Bryce Aaron Max Harper expressed his desire to remain with the Philadelphia Phillies until the end of his career, and dons the first baseman's glove without hesitation.
Harper reported to spring training on Sunday, openly acknowledging his move from the outfield to first base as a necessary adjustment following Tommy John surgery last November.
"I want to be a part of this team for an extended period," the two-time National League MVP said in the Phillies' spring training clubhouse, reiterating his long-term commitment.
I want to be here for a long time and understand playing into my 40s, that's the biggest thing for me
Bryce Harper
Over his past 11 seasons, Harper has primarily played as an outfielder.
However, after undergoing Tommy John surgery, he transitioned to first base midway through last season to facilitate a return to the field.
Returning from injury, Harper made his first start at first on July 21 and appeared in 36 games there, along with 13 playoff contests.
The Phillies' baseball chief, Dave Dombrowski, had conversations about a potential infield shift with Harper during the offseason.
Drafted first overall by the Washington Nationals in 2010, Harper made his major league debut two years later at just 19 years old.
The elusive World Series title has not been added to Harper's accomplishments yet, but he is excited about the possibility of winning it with the current Phillies roster, which includes prominent players like Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto, Nick Castellanos, Zack Wheeler, and Aaron Nola.
Harper is quoted to have said, “This is a window that we got to win in. Our ownership deserves that. Our fans deserve that. Dombrowski deserves that, as well, and we do, too.”
The 2022 World Series saw the Phillies fall short against the Houston Astros in six games, while their elimination by the Arizona Diamondbacks in a seven-game NL Championship Series marked another disappointing end to the season for Harper and his teammates.
A Pro Athlete's Worth
With $196 million for seven years left on his contract, and an average annual salary of $25.4 million, Harper is the 25th highest-paid player in terms of earnings per year - a significant bargain given his proven skills.
As a seven-time All-Star with a .281 career average, 306 homers, 889 RBIs, and an impressive .912 OPS (fifth among active players), Harper's offensive abilities remain undeniable.
With his existing contract running until he turns 38, Harper is currently assured of approximately $380 million in career earnings but doesn't feel the pressure to rush negotiations on a new deal.
I understand there's other guys to take care of, right? Understanding that Wheels is a big one for us right now
Bryce Harper
"I understand we need to take care of other valuable players," Harper acknowledged, referencing teammate Zack Wheeler, who enters the final year of his five-year, $118 million contract.
Scott Boras, Harper's agent, advocates opt-outs in contracts to ensure that his talents don't get stuck in a less-than-ideal deal. But Harper doesn't feel that the absence of an opt-out in his contract would be used against him.
Every time he would discuss it with Harper, he'd go, "I want the fans to know that I’m going to be there for the remainder of my career. I’ve got to recruit teammates, and I want them to know I’m going to be there.”
Harper, born and brought up in Las Vegas, now lives near Philadelphia in New Jersey, enhancing his connection to the region.
The offseason interests of Harper's wife, Kayla – a former Ohio State soccer player – and their 4-year-old son Krew have also influenced his growing attachment to the Philadelphia region. "Buckeye football on Saturday, Eagles on Sundays, and my son's obsessed with the Flyers".
It sure looks like Bryce Harper is going to be, as he proclaimed, here with the Phillies for the long haul.
