Harper gets his money

Free-agent outfielder lands record contract but average annual value lags

Bryce Harper headed to Phillies on a 13-year, $330 million deal.

It took a long time and a lot of money, but the Philadelphia Phillies finally landed Bryce Harper with a record contract.

The young star outfielder and the Phillies agreed Thursday to a 13-year, $330 million contract, the largest deal in baseball history.

Harper’s agent, Scott Boras, said the deal was agreed to shortly before noon, subject to a successful physical.

Phillies manager Gabe Kapler and his players learned of the agreement from fans behind Philadelphia’s dugout who saw media reports on their mobile devices during a spring training game in Clearwater, Fla.

“If the reports are true, it’s a huge moment for our baseball team,” Kapler said. “Certainly I think that the city of Philadelphia would embrace Bryce Harper.”

A 26-year-old All-Star who had spent his entire big league career with the Washington Nationals, Harper topped the 13-year, $325 million agreement outfielder Giancarlo Stanton reached before the 2015 season with the Miami Marlins.

“Harp’s goal was he wanted the largest contract and he wanted his value,” Boras said. “He wanted the largest length he could get because he really wanted to stay in one city and one uniform, wanted to get a ballpark he hit well in, saw the ball well.”

Harper has a .279 career average with 184 homers and 521 RBIs, including a .268 average with 14 homers, 32 RBIs and a .930 OPS in 47 games at Citizens Bank Park. He likely would hit third or fourth, according to Kapler.

“We get a whole lot better on the field,” the manager said. “Bryce Harper is a sensational teammate.”

Harper’s agreement tops the previous high for a free agent, set last week when infielder Manny Machado signed a 10-year, $300 million deal with the San Diego Padres. Harper’s average annual value of $25.4 million ranks 14th in baseball history, well below the high of $34.1 million set by Arizona pitcher Zack Greinke.

Harper gets a $20 million signing bonus, a $10 million salary this year, $26 million in each of the following nine seasons and $22 million in each of the last three years. He has a no-trade clause.

Philadelphia has been among the most active teams this offseason, adding former Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen for $50 million over three years and reliever David Robertson for $23 million over two years, and acquiring catcher J.T. Realmuto and shortstop Jean Segura. The Phillies also gave ace Aaron Nola a $45 million, four-year deal.

After leading the NL East in early August, the Phillies were 16-33 over the final 49 games of last season and at 80-82 finished with a losing record for the sixth consecutive season.

San Francisco and the Los Angeles Dodgers had also pursued Harper in recent weeks. Boras said shorter-term offers had average annual values as high as $42.5 million.