Final-hour drama ends as Nationals sign Bryce Harper
UPDATE 12:05: The Nationals have reached an agreement with Bryce Harper on a major league contract. We are still waiting to finalize the exact terms.
Original post, 11:00:The Nationals and first overall pick Bryce Harper have one hour to strike a deal. General Manager Mike Rizzo and Team President Stan Kasten were both feeling confident earlier today, but at the moment, according to one team source, the Nationals aren't positive they will come to agreement.
"No idea," the source said in a message.
Given the stakes for both sides, it still seems likely the Nationals and Harper will find lucrative common ground. When we get word, we'll pass it on.
The Nationals have allocated $3,799,000 tonight alone -- still more than $11 million less than what Stephen Strasburg received last year in his signing bonus and major league contract 77 seconds before the deadline.
By
Adam Kilgore
|
August 16, 2010; 11:00 PM ET
Categories:
Bryce Harper
,
draft
| Tags: Bryce Harper
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Why draft this kid if you can't or won't sign him?
Posted by: thedc_kid | August 16, 2010 11:14 PM | Report abuse
they'll sign him, they're just playing harder ball than last year because they are less desperate and Harper is less accomplished than Strasburg, who was 21 at the time of the draft.
Posted by: evanszy | August 16, 2010 11:17 PM | Report abuse
Ever sold a house? Sometimes the other party isn't reasonable.
He will sign. He loses a lot of leverage next season.
This is Scottie being Scottie.
Posted by: jeffreyt211 | August 16, 2010 11:17 PM | Report abuse
Why post stupid questions dc kid??? If you know anything about Boras, this is what is expected!! If he doesn't sign, the decision will be Harper's and not the fault of the Nats!!
Posted by: dkidwell61 | August 16, 2010 11:19 PM | Report abuse
>The Nationals have allocated $3,799,000
Does this mean they're only offering him in the neighborhood of 4 million or what? You're kidding, right?
Posted by: Brue | August 16, 2010 11:19 PM | Report abuse
>If he doesn't sign, the decision will be Harper's and not the fault of the Nats!!
Posted by: dkidwell6
No, THAT'S stupid.
Posted by: Brue | August 16, 2010 11:21 PM | Report abuse
Brue. Allocates means they are going to spend that much already, on the players they have agreements with. It has nothing to do with any offer to Harper.
Posted by: jeffreyt211 | August 16, 2010 11:21 PM | Report abuse
It means that they've already spent 3.8 million on their draft picks.
Posted by: Cavalier83 | August 16, 2010 11:21 PM | Report abuse
No, Brue. He means that's what they've spent on the other guys they've signed so far - which means they could drop another $11M on Harper and still only be up to what they spent on Strasburg last year. Relax.
Posted by: nunof1 | August 16, 2010 11:24 PM | Report abuse
It has to be at least $7 million for Bora$$ to set another record so get ready for some big numbers!
Posted by: dmacman88 | August 16, 2010 11:25 PM | Report abuse
That "allocated number" doesn't make sense -- they've given $3.8 million to only 3 players.
Posted by: wahoo2x | August 16, 2010 11:25 PM | Report abuse
Did he turn back into a pumpkin yet, or what?
Posted by: Naugatuck-Nats | August 16, 2010 11:27 PM | Report abuse
>Relax.
Posted by: nunof1
That's rich coming from you. Thanks for the explanation though. I still don't feel any better.
Posted by: Brue | August 16, 2010 11:27 PM | Report abuse
Man, the waiting's driving me nuts. I really think they'll make a deal, but what happens if Rizzo's cell phone dies at 11:50? That's what I hate about this approach.
Posted by: Section406 | August 16, 2010 11:28 PM | Report abuse
They have signed 24 of their 26 top draft picks thus far. The kid from Tech is a no go, and the other is Harper!!
If you say the Nats are not serious about signing their draft picks, you are just crazy!
Posted by: dkidwell61 | August 16, 2010 11:29 PM | Report abuse
Yeah, it is kind of silly that the process has evolved into this. I wonder how much more money the agents are really getting these kids by going down to the wire like this.
Posted by: Cavalier83 | August 16, 2010 11:31 PM | Report abuse
Last year someone posted that Strassburg had signed before it was officially announced. That guy around tonight?
Posted by: thegraneys | August 16, 2010 11:34 PM | Report abuse
I've got a bad Aaron Crow feeling about this kid.
Posted by: PNatsFan | August 16, 2010 11:35 PM | Report abuse
I bet Aaron Crowe has a bad feeling about NOT signing.
Posted by: thegraneys | August 16, 2010 11:36 PM | Report abuse
AK's post just changed slightly. It now says, "The Nationals have allocated $3,799,000 tonight alone..." instead of, "The Nationals have allocated $3,799,000 to signings so far..."
That last is my best approximation of the original wording. It matches the sense of the original post.
Posted by: bertbkatz | August 16, 2010 11:37 PM | Report abuse
I've got a bad Aaron Crow feeling about this kid.
Posted by: PNatsFan | August 16, 2010 11:35 PM |
_________________
Boras is many things, but stupid isn't one of them.
Harper loses leverage over the next year and Boras loses $$$$ if his client does't sign now.
Posted by: TimDz | August 16, 2010 11:38 PM | Report abuse
You must have had the same "Aaron Crowe" feeling last year as well and see how that worked out!
Posted by: dkidwell61 | August 16, 2010 11:39 PM | Report abuse
I wish they'd sign him already so I could stop fretting about Harper....and start fretting about signing Dunn.
Posted by: thegraneys | August 16, 2010 11:41 PM | Report abuse
Aaron Crow is a doofus. Didn't want to be here, so he played in the Independent league, got drafted by the Royals and now is getting shelled in the minors...and making a lot less money in a smaller market. Great job. He's eating himself these days. :)
Posted by: jmurray019 | August 16, 2010 11:41 PM | Report abuse
15 more minutes!! i was here this time last year and its worked out beautifully. lets go back to back!
Posted by: burnsrb | August 16, 2010 11:44 PM | Report abuse
I will guess $10.25M at 11:58 meaning we will hear about it around 12:10.
Posted by: jeffreyt211 | August 16, 2010 11:47 PM | Report abuse
Get it done Nationals.
Posted by: tylerdurden1 | August 16, 2010 11:49 PM | Report abuse
Post first? Nats web site? ESPN?
Posted by: thegraneys | August 16, 2010 11:49 PM | Report abuse
i guess 9M
Posted by: burnsrb | August 16, 2010 11:50 PM | Report abuse
10.5 million
Nats Insider gets the scoop.
Posted by: TimDz | August 16, 2010 11:51 PM | Report abuse
SI_JonHeyman
.bryce harper said getting "close'' to a deal with #nats. believed worth close to $10 million in total. story soon on si.com.
Posted by: TimDz | August 16, 2010 11:52 PM | Report abuse
Getting close? Better get it done in the next 5 minutes.
Posted by: thegraneys | August 16, 2010 11:54 PM | Report abuse
link to si.com story
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/baseball/mlb/08/16/harper/index.html?eref=sihp
Posted by: guest1 | August 16, 2010 11:55 PM | Report abuse
Trying to check in on all blogs at once, as well as watching MLB network, as they're teasing the results (if any) prior to every commercial break... oy, my eyes hurt.
Posted by: NatAlbert | August 16, 2010 11:56 PM | Report abuse
mlb network reporting still unsigned
Posted by: guest1 | August 16, 2010 11:59 PM | Report abuse
midnight
Posted by: inthestreetindustry | August 17, 2010 12:01 AM | Report abuse
Another signing for the Washington Borases .... Er, Nationals.
Posted by: SavedByZero | August 17, 2010 12:01 AM | Report abuse
boras gives jimbo the scoop?
http://twitter.com/JimBowdenXMFOX
Posted by: guest1 | August 17, 2010 12:01 AM | Report abuse
Through twitter, found out that Harper updated his facebook with Nats as his employer. Ugh, I hate the 21st century sometimes - but happy if there is fire behind the smoke.
Posted by: Kev29 | August 17, 2010 12:02 AM | Report abuse
Look at Bowden, breaking the news
http://twitter.com/JimBowdenXMFOX
Posted by: inthestreetindustry | August 17, 2010 12:04 AM | Report abuse
The Nationals signed first-overall pick Bryce Harper for about $6.5MM, according to Jim Bowden of Sirius XM Radio (Twitter links). As expected, the sides did not announce a deal until the last minute.
According to mlbtraderumors.com
Posted by: comish4lif | August 17, 2010 12:04 AM | Report abuse
While waiting, just felt slightly older, seeing the name Delino DeShields Jr. in the list on MLB Network.
Posted by: NatAlbert | August 17, 2010 12:04 AM | Report abuse
Wow, 6.5 million? That is far less than I thought it would be.
Posted by: Cavalier83 | August 17, 2010 12:05 AM | Report abuse
mlbtraderumors.com:
The Nationals signed first-overall pick Bryce Harper for about $6.5MM, according to Jim Bowden of Sirius XM Radio (Twitter links). As expected, the sides did not announce a deal until the last minute.
The buzz surrounding Harper started last year, when he appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated as a 16-year-old. Harper, still just 17, got his GED early, enrolled at the College of Southern Nevada and won the 2010 Golden Spikes Award as the country’s top amateur player
Posted by: TimDz | August 17, 2010 12:05 AM | Report abuse
If $6.5M is the number, then Rizzo got the best of Boras for the second straight year. That may only be slightly more than the Pirates paid to sign Taillon.
Posted by: jeffreyt211 | August 17, 2010 12:07 AM | Report abuse
Too soon to chalk up another win for Mike Rizzo?
Posted by: Kev29 | August 17, 2010 12:07 AM | Report abuse
MLBTrade Rumors says he signed for $6.5
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/
Posted by: lj1126 | August 17, 2010 12:08 AM | Report abuse
Now Bowden is saying closer to $10M.
Posted by: jeffreyt211 | August 17, 2010 12:08 AM | Report abuse
what is Harper's twitter - not convinced he has one.
Posted by: Alisterio | August 17, 2010 12:09 AM | Report abuse
Hooray...
Posted by: Naugatuck-Nats | August 17, 2010 12:09 AM | Report abuse
welcome to natstown bryce harper!! hope you have a long career here!
Posted by: burnsrb | August 17, 2010 12:10 AM | Report abuse
Kudos to Harper. Welcome aboard.
Posted by: inthestreetindustry | August 17, 2010 12:12 AM | Report abuse
just got an email from the nats saying they signed him.
Posted by: burnsrb | August 17, 2010 12:13 AM | Report abuse
Woo hoo! What a day. What a draft!
Posted by: Drew8 | August 17, 2010 12:13 AM | Report abuse
Kilgore you could have provided some more up to date posts rather than modifying an hour old post. Other sources beat you. I thought I could count on the Nats guy to get first scoop but apparently not. Sort of disappointed...and I honestly don't complain much.
Posted by: jbfromfc | August 17, 2010 12:13 AM | Report abuse
Now the Nationals finally have a position player who is a real prospect.
Posted by: jeffreyt211 | August 17, 2010 12:14 AM | Report abuse
$9.9 million
Posted by: guest1 | August 17, 2010 12:15 AM | Report abuse
Yes!!
Posted by: PattyinSJ | August 17, 2010 12:16 AM | Report abuse
Ah, the Kabuki theater, where eveyone knows their ancient and traditional role. I give some credit to the O's for giving Harper the specter of the Pittsburgh Pirates with next years's #1 pick.
Posted by: Natmeister | August 17, 2010 12:18 AM | Report abuse
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