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CLEARWATER, Florida – From the top of a canoe inside the sunny Philadelphia Phillies spring training camp, Bryce Harper was officially introduced by his new club.
Focused, he said, on launching a long and successful career in a place where he also felt a strong family connection, Mr. Harper and his agent, Scott Boras, emphatically reiterated their belief that 39, with a free choice agreement of 13 million euros over 13 years, Philadelphia will be this place.
Harper, who will turn 39 on the expiry of the deal, expects the No. 3 striped red jersey he put at his press conference to be the last uniform of great league that he wears.
"At the beginning of the process, I told this guy that I did not want [an opt-out] Wherever I went, "said Harper, gesturing to Boras. I wanted to be able to dig my roots somewhere, it was through the good, the bad, through the ups and downs of the organization. It will be difficult for 13 years to win every year and I fully understand it.
"[But] I want to be part of this organization. I do not want to go anywhere else. I want to be part of this family, this Phillie nation. "
At what price, though? While Phillies general manager Matt Klentak tried to say that contracts with independent agencies were more than dollars and years, Harper made it clear that he felt entitled to collect the $ 330 million. dollars that he will win.
"I think baseball is worth about $ 11.5 billion," Harper said. "So, I think some of that money should go back to the players, too, I win $ 26. [million] a year or so, so I think it will be able to bring other guys, as well as help this organization to win.
"I know that there's another guy in about two years coming out of the books, we'll see what happens next."
This other guy would be the Angels field player, Mike Trout, who, in the opinion of many, could deserve a contract of greater value than Harper.
As for the introduction of Harper on Saturday, it was made with the band worthy of a man who had just signed the largest free agency contract in the history of baseball.
Just beyond the outside field and over Harper's left shoulder, stood his wicked face, edited into an image displayed on Spectrum Field's video card. Boras, the Phillies' owner, John Middleton, and general manager, Matt Klentak, and Boras, were surrounded by magazine posters describing Stephen Harper's view of the cover he had had with ESPN. the magazine and Sports Illustrated.
A poster for "MLB The Show 19", the upcoming video game starring Harper, is also attached to the net. The game, which posted a uniform without Harper during his free-agency saga, updated his coverage, placing him in the Phillies standings on Friday, when the massive deal was formalized.
When free will began in November, Middleton made headlines promising that his team would spend "stupid money" during the off season to attract some of the best stars of the game. Asked Saturday if Harper's dollars were called "stupid," Middleton said.
"Does it sound like stupid money for you?" he said, adding that Klentak's work this winter "has made us look smart.
In addition to signing Harper, Philadelphia traded for a receiver of great value J.T. Realmuto and midfielder Jean Segura, as well as veteran reliever David Robertson.
Although the Phillies began communicating with Boras about Harper from the start of free trade, there was very little action between the parties until mid-February.
At that time, Middleton met Boras in Clearwater and opened his eyes to the agent. This is usually Boras, who has the reputation of telling the team statistics how his player can influence them from a financial and marketing point of view.
"I said," Scott, I want to tell you something. I'm not interested in talking about marketing dollars, ticket sales, billboards, concessions, "Middleton said." There's only one why I'm talking to you, it's because I believe this guy can help us win. "
"I have earned enough money in my life, I do not need to earn more." I said: "The value of my franchise has significantly increased over the last 25 years.I do not need that it increases further.If this is the case, well.I am here to win, and I think your guy can m & rdquo; To help win. "
Boras said while remembering the conversation, "He insisted on this point."
The contract is his. Now, starting tomorrow and for 13 years, it's time to get to work.
The superstar seemed destined to win the biggest baseball contract of all time, but his career is anything but predictable.
Bryce Harper, who agreed to sign with the Phillies on Thursday, has launched himself into social media to encourage offensive midfielder Leveon Bell to join him in Philadelphia as an Eagles member.
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Last weekend, with Harper still unsigned, Middleton and his wife Leigh traveled to Las Vegas to visit the baseball player and his wife Kayla at their home. Boras suggested that couples meet in a more informal setting so that Harper can better know his potential future owner.
During a three-hour dinner – the first hour of conversation included stories about how different spouses met and was by nature "personal," said Middleton – Mr. Harper eventually figured out what point the owner valued winning.
"I saw that passion," Harper said. "I saw this fire."
Boras saw it too.
"The maestro wanted to build the championship symphony:" I want the harp, "said Boras," and the Philly Phil-Harpmonic Symphony was built. "
When asked if the New York Yankees, the Harper team grew up in idolatry, had been a serious contender for the paralyzed player this winter, Boras said no. The officer jokingly said that he had been surprised when he had received a call from the owner of the Yankees, Hal Steinbrenner, but that it turned out to be for something else.
Harper travels to Philadelphia after spending seven seasons with the division's Washington Nationals. He beat .279 with 184 home runs and 922 hits in the organization who made it the first pick in the 2010 draft.
The Phillies visit the Nationals in their second series of the season, starting April 2nd.
"I'm very happy to be able to face these guys," Harper said of his former teammates. "And also be able to look a little away."
Regarding his digital switch – Harper will be number 34 in Washington at number 3 in Philadelphia – the evolutionary player does so out of deference to former Phillies ace, Roy Halladay, who will be posthumously inducted into the Temple of fame. this summer.
"I thought Roy Halladay should be the last to wear it," Harper said of the thrower who also had number 34 in Philadelphia. "He was a great person and one of the most enjoyable people I've ever met … For me, it's Roy Halladay." He's 34. He represents this figure to Philly. "
With four trips in league playoff series to his resume, Harper remains committed to making the Phillies complete their first world series since 2008.
"I want to be on Broad Street on a boat or a bus or whatever," Harper said. "That's what I want to do, that's what I think I want my legacy to be: it's all about winning, playing the game as it should be for a big organization for a long time."
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