“I want to play until I’m in my 40s.” He already wants to extend his contract because he still has eight years left on his 440.8 billion wo
Philadelphia Phillies Bryce Harper once again expressed his desire to sign an extension with Philadelphia.
Major League Baseball's official media MLB.com said on the 19th (Korea time), "Bryce Harper has eight years left on his 13-year, $330 million (about 44.8 billion won) contract in 2019," adding, "He said he wanted to extend the contract further."
Harper is one of the representative home run hitters in the Major League Baseball. He has been a rising prospect since college, and was drafted by Washington with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2010 rookie draft. Harper, who played in 927 games over seven years for Washington and recorded a batting average of 279 (922 for 3,306), 184 homers, 521 RBIs, 610 runs scored, 75 stolen bases, and OPS.900, became a free agent after the 2018 season and signed a 13-year, 300-million-won contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. A $30-million contract was signed.
In Philadelphia, he has been playing well enough for a large contract, hitting 284 with 2,078 at-bats (591 hits) 122 home runs, 368 RBIs, 387 runs and 58 steals in 581 games over five years.
Harper, who failed to play in many games last year due to injury, showed off his batting sense by posting a batting average of 293 with 21 homers, 72 RBIs, 84 runs scored, and 11 steals in 126 games. In 1,508 games in the Major League, Harper has a batting average of 281 with 306 homers, 88 RBIs, 997 runs scored, and 133 steals. He has been winning the National League Rookie of the Year award in 2012, seven-time All-Star (2012-2013, 2015-2018, 2021-2023) and three-time Silver Slugger (2015, 2021 and 2023) and two- time MVP (2015 and 2021-2021).
“I definitely want to be in the team for a long time,” Harper said. "We'll see what happens. I don't think I'll ever go back to right field. I don't think so. But I never say it." MLB.com said in November last year that the Philadelphia Phillies announced that Harper would not just be a starting first baseman this season, but that he would be a starting first baseman this season until his contract expires in 2031 (when Harper turns 38), or as long as he plays for the Phillies is in his early 40s. "I'll keep looking at first baseman," Harper said, predicting that he could become Philadelphia's starting first baseman.
Harper played first base in place of Rhys Hoskins, who was injured last year. He was mostly designated hitter but also played in 36 games (303 innings) as a first baseman. MLB.com explained, "Philadelphia believes Harper can win the Gold Glove at first base."
“I think we had a great conversation,” said Harper, who spoke with baseball operations president Dave Dombrowski after the 2023 NL Championship Series. Me and Dombaugh sat down and said the idea would be good for our team. And I said, 'OK.' I wanted the team to know that I was willing to do whatever I wanted. “It doesn’t matter if I play right field or first base,” he said, adding that he was willing to play first base.
Harper's agent, Scott Boras, announced at a winter meeting in December that he wants to extend his contract. “I haven’t really given it much thought,” Harper, who didn’t leave and signed a clean contract, said. "I want to be on this team for a long time. I want to play until my 40s. That's the most important thing for me. So I want to do it," he said.