Bryce Harper is willing to move to first base and wants to extend his contract with the Phillies into his 40s.
FILE – On Saturday, October 21, 2023, in Phoenix, Arizona, Bryce Harper of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates hitting a home run in the sixth inning of Game 5 of the National League Championship Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Harper stated on Sunday, February 18, 2024, that he intends to play into his 40s and end his career with the Philadelphia Phillies. (Brynn Anderson, File/AP Photo)
AUTHORized by Ronald Blum
Updated on February 18, 2024, at 9:21 AM MST.
DistributeFlorida’s CLEARWATER (AP) — In his latter years, Bryce Harper hopes to play for the Philadelphia Phillies, maybe gloving a throw to first base for the game’s winning out.
After making the impromptu choice to go from the outfield to first base last year in order to resume playing after Tommy John surgery, Harper arrived at spring training on Sunday and expressed his acceptance of the switch. Harper is a two-time NL MVP.
With an annual salary of $25.4 million, which is 19th among current players, he has seven years and $196 million left on his $330 million, 13-year contract—a relative steal.
“I want to be here for a long time and understand playing into my 40s, that’s the biggest thing for me,” the 31-year-old said Sunday in the Phillies’ spring training clubhouse. “So I wanted to get that done.”
During the offseason, Dave Dombrowski, the president of baseball operations for the Phillies, met with Harper to talk about a long-term move to the infield.Harper remarked, “Dombo and I had a pretty good conversation. We sat down, and he said this would be great for our organization, and I said, OK.” “Bryce Harper is willing to move to first base and wants to extend his contract with the Phillies into his 40s.base if you want me there. I believe they decided as a group that first base is where they wanted you, so I decided to make every effort to be there.
Harper was 19 when he made his big league debut with the Nationals two years after being selected by Washington with the first overall pick in the 2010 draft. Having yet to win a World Series, he understands that the current Phillies, with a core that includes pitchers Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola, along with Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto, and Nick Castellanos, may be his best shot.
The Phillies were eliminated by Arizona in a seven-game NL Championship Series last year, following their six-game loss to Houston in the 2022 World Series.Harper stated, “We have to win in this window.” “That is what our ownership is due. That’s what our fans are due. We all believe Dombrowski deserves it as well.
With 306 home runs, 889 RBIs, and a.912 OPS, Harper, a seven-time All-Star, ranks fifth among active players, behind Mike Trout, Aaron Judge, Juan Soto, and Ronald Acuña Jr.
Harper has a contract that expires when he turns 38. Harper isn’t pressing for speedy negotiations on a new contract because he is already guaranteed to make roughly $380 million in his career.I know there are other guys to worry about, right? Seeing that Wheels is a huge one for us right now,” he remarked, alluded to the fact that Wheeler was about to play his final season on a $118 million, five-year contract. “Throughout the season and other times, contract negotiations may take place. We’ll therefore see what Scott and Dave can think of.
Harper now resides in New Jersey, directly over the Delaware River from Philadelphia, having grown up in Las Vegas. His 4-year-old son Krew and wife Kayla, a former Ohio State soccer player, have an impact on his offseason fandom. He now has more ties to the Philadelphia region.
“Saturday is Buckeye football,” he declared. “My son is crazy about the Flyers, and we watch the Eagles on Sundays.”
