Phillies get Harper

[Chewbaccer]

That's a pretty bold claim for someone that's played 111 games.

Small sample size, and I'm not ready to make such a bold claim yet, and I'm not a big believer in WAR, but FWIW, in those 111 games, Acuna had a 4.1 WAR and Harper had a 1.3 WAR in 159 games in a contract year.

 

[navamind]

Small sample size, and I'm not ready to make such a bold claim yet, and I'm not a big believer in WAR, but FWIW, in those 111 games, Acuna had a 4.1 WAR and Harper had a 1.3 WAR in 159 games in a contract year.

No argument that he was better last year (though it's worth noting Fangraphs had Harper at 3.5 WAR last year), but I'm also not sure how much stock you can put into a one season sample for defensive stats. DRS rated Harper at -26 runs in 2018 and he was +28 for his career prior to that. I think Acuna's got a very good chance to be one of the best players in the league over the next decade, but I do think he still has some work to do at the plate (25.3% strikeout rate) and I wouldn't be surprised if he sees a dip in his batting average (.352 BABIP last year). Steamer and ZiPS project some regression for Acuna, but you're still talking about a wRC+ around 123-127 and 3-4 WAR. That's still an incredible season for Acuna's age, just like how Harper's 2012-13 production was incredible for his age.

As for Harper, ZiPS and Steamer both project him at a 148 wRC+ and 4.8 WAR. The only player with a higher projected wRC+ is Trout (at 180!!!!).

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Meh....I bet he'll regret signing there in 3 or 4 yrs and will want out....but he'll be stuck there thanks to $cott Bora$

Good luck wit all dat, philly.

 

[tducey]

He's a good player but man that contract and money for it is awful. Think Philly will end up regretting this.

 

[black francis]

Underpaid and can still be traded to the Yankees within the next 5 years

 

[Sparhawk]

Over such a long period of time, 40 WAR is likely an overestimation, assuming inflation. Still big

Stupid Money is Smart Money: A Tale of Bryce Harper

 

[Mistaken4193]

Phillies should have just waited for Trout. He is theirs if they Pony up the money....dont know if they will have funds now.

 

[Chewbaccer]

Phillies should have just waited for Trout. He is theirs if they Pony up the money....dont know if they will have funds now.

If they had the funds to get both Harper and Machado, they'll have the money for Trout, and really as much as Trout loves Philly, I wouldn't be surprised if he went at a bit of a discount.

Pretty much, we'd better either win it all this year or hope all these prospects pan out in a big time way for the long run, or we're gonna have to deal with Harper and Trout in the same lineup.

 

[redseat]

To lazy to look through entire thread but has anyone mentioned that 3-4 years AFTER Harper's deal ends Bobby Bonilla will STILL be getting paid

 

[Chewbaccer]

To lazy to look through entire thread but has anyone mentioned that 3-4 years AFTER Harper's deal ends Bobby Bonilla will STILL be getting paid

I've made fun of that deal a lot. I think the reason I make fun of it so much is a few years ago, Bonilla and Jason Bay were the two highest paid outfielders for the Mets and neither were on the team.

But I just found out that the Braves will pay their final installment to Bruce Sutter this year. Bruce Sutter has been retired since 1988 and pitched like shit for 3 years at the end of his career for us.

Guess it hasn't been mentioned as much because we haven't been near the laughing stock the Mets have been.

 

[jvett77]

I'm genuinely not sure what he's done on the field that warrants this type of deal.

He was amazing in 2015, yes, but other than that the production doesn't add up.

Do I have to post his stats again?

 

[jvett77]

Meh....I bet he'll regret signing there in 3 or 4 yrs and will want out....but he'll be stuck there thanks to $cott Bora$

Good luck wit all dat, philly.

Nah, Philly will have great satisfaction in finally abusing the Yankees in the World Series.

 

[DJ]

13 years? LOL.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Nah, Philly will have great satisfaction in finally abusing the Yankees in the World Series.

Meh...I couldn't care less if that happened...because I don't GAF about either team.



They can knock each other's lights out AFAIC.

Btw: Yuck the Fankees.

 

[Davis_Mike]

TLDR Thread.

13/$330 is basically 10/$330 with 3 years of deferred money. Depending on how the contract is structured, that could equal anywhere from $45-$75 mil deferred salary over those last three years where Harper will likely be worth a .5 war or worse. If he is still around at that point, the Phillies might even get a boost from Harper attracting fans watching him possibly chasing records.

All-In-All, not a bad deal for the Phillies.

 

[Chewbaccer]

There's always the chance Harper is one of the rare ones that is still productive until he's 40.

Chipper wasn't the player he was in his prime by any means, but he played until he was 40 and retired with tread still on the tires.

 

[msgkings322]

Because $25>>>>> $30 in his mind

Well, 330 is more than 300, and he will get every penny. I guess he didn't want to re-test the market at age 36 but it still seems kinda dumb

Maybe he plans on retiring at the end of the deal (age 39) so just wanted every dollar he could get for that long

 

[msgkings322]

that's a pretty nice collection of players, especially if Franco gets his shit together at the plate

Best lineup in the NL. But probably not enough pitching, and definitely not enough defense, to dominate.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

the Phillies might even get a boost from Harper attracting fans watching him possibly chasing records.

Could be one of, if not the main underlying reason he opted to play his home games in that band stand little league park.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Best lineup in the NL. But probably not enough pitching, and definitely not enough defense, to dominate.

I'll bet most sane Giants fans, and any other teams' fans worth their salt, are relieved their team GM didn't get sucked into doing that deal. I also think he ultimately went with philly for spite and to stick it to his former team who are in the same division.