For a while, I have refrained from saying anything bad about Bryce Harper because I knew there was a possibility he could be a Dodger. I knew the Giants would make a run at him, but I could not see the Dodgers letting him sign there. Evidently, Friedman offered 4 years/$180 million to Harper. The Dodgers pitch to Harper was to make him the highest paid player by a mile. Bryce chose $330 million from the Phillies instead (and Andrew Friedman said “whhhhheeeeeeewwwww.”)
Like any player who was offered money to play, Harper took the extra $150 million. Who can blame him? It’s real money! If you wouldn’t do the same you are an unusual human. Phillie fans have been down this same road before: Ownership gave out big contracts which acted as boat anchors later – the team did win a World Series, but they have sucked much more than they have won.
Friedman could have opted for that formula to appease fans and people like Bill Plaschke of The LA Times, who have never ran anything, but their mouths. They are ideologues! They can tell you exactly how to run your business, your life or baseball team. They know, because they can do it better than you, even though they have never built, ran or maintained a damn thing! But, Andrew Friedman knows that he will be judged by how many World Championships he wins… and he does not believe signing a player like Bryce Harper is the way to do it! Truth be told: He offered the highest AAV ever, but he hoped that Harper would decline it! He wanted to come in second.
I have been telling you all this for years and many of you understand it, but some still don’t get it… and never will. Signing Bryce Harper at age 26 for 13 years is felony stupid. For at least half of those years he will be in decline. You may say “but he can be productive until his late 30’s!” I don’t believe that. Bryce Harper is the type of player whom I believe will experience a rapid decline, when it hits that time. He whips that bat like a buggy whip and if he loses bat speed (he will – it’s just a matter of when), he will fall like a cliff-diver. It’s not like he is all that anyway. He has had a monster year, a good year and some years that weren’t so good. Based upon availability, he may have been worth $330 million, but based upon production he was not even in the discussion.
Overpaying seldom gets you anywhere – that’s true of just about everything in life! The Dumbass of The LA Times wrote:
“Dodgers whiff on Bryce Harper and a chance to solidify a franchise for a decade.“
Exactly the opposite is true. Conventional thinking is usually wrong and I am not sure that this even rises to “conventional.” “Moronic” is the word I would use. It should read:
“Dodgers win on Bryce Harper and a chance to have a boat anchor contract for a decade.”
Here’s the other 800 pound gorilla in the room: What kind of teammate is Bryce Harper? The Washington Nationals have often been picked to win it all, but could not even get out of the NLDS with Bryce Harper. The Nats could not get past the NLCS for the past six years, while the Dodgers have advanced to the World Series the past two years… without Bryce Harper.
A couple of weeks ago, I was listening to MLB.Radio and one of the Nats beat writers talked about the Nats clubhouse last year verses this year. They said that last year, the Nats clubhouse was “The quietest in baseball.” It “reminded them of a funeral” another reporter said. They contrasted that with this Spring’s Nats’ clubhouse, which is lively and enthusiastic! Is all that on Bryce Harper? Probably not, but I think he can be surly at times. If the Nats do well this year, we may have more reason to believe that.
Bryce Harper would have made the Dodgers better for four years, unless he wrecked the clubhouse… which is possible. This Band of Brothers is very close and single-minded in what they are focused upon. Harper had the chance to change that dynamic. Signing Bryce Harper was no guarantee the Dodgers will win the World Series.
Evidently, Dodgers Chairman, Mark Walter gave Kasten and Friedman the green light to go over the Luxury Tax Threshold and AF was prepared to do so – it’s just the long-term deals he is unwilling to do and frankly, I am glad he doesn’t!
The Red Sox went out and got the bat they needed to win the World Series in JD Martinez, which was a smart move at $105 Million/5 Years (he has an opt-out next year and may use it). But comparing that move to $330 Million /13 years is just plain ignorant!
Bryce Harper went for the money and has a no-trade, no-opt out clause. Bryce wanted to go to the Dodgers, but most important to Bryce was the prestige of having the biggest contract EVER. He sold out for the money… and that may tell us all we need to know. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic has the complete details. Two sentences from that article are especially telling:
One rival executive thought it telling that the Nats allowed Harper to join a division rival, essentially without a fight.
Well, if the Nats viewed Harper as a player they did not mind losing, perhaps the Phillies should be concerned with the player they are getting.
There’s nothing to see here, folks… Move Along! This team has more than enough to win it all this year… with or without Kershaw. They have contingencies for their contingencies. I’m done!
Discussion (47)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Mark,
I will be moving to (drum roll) either Idaho, Wyoming or Montana. Not quite sure which state yet, but leaving California. One of the most exciting things I am looking forward to is the gun laws and the open carry, not to mention the over burdensome taxes here in the so-called Golden State. Can still be huge Dodger fan from any of those states, but California is run by idiots. Anyone have a preference in any of those 3 states I just mentioned?????
So relieved that the Harper BS is done. I am going out on a limb here, but alot of times blessings comes out of ashes. Joc and Verdugo get a chance to prove themselves, and you know what, something tells me that Joc is a late bloomer and that is why Freidman has not moved him despite all of us shipping his butt to Chicago,. Joc is a box of chocolates, but he seems to bring the thunder when all seems lost in October. By the way, did anybody see the game yesterday when Pollack went the other way to right field for a double leading off and JT did the same thing in his next at bat. Don’t get caught up in the LA Times Plashke doomsday BS about not getting Harper. We have so many young studs coming up .
Ferguson had a tough night. He did not have a curve ball and his location was not good. I thought Stripling looked pretty sharp. Lux had a nice triple.
This is paradise: LA Dodger Talk on one screen, Dodger game on another screen, Another Dodger game on another screen and e-mail up. Paradise!
Oh, and Markers 46 on the rocks!
Kershaw played catch again today. Hopefully that’s a good sign!
Quas, sorry to hear about that. I know the feeling. This getting older sure has its drawbacks. But it’s better than the alternative. I hope you are running up the bell towers soon.
This team is not without Kershaw. Even if Kershaw is unable to play I find it obvious that he brings much to his peer team mates and team. This club’s mentality has the ‘let’s do it for Clayton” attitude when he’s been on the DL as they relate to all “I got your back”. I don’t think Harper’s peacock attitude gave his club the desire to cover him in the same. The only player I’ve heard Harper give real praise to is Mike Trout, how could he not though? Really can’t be too harsh when it comes to what Harper has done because the timing was perfect for him to maximize the worth of the talent he possesses. Borras is extremely talented and very easy to hate, at this distance anyways.
Split-squad tonight. Two games at 5pm PST. What do people here think are the pressing issues now in camp? I’ll list a few to start:
1. Health of Kershaw & Seager. Arguably our two biggest stars are trying to prove they belong on the field. Seager’s impact is even more pivotal than Kershaw’s.
2. Bullpen pecking order. We have way more than 8 guys capable of being in the big league pen. How much of a factor will options, roles, and salaries play in our decisions?
3. Verdugo. In many ways, he’s the man on the spot. Mark has declared he’s on the team so now it’s just a matter of the size of his role. Even though Joc has his followers, it feels like almost everyone would like if Verdugo forced his way into the starting lineup and became a regular. We need some new blood/energy on the team, especially with Puig no longer here.
4. The tweeners: Stripling/Urias/Ferguson/Santana. Maeda has been named a starter but what will happen with these guys? Have to think Stripling is a lock for the pen but will the others continue to develop in AAA or will we carry the best arms we have? If I were Yimi or Fields or Chargois, I wouldn’t be buying property in LA anytime soon.
5. Prospects. Peters is making his mark. Lux and Smith and Ruiz have been visible. May continues to open eyes [that athleticism!] and Gonsolin has huge stuff. White looks healthy {knock wood} and just needs to iron out his command and stay on the field. Maybe Beaty and Rios find some at-bats in the majors this year [though likely not with us].
Today sure feels like an
” OH HAPPY DAY”
I’m so thankful the dodgers didn’t sign harper I love our team, it can still use a tweek here and the but I’m happy! The only thing that does stand out in my mind is, I don’t see trout going anywhere but to philly when he’s a free agent, and to me that makes the philly offense pretty damn dangerous. Other then that GO DODGERS!!!!
Harper and Manny were/are mercenaries… Will we lose Seager or Bills under the same Boras Dog n Pony show???… Damn I hope not.. Irepeat where is the MLB and Union going with this..
I haven’t won a national title or W.S. pennant since 88 for my beloved Irish and the Blue… But I’ve been quite happy watching both teams emerge lately as a force in their sports…
I’m 72 but I’m close…This could be the year!??!
Buchholz signs with the Jays, 1 year $3M with $3M in incentives. He is not without injury risk but had a 3 WAR in half a season last year with the Snakes. Not much left to go after if Kershaw goes down. Maybe Gio Gonzales but the team has lots of leftie starters already. Keuchel is also a leftie and out of the Dodgers price range one would think.
Harper is with the Philadelphia and not with the Dodgers,the Dodgers were never going to give Harper what he wanted because as Friedman has said since day one, he is not going to give out long term contracts. But unlike Mark I do think the Dodgers would have been very happy if Harper had signed with them for the 4 years.
News today on Kershaw is better but I am not encouraged, still think the worst is coming.
Enjoyed your take Mark! The Dodgers are in great shape to make another run, even a blind man can see that. They have a top five starting rotation, a loaded bullpen and a great fielding and hitting team. They have money to burn, and IF Kershaw is done (highly doubtful!), they arms like Urias waiting to step up. What’s more, they can go after someone at the trade dead line in case any position needs shoring up. I can’t wait for opening day! PalmDale, totally agree with your comment Plaschke! That guy is such a moron!
Mark–Anyone who lands a direct shot on Plaschke–as you did–is a friend of mine. I’ll have to add that line to my arsenal.
The Dodgers made a strong offer and Bryce chose to take a longer deal for less money annually. That’s his prerogative. All this talk about him not being that good, bad in the clubhouse, body that will decline rapidly is all speculative. If the Phillies get to the playoffs, it will probably be worth it to them after finishing below 500 last year. Good for them, but I don’t think the rest of that team is all that great. Everyone can talk about WAR and DRS all they want, but the fact of the matter is, he’s one of the best bats in the MLB and he would have improved our team.
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It would be awesome if the FO would do something to dramatically improve the team. But, when you’re loaded with so many quality players, it’s easier said than done. JTRM would have cost us too much. Cano? Not even sure he’s a second baseman anymore. DJLM? Can he hit away from Coors? Manny? Where’s he gonna play with 3B and SS locked up? There just wasn’t a lot of good fits. Even Harper, if he was right handed, it would have been better.
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Last season was a year of missed opportunities. Hindsight is 20/20, but how good would have Yelich looked in blue? Stanton, Ozuna. We really whiffed on those ones. Now, we’re relegated to see what can be had at the deadline.
At some point the Dodgers will have to go in on long term contracts if they want to keep Seager and Bellinger, both Scott Boras clients. I’m guessing they will. A lot of writers point out that the Dodgers haven’t really done or are unwilling to do big long term deals, but they overlook the offer they made to Zack Greinke (close to $160 million) before Arizona swooped in and signed him for $210 million, something they regret now. Yah, 13 years was crazy, but the Phillies were desperate. The Dodgers still figure to be the best team in the National League. The best thing for MLB moving forward would be to limit the length of contracts to something like five years, but that won’t happen. The Dodger offer was interesting. It should put an end to all the talk that the Dodgers want or have to stay under the luxury tax.
Does anybody know if Muncy is working out at second base this Spring?
Keith Law says Lux is definitely a shortstop and continued to not over hype Verdugo other than to say he has good bat to ball skills and a great arm.
The Players Union is appeased and the Dodgers can continue with season preparations without further distraction.
I’m glad that all this Harper saga is finally over, now to focus on OUR TEAM and hope that Kershaw’s injury is not serious, and if it is, be prepared to overcome!
Something tells me that Kershaw will be ready, Dodgers was not in the race for Harper, and when they knew CK’s injury, they went back to the BH race, to make a trade for Bauer? and now that just when CK reports better, bye Bryce!!
If any of this were true, then that shows me that the organization is ready to do whatever it takes to win!
I cannot believe 13 years. He went for the money. Same as Greinke.