Phils Sign Bryce Harper, extend spring training invite

[allentown]

I keep reading that it is getting harder and harder and significantly more expensive to recover the bulk of a teams financial loss due to a major FA injury. One thing we have going for us is that Harper isn't a pitcher or catcher. It is my understanding that a team can't get the % payout which was possible decades ago.

“The majority of teams do buy insurance,” said Dan Burns, the CEO of Pro Financial Services, a company that has been providing such policies for more than 35 years.
The policies, Burns said, are fairly straightforward. The decisions on whether to buy can be difficult. There are four main components that determine the club’s cost: the dollar amount of the contract the team wants to insure; whether the player is a pitcher or not, because pitchers cost “probably two-and-a-half to three times” as much to insure as position players, Burns said; age, because it’s cheaper to insure a younger, healthy player; and, finally, the length of the contract, which can get tricky, because companies don’t generally issue seven-year policies to cover seven-year contracts, preferring to offer the insurance in two- or three-year chunks."
"The premiums can be expensive, perhaps 3 percent for the contract of a position player, 7 percent for a pitcher. "

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjnhJXa3d_gAhUs7oMKHdqfCiQQFjABegQICxAB&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fnews%2Fsports%2Fwp%2F2016%2F09%2F09%2Fworried-about-your-aces-100-million-arm-there-is-insurance-for-that%2F&usg=AOvVaw3ui-YAO7jScuRsqaG7N3Cv

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjnhJXa3d_gAhUs7oMKHdqfCiQQFjAAegQICRAB&url=https%3A%2F%2Fmetsmerizedonline.com%2F2013%2F02%2Funderstanding-the-business-of-baseball-insurance-on-player-contracts.html%2F&usg=AOvVaw3ox4AM0J-mTGpXG6qOiNVJ

[zambonir]

Still a 3 WAR player at 31.

Here's direct link to that WaPo piece, I was reading it too.

Worried about your ace’s $100 million arm? There is insurance for that.

[bkox]

Report: Giants made $310M offer to Bryce Harper, but California taxes made it tough to compete

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/report-giants-made-310m-offer-bryce-harper-california-taxes-made-tough-compete-230124281.html

[Jazzhead]

I was as wrong as wrong can be. In recent days, I labelled Harper a greedhead and a mercenary, and accused him and his agent of not negotiating in good faith.

Nothing left to do but man up and say I was as wrong as wrong can be.

This deal has the potential to make Harper a Phillie for life, and makes clear that his priority was to find a baseball home and embrace it. No opt-outs, full no-trade clause - I doubt that it was Boras pushing those terms. And he was savvy enough to structure the deal so that the club can acquire the other players needed to win during the length of the contract.

I've got tickets to opening day, and I can't wait to part of the crowd that welcomes Bryce to Philly. Amazing in retrospect to contemplate the misinformation that preceded today. No matter now - let's go Phils!

[Squire]

Such a great day. Will be really interesting to see how the next month plays out. Only 3 of Herrera, Quinn, Altherr,Williams and Cozens likely on the team. Possibly only 2 but I'd guess 3. Don't think we can get ML pitching in trade. Would be nice to get a prospect or something for the excess.

[Jeff05]

Judging from what was being expressed on the other sites that I followed over the winter, you're no orphan, Jazzhead! The reality is that the phans have little to no idea what is going on during such negotiations. For those of you who have the seen BBC classic Yes Minister, "The PM's Office does not leak!" (22:08). In this case, neither does Matt Klentak's office.

[zambonir]

Wonder what # he is going to wear.

[Jeff05]

330

[zambonir]

33 would work!

[Jeff05]

or 13. Need to check , , , Yep, it's available. According to BR, Asdrúbal Cabrera wore it last season.

[julio]

Just for amusement value now... but aircraft registration N604JJ left Clearwater at about 8 pm, and was last tracked approaching Albuquerque about 10 minutes ago. Destination not certain, but on a great circle path toward Las Vegas.

Update: On the ground at McCarran (Las Vegas), 12:48 pm EST. Presumably picking up a passenger in the morning.

[Jeff05]

I wonder what Trout is doing in Vegas? With Roman Quinn injured again, the bench could do with some reinforcement.

[el-pietro]

It will be interesting to see where the plane goes next. The media is likely all down in Clearwater right, so no real sense in taking him to Philadelphia?
I like the idea of him ringing the bell at the Sixers game at the weekend but its most likely not practical.

[EDmuch]

I am really impressed that the deal is structured to commit Harper to playing the rest of his career in Philly. So for the AF's of the world who think no pro athletic star would ever chose to commit to Philadelphia,

nannah, nannah, nan nah

[bigegypt0417]

I am really impressed that the deal is structured to commit Harper to playing the rest of his career in Philly. So for the AF's of the world who think no pro athletic star would ever chose to commit to Philadelphia,

nannah, nannah, nan nah

I'm not going to lie...this made me laugh since it was the narrative from the start...they somehow forget how many former Phillies have made this area home or still come here often and love being part of the community.

[julio]

Harper apparently sought stability - 13 years, no opt outs, full no-trade clause. He got married two years ago, no children yet. Both of 'em are 26.

Wouldn't be surprised to see them buy a house in one of the 'burbs and start raising a family.

[bkeich]

Am I the only one that saw the humor in the thread title... Sign Harper, extend spring training invite.... Yea, I think he might make the team, they can probably add him to the 25 man without too much concern.

[julio]

Am I the only one that saw the humor in the thread title... Sign Harper, extend spring training invite.... Yea, I think he might make the team, they can probably add him to the 25 man without too much concern.

You can thank PC for that! As for whether anybody else saw the humor (it's good!), PC only did that this morning - it may be a while until people notice (it wasn't there when I opened up the top page around 7:30).

[el-pietro]

Yeah definitely only seeing it now, wasn't there this morning. I half thought there might be an update from the Phillies!

[bigegypt0417]

DO we really need to waste a 40 man spot on this harper guy?