Looks like Phillies have some late competition.
- Thread starter harbest
- Start date
I just hope they don’t get stuck with a 10 year contract. I hear on the radio this AM that MLB players may strike due to resistance to signing 10 year contracts. This is ridiculous. Football is the most popular sport and players get hurt easily, but they have the ability to cut players and walk away from contracts. Why don’t baseball owners hold out for this?
Harper's agent is Scott Boras, they greatest agent of all time. He has made an artform out of playing phantom interest amongst lower IQ general managers that know there job is on the line and running up his client's contract years and $$$$. When it came out last week that the Phillies were last man standing in the Harper sweepstakes that is not good for a negotiation. So Harper comes home from Vegas without a contract and then all of a sudden leaks of another team wanting in. That is just classic Boras to panic the Phillies and get that 10 year, $300 million dollar contract that he has been out there for the last year saying he was going to get.
I would LOVE and I mean LOVE if the Phillies turned the table on Scottie Too Hottie Boras and said they were out. Leave Boras and Harper with only the Dodgers. The Dodgers have been very cool on Harper from the beginning because they do not want the 10-year deal. If the Phillies pulled out and said they were done, then I'd bet the Dodgers offer to Boras would shrink to about 6-7 years.
Probably doesn't want to play in Philly. Wants to beat Machado, wants to beat Stanton. Offer 10 @ 330M, beats everyone. Attendance increase of 5K per game probably offsets $$$. Remember when the Phils were a contender they sold out multi consecutive years. Make the offer, set a deadline, you will know if he doesn't want to come to Philly. Spend the $$$ elsewhere. Too bad there is no longer a 700 level, can you imagine Harper's reception if he comes to town with another team.
I think owners (NOT just the Phillies) but all teams and all sports tend to under-estimate the intelligence of their fans. If you listen to the national shows and read the national sites, they are making it out to be that the Phils would have major embarrassment to lose out on both Machado & Harper. I don't think so. I think if the Phils got out in front of the Harper signing with a press release to something like this:
" We believe Harper is a great player, but in all fairness to our franchise and our fans we just can not commit to a 10 year deal. We are more than willing to pay Harper the highest yearly salary in all baseball, but at a shorter period than 10 years.... we wish him the best".
I'd bet that if the Phils released a statement like that today, about 99% of their fans would agree with that decision.
" We believe Harper is a great player, but in all fairness to our franchise and our fans we just can not commit to a 10 year deal. We are more than willing to pay Harper the highest yearly salary in all baseball, but at a shorter period than 10 years.... we wish him the best".
I'd bet that if the Phils released a statement like that today, about 99% of their fans would agree with that decision.
Yeah, visions of Ryan Howard in his latter years remain fresh to Phillies fans.
Best way to appease the fans, sign Keuchel (sp) and Kimbrell tell the fans we waited, could wait no longer while we continue to improve our team for the city and the fans. If the Phillies withdraw I believe Harper will be stuck with no one offering a longer term deal. Boras will spin the shorter term deal but the luster will be gone and Harper better put up big numbers over the shorter deal.
I was referring to J D Drew and the batteries. Who remembers???
Save the money and pay Trout instead.
I think Keuchal is a Boras client as well. The Phillies should shut down the Harper talks and go after Keuchal. Maybe Boras would get the message that he’s not gonna get what he wants.
I totally agree. If the Phils back out of Harper but sign Kuechel, I believe the fans would be fine. Let it be known that you still have a huge deal on the table for Harper but for only 6 or 7 years (not 10). The fans will actually side with the Phils. I don't think there would be a one fan accusing the Phils of being "cheap", but rather being smart and prudent.
a. Adding starting pitching is always a good thing. Slot in Kuechel at 3, behind Nola and Arietta and that's a pretty respectable staff.
b. You are still in the really big sweepstakes in 2 years when Trout hits FA.
Poll 1,000 Phillies fans if they'd like to sign Harper now and then be out of the trout sweepstakes in 2 years OR by-pass Harper now and go all in for Trout in 2 years... and I'd bet it would be like 1,000 to zero for Trout.
I just mentioned this. Go after pitching the next 1-2 years and then in 2 years, go all in for Trout.
Good thought, problem is no guarantee Trout becomes available and by them all the big boys will be in on the bidding. Yankees, Red Sox, Dodgers. Can't count on a home town/PHL discount.
bwifan
Well-Known Member
This point I am fine with where the Phils stand... no need to increase the offer. If Harper doesn't take it, then walk away. It's his best deal on the table. Boras is trying best to figure out how to save face. If Harper's deal is less than Stanton's let alone equal to Machado or worse he will have a lot of egg on his face. Why I think he is pushing the Dodgers for a short term deal and will spin it as the Phils deal wasn't an all around good deal of Harpers quality etc...
Can the Phillies afford both Harper and Trout? I’m not sure how the money works in MLB.
bwifan
Well-Known Member
Last I heard, the Giants were still a player for Harper. Probably more of a player than the Dodgers.
The biggest risk of Trout is making it 2 years at his same level of play... no injuries, no drop offs in skill .... IF Trout makes it to FA at his same level in 2 years, then the Phillies get him.
The guy is a life-long Philadelphia sports fan. He has front row season tickets to the Eagles. And he regularly attends Flyers & Sixers games in the Winter. He grew up in S. Jersey right over the bridges from Philly.
In 2 years, I don't think the Phils have to worry about the yanks, Red Sox, Dodgers... or anyone else for Trout as long as they agree to match any $$$. The Phils match money, and they have Trout.
I need this guy to negotiate my next contract for me. In anything.
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'Ro: Your current sig pic has gotta go. It may be the nadir in what is generally a quality lineup of sig pics.
No. I post whet I like. Not what anyone else likes. I like this photo.
I agree. Phils should make final offer and say this is good for 6 hours take it or leave it. Move on and go with the players on the roster. Maybe try to work our trade with Colorado for Arenado if they don't want to pay him the Phils can and move Franco and some prospects.
As much as I wanted Harper in Philly, time to move on. I don't believe latest report that Phils are low balling Harper; if so, Middleton would not have made a special trip to Vegas. It is Harper's team putting out the message to cover for the fact that Harper does not want to play in Philly. They will get a 3 -4 year 35 - 40M from LA and spin that they got the top contract in all of baseball.
LINK
According to the linked article a deadline has been given. If true, it seems we'll find out today.
bwifan
Well-Known Member
I think Middleton and Phils have had just about enough of Boras and Harper. Wouldn't surprise me in the least if a deadline was put out there. Hang up to me seems to be Harper and Boras are trying to get the post 3rd year opt out for Harper. Phillies are not budging on that and want him locked up. Boras is the one floating the rumors the Phillies are low balling putting more pressure on on Middleton. I agree with the Phillies here is your deadline take it or leave it. We are moving on...
FWIW, I like that photo a lot. I was going to comment on it in a positive way.
Carry on.
Not that I have a say in the matter, but I’m ok with throwing money at Harper as long as it’s not for ten years. I think trout is a better player and I don’t want the Phillies locking him in for ten years either.
Harper and Manny are unique. If Trout goes through FA, 2021 will be his age 30 season. This year will be Harper’s age 27 season. That is a HUGE difference. All the people saying to just wait for Trout in 2 years ignore this fact. You certainly don’t want to pony up a 10 year deal to a 30 year old.
It's different for everyone. Miguel Cabrera signed a 8 year 250M deal when he was 30. It wont be for 10 years. Harper clearly doesn't want that and I don't think Trout would be given that either.
