"Bryce has let me know that he wants to work out an extension so that he knows that he's going to be there for the remainder of his career....Apart from my advice, he goes, 'I just want to go and make sure that I can recruit players to Philadelphia. I want the fans in Philadelphia to know that I'm going to be there for the duration and that I'm committed.' I think he's been an important voice for them to attract major free agents and other players," Boras said.
The deal was a straight 13-year pact without any opt-outs or club option years, which was by design. At the time of the signing, Harper stressed that he wanted long-term security for the rest of his career, so he could focus on baseball without having to worry about any future changes of scenery or upcoming trips to free agency. This dovetailed with the Phillies' desire to add premium talent while also keeping costs (again) relatively in check in terms of the luxury tax. With Harper's money spread out over a longer term, that $25.4MM AAV puts less of a hit on Philadelphia's annual luxury tax bill.
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