Top Baseball Pick Agrees to Deal
Tuesday, August 17, 2010 at 9:11AM Bryce Harper agreed to a $9.9 million, five-year deal with the Washinton Nationals on Monday. Harper and the Nationals finalized a deal right before the deadline of midnight EDT Monday night — a year after coming to terms with 2009 top selection Stephen Strasburg in a similar situation.
Harper and Strasburg are both represented by super-agent Scott Boras.
Harper's deal is a record total for a non-pitcher signed out of the draft who had not become a free agent. Current New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira set the previous record for a major league deal for a position player, getting a $9.5 million, four-year deal from the Texas Rangers in 2001. Teixeira, too, is represented by Boras.
The 6-foot-3, 205-pound Harper is a 17-year-old power-hitting junior college catcher the Nationals plan to convert to an outfielder. He's the first JUCO player taken with the first overall selection.
Harper hit .443 with 31 homers and 98 RBIs in his first season at the College of Southern Nevada, playing in a league that uses wood bats.
Earlier Monday evening, the Nationals announced they came to terms with second-round choice Sammy Solis, a left-handed pitcher from the University of San Diego, and fourth-round pick A.J. Cole, a right-handed high school pitcher.
Harper's contract calls for a signing bonus of $6.25 million in five equal payments of $1.25 million: 30 days after approval and each July 1 from 2011 through 2014. He receives salaries of $500,000 each in 2011 and 2012, $750,000 in 2013, $900,000 in 2014 and $1 million in 2015.
There are roster bonuses that could raise the total value of the deal to $10.9 million. Harper can earn up to an extra $500,000 in each of the last two years of the contract, getting $125,000 each time each year if he spends 30, 60, 90 and 120 days on the active major league roster.
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