Manny-Machado's contract coming in at a close second at $300 million, for 10 years with the Padres. I found a pretty decent article on the subject. This could be big for a team such as the Phillies.
A little about this guy. I'm not the first, nor the last to say this, but he isn't your average ball player. He's truly an all-star player. He was the first overall pick in the draft at 17, and had reached the majors, and the All-Star team by 19. Won an MVP award at 22, which went without saying that we was the most sought-after free agent in history at 26. Now, he's looking to make huge bucks playing for the Philadelphia Phillies, possibly until he's 39.
So what does this mean for the Phillies? This heavy hitter could seriously beef up the Phillies' offense. There certainly is a chance for more wins in a season, and dare I say, a spot in the playoffs, now that he is on the team. It's a decently strong possibility when you look at his stats. One good example, in 2015 he was the best hitter in baseball, batting 330/460/649, with 42 home runs and 124 walks. Like the article says:
That 10.0-WAR season ranks as the best by a National League position player since Barry Bonds.
Even if Harper could bolster the Phillies offense, many would argue they have the worst defense, and not to mention Harper had a bad defensive season in 2018, and his strike out rate has increased recently from 19.6 to 24.3 percent. Harper fans argue that he's just swinging for the fences more often than he used to - homer happy.
Harper joining the club will most certainly be a make or break for the Phillies. I see it going either way. I certainly don't think it will fail to cause waves one way or another.
I think the article ends it well:
Before the signing, FanGraphs projected the Phillies' record to be 80-82. The projection of Harper as a 4.9-WAR player would be about a four-win upgrade for Philadelphia. Of course, we've seen Harper play at a much higher level. If that happens, even for just a few seasons at the beginning of the contract, the upgrade will be even greater -- and nobody will question if the money was worth it.
What does everyone else think? Was this a good investment for the team, or will it be one of the most expensive blunders in sports contract history?