Boras comments on Harper contract, Bohm rumors and Phillies free agency originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
DALLAS – It didn’t take long for the 13-year, $330 million contract Bryce Harper signed with the Phillies in February 2019 to go from the richest contract in baseball history to one of the most team-friendly deals in the league.
Harper decided not to have opt-outs in his contract because he wanted to settle in a place without uncertainty or distractions about his future. If he had had the ability to opt out at any point during the last two or three years, he would almost certainly have earned a much higher salary.
In spring training earlier this year, after the Phillies extended Zack Wheeler, Phillies managing partner John Middleton was asked if something was brewing with a Harper extension or a reworked deal.
“At this point, I really don’t have any comments other than what I’ve said, my goal is for him to retire as a Phillie,” Middleton said on March 4. “My expectation is that he retires like a Phillie. We need to do something, but when we do it and how it is done, I’m not clear.”
It would appear that when Harper’s deal is modified, it will come in the form of an extension. His contract currently extends until he is 39 and he has said he wants to play until he is 40.
Harper is among Scott Boras’s most high-profile clients. So is Juan Soto, who agreed this week to a 15-year, $765 million contract with the Mets that dwarfs Harper’s contract. Soto will earn $51 million a year. Harper earns $25,384,615 per season, which ranks 51st all-time (albeit among mostly shorter contracts) and 28th among active players.
In his annual media interview at the MLB Winter Meetings on Wednesday morning, Boras addressed Harper’s contract situation.
“There’s no doubt those dynamics are being discussed,” he said. “John and Dave (Dombrowski) have taken the time to talk to me about it, so we’re in a place where there’s very good communication and understanding of what’s going on.”
Asked if Harper would be upset if that doesn’t happen, Boras responded: “This is certainly something we’ve discussed internally.”
When the topic arose before the 2024 season, the Phillies had more immediate issues to resolve. Aaron Nola was a free agent and Zack Wheeler was entering his walk year. The Phillies re-signed them both.
They have key players returning to their walk years in 2025: Kyle Schwarber, JT Realmuto, Ranger Suarez and newly signed Jordan Romano.
One would imagine that if Harper’s contract is modified this offseason, he would be closer to spring training after free agency is cleared.
Boras in Bohm
Alec Bohm is another of Boras’ clients. The agent said Wednesday that he “has had no indication from the Phillies that they are shopping him.”
“There’s a lot of discussion in the media about this, but they never told us anything other than that Alec Bohm is the Phillies’ third baseman and will remain that way,” Boras said.
An unexpected splash?
The Phillies haven’t reunited with Juan Soto, nor have they played top starting pitchers like Max Fried or Corbin Burnes, which is understandable given the construction of their roster.
When asked what he thought about the Phillies not making a play for the top free agents in this class, Boras paused for a few seconds.
“I would say the Phillies,” he began, “just because they’re not in the pool doesn’t mean they’re not wearing their swim trunks.”
Dombrowski loved that comment when a reporter relayed it to him several hours later.
“We don’t go skinny dipping,” he said, laughing. “So we have our shorts on.”