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Prized Free Agent Harper Lands With Phillies

Arguably the best free agent of the last 18 years has a new team. Bryce Harper has agreed to a free agent contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, CBS Sports HQ baseball insider Jim Bowden confirmed Thursday. Harper's deal is for 13 years and $330 million and features no opt-out clauses, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. 

 

The deal is the largest in MLB history, breaking Giancarlo Stanton's previous record $325 million contract he signed with the Marlins in November of 2014. An introductory press conference is set for Saturday.

 

Harper, 26, authored a .249/.393/.496 (133 OPS+) batting line with 34 home runs and an MLB best 130 walks last season.

 

Harper caps an active winter for the Phillies. They traded for catcher J.T. Realmuto and shortstop Jean Segura, and signed outfielder Andrew McCutchen and reliever David Robertson. Harper also delivers on the Phillies' promise to go big-name fishing this winter with the intent on spending potentially "stupid" money.

 

The Nationals will receive a 2019 supplemental first round draft pick as compensation for losing Harper, who rejected the $17.9 million qualifying offer earlier this winter. Because they did not pay luxury tax in 2018, the Phillies only have to forfeit their 2019 second round draft pick to sign Harper.

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