Agent Scott Boras may not be done directing his clients to stay with the Washington Nationals after securing a seven-year, $175 million extension for starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg on Tuesday, per MLB.com's Bill Ladson.
"Bryce Harper is a scenario where this ownership certainly has the financial wherewithal to do what they want to do," Boras said of the star outfielder, who is set to be a free agent in 2019, per USA Today's Bob Nightengale. "It's really up to the Lerners what they want to do with [Harper]."
Re-signing Strasburg on its own is big for the Nationals since they secured their No. 2 starter behind Max Scherzer for the long term. What it signifies—a Nationals player eschewing free agency to sign a new deal—might be bigger.
Boras didn't give any indication Harper would take a hometown discount to stay in the nation's capital. As long as he stays healthy, he's likely to get the richest contract in baseball history:
NBC Sports' Joe Posnanski wrote that the reigning National League MVP could command $500 million. If the Miami Marlins can give Giancarlo Stanton $325 million over 13 years—albeit in a back-loaded deal—then $500 million for Harper isn't inconceivable.
The Nationals will have to pay a king's ransom in order to sign Harper beyond his arbitration years, whether he becomes a free agent or not. Avoiding a bidding war could save Washington some money, though, and the team would receive a significant boost should Boras and Harper be willing to negotiate an extension before the end of the 2018 season.
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