DALLAS -- Remember when Bryce Harper’s 13-year, $330 million deal with the Phillies was the richest contract in baseball history? That was February 2019. Fast forward five years, and somehow it’s transformed into one of the most team-friendly deals in the sport.
How did that happen? Well, for starters, Harper made it happen. He insisted on no opt-outs when he signed because he wanted to plant his flag in Philadelphia—no drama, no distractions, no questions about his future. But if he had negotiated an opt-out and exercised it over the last couple of years, there’s no question he’d be pulling in a far heftier salary than the $25 million a year he earns now.
Compare that to the $51 million per year that Juan Soto will rake in from the Mets over the next 15 seasons after his jaw-dropping $765 million mega-deal was announced this week. Soto and Harper share an agent—Scott Boras, naturally—and Boras isn’t exactly shy about pointing out the discrepancy.
“There’s no question those dynamics are being discussed,” Boras said during his annual Winter Meetings press conference. “John [Middleton] and Dave [Dombrowski] have taken the time to talk with me about it, so we’re in a place where there’s very good communication and understanding of what’s going on.”
Pressed on whether Harper would be upset if his contract isn’t reworked, Boras kept it vague: “This is certainly something that we’ve discussed internally.”
For the Phillies, it’s not just about Harper—it’s about timing. When this conversation popped up before the 2024 season, they had more pressing concerns. Aaron Nola was a free agent. Zack Wheeler was a year away from hitting the open market. The Phillies ultimately re-signed them both.
Now, as they head into 2025, they’re facing another round of expiring deals. Kyle Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto, and Ranger Suarez are all set to hit free agency after next season. So, where does Harper fit into that puzzle?
Logic says that if the Phillies rework Harper’s deal this offseason, it probably won’t happen until the dust settles in free agency—closer to spring training. And when it does, don’t be surprised if it comes in the form of an extension. Harper’s current deal runs through his age-39 season, but he’s been vocal about wanting to play into his 40s.
For now, Harper isn’t publicly clamoring for a new deal. But with Soto resetting the market, and Boras clearly keeping the dialogue alive, the idea of a new-look contract for Harper feels less like an “if” and more like a “when.”
