Nationals slugger Bryce Harper is one of the best young talents in Major League Baseball, but a gaudy contract demand might force Washington to move on from the 2015 NL MVP.
According to USA Today, Harper's camp is asking for an extension exceeding 10 years that would pay him more than $400 million. The massive contract number is forcing the Nationals to plan for other options, including the likely fate of parting ways with the All-Star during or after the 2018 season.
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While Harper's camp is putting the Nationals in a tough spot, the $400 million number isn't coming from agent Scott Boras, who told Yahoo Sports on Monday: "I have had no discussions with the Nationals regarding Harp and a long-term contract."
As USA Today points out, the Nationals committed $87.4 million in salaries for the 2019 season to starters Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg, and infielder Ryan Zimmerman. Adding a record-breaking contract to the mix seems highly unlikely.
Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton owns the most lucrative contract in MLB history with his a 13-year, $325 million deal signed in 2014.
Harper, who will be 26 when he becomes a free agent, is the crown jewel of baseball's free agent class of 2018 that already is being heralded as one that will obliterate offseason spending records.
If a $400 million player is an inevitability, there likely will be at least one in the 2018 class, which as of now includes the likes of Harper, Manny Machado, Zach Britton, Adam Jones, Andrew McCutchen and potentially Clayton Kershaw and David Price, who have opt-out clauses.