By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher
According to Washington Post’s Chelsea Janes, free agent Bryce Harper turned down a $300-million offer from the Washington Nationals. The offer — which was reportedly made on the final day of the season — was for 10-years with no opt-outs.
Harper — one of the top two free agents on the open market — elected to try his hand at free agency. He turned down what would have been the largest free-agent deal in history.
Bryce Harper running the bases against the Colorado Rockies (Getty Images)
Giancarlo Stanton — now with the New York Yankees — signed a 13-year, $325-million deal with the Miami Marlins in 2014. However, that was an extension and was not during free agency.
“We took advantage of our exclusivity late in the season,” Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said in their last-ditch offer. “[But] couldn’t reach a deal.”
Every team would love to have the 26-year-old star on their roster. That’s why the Nationals extended a qualifying offer to him last week.
When Harper does sign elsewhere, the franchise would then receive a supplemental draft pick in June’s 2019 MLB Draft pick.
The 26-year-old Las Vegas, Nevada native — who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2010 MLB Draft — spent his entire career with the Washington Nationals. He had a .249 batting average with 34 home runs and 100 RBIs in 159 games.
The 100 RBIs were a career-high for Harper. The 34 home runs were the second-most in a season, as he had 42 home runs during the 2015 season.
