The deadline for teams to sign their draft picks is still a little under eight weeks away, but Nationals' GM Mike Rizzo and agent Scott Boras have had "initial conversations" about a deal for first overall pick Bryce Harper according to principal owner Mark Lerner, as told to The Washington Post's Adam Kilgore.
"I'm confident we'll get a deal worked out," said Lerner. "I think the kid wants to play."
Kilgore mentions that negotiations are unlikely to begin in earnest until close to the August 16th deadline, which Boras is known to do with his top players. Rizzo and Boras have hammered out deals before, most notably for Stephen Strasburg as last year's top pick.
The 17-year-old Harper is expected to shatter Rick Porcello's record deal for a teenage draftee, which guarantees him $7.285MM. Strasburg's $15.1MM contract represents the all-time draft record. You can follow the signing status of all first and supplement first rounders with our complete list.
Wake me at the deadline. We won’t know anything either way until then.
Mike Rizzo better play major hardball with this kid, any new prospect that age and who is arrogant does not deserve that kind of money. He should give Harper incentives for certain stats, like 30-40 homers with 100+ rbis in Rookie Season 15-20m option/contract raise or whatever.
Incentives for stats are not permitted under the current CBA, so that’s out.
I’ve actually seen Harper play twice and yes, he does deserve that sort of money. The Nats agree, that’s why they took him #1.
You just want to punish a talented teenager you don’t know because you think you don’t like his personality. He’s an excellent prospect, he’s not going to get more than Strasburg, and he’d be worth many times what he’s actually going to get on the open market. And if you insist he hit like an all-star in his prime when he’s a rookie, when he’s likely to only be 20 or 21, you’re just kind of bonkers.
I’m not insisting but Harper pretty much insisted he will do so. I don’t hate him or want to punish a “talented teenager,” I just think it is stupid to invest such money in a kid who can be a bust. Surely he is talented, I agree but the money could be invested differently in such a better form then just one high-income gamble who wants to go the Yankees asap.
So let’s say the Nats sign him for $10 million. What better use than a 17 year-old with a mammoth ceiling would you have for that $10 million? Not trying to be combative, just trying to understand your point of view.
To me, a franchise that has been the doormat of baseball the last few years is doing exactly what they should be doing – disregarding cost and simply taking the best available talent. Should they have taken that $10 million and plowed it into a veteran starting pitcher this winter? I would say no. What would that get them, fourth place instead of fifth? This is a team building for the long haul.
1) When has Harper insisted he will do these things?
2) “I just think it is stupid to invest such money in a kid who can be a bust.” Sure, but isn’t it even dumber to invest $10 million+ per year to free agents who are usually nearing the end of their prime? Cliff Lee will enter next offseason as a 32-year old with a four-year track record of success, and will make over $90 million. I’d rather risk the $12 million or whatever it turns out to be on Harper and get the first six years of his major league career.
I wish that Boras would get hit by a truck…preferably a Brink’s bank truck.
You wouldn’t say that if you needed representation. Don’t blame the man for being great at his job. I’ve never heard of him putting a gun to a GM’s head.