Two-time World Series champions, the Philadelphia Phillies can vouch for one thing when it comes to their player lineup.  And that is loyalty. Their star slugger, Bryce Harper, has been on the team since 2019. The slugger was reportedly on the verge of being fetched away by his previous team, the Washington Nationals, with quite an attractive offer. But he turned it down in favor of the City of Brotherly Love.

The Phillies returned his favor by offering him a $330 million deal instead. Harper didn’t think twice before accepting it. Such commitment, won’t you say? Legendary MLB agent Scott Boras had something to say about the slugger’s choice to stick with his team this time. According to Boras, Harper was quite smart about his decision. Do his actions speak the same?

The price of harboring Bryce Harper

Bryce Harper was reportedly offered a 10-year contract worth $300 million by the Nationals, but he rejected it. Philadelphia gifted him with a $330 million deal for 13 years in return, a huge gesture on their part. Many have been questioning whether offering a 13-year deal to a 26-year-old player is well worth its value or not, but Harper doesn’t seem too stressed about staying on the same team. And his actions are enough proof.

Boras lauded Harper for his decision to stick by the team. In his words, Harper’s idea was, “I’m gonna show the fans and all other players that I’m going to a place for a long time, and I’m gonna be there for a long time, and I’m gonna recruit players ‘cause they know they’re gonna play with me – and I’ve committed, and I want you to commit.”

The last part was a subtle nudge towards Harper wanting to recruit fellow slugger and long-time Phillies follower Mike Trout to his team in 2020. It is yet to be seen whether Harper will be worth the price of salt in the coming season. What does his current form say about it?

Fan-favorite Phillies player continues to be a phenom

Bryce Harper outperformed his existing contract before he opted in for a new one. He has been an MVP, delivered countless clutch performances, and helped in team recruitment—he did everything except win the World Series. And that’s not entirely on him. The league favorite astounded the entire MLB world with his record of batting .293 with 23 homers, a .900 OPS with 146 OPS+, and 72 RBIs in his 546 appearances this season alone.

Can we be bold enough and claim that had all the Phillies players kept the same form as Bryce Harper, they could have had a shot at winning the Fall Classic?

Read More: Soon After Yankees Rejection, Bryce Harper’s Strong Desire To Win Everything With Phillies Comes To Light- “I’m Willing To Bet My Future, My Career…”

Bryce Harper keeps proving to be an essential part of the Phillies empire. Let’s see if he keeps the same form for the upcoming season as well!

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