The Harper and Machado Deals

It took until the beginning of Spring Training games, but baseball’s two most hyped free agents have finally signed. Last week Machado signed a 10 year, $300 million contract with the San Diego Padres. Today Bryce Harper signed a 13 year, $330 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. After all the hype, speculations and waiting (and waiting) the saga is over. So where does this leave us?

At the beginning of the offseason, it was assumed these two would command record breaking deals. So did they? Well yes and no. Machado’s $300 million deal set the record for biggest total free agent (not extension) deal ever, previously held by Alex Rodriguez’s 10 year, $275 million contract. Machado’s record was then just broken by the Harper contract. Harper’s contract also set the record for biggest contract of any kind, topping the 13 year, $325 million extension Giancarlo Stanton received while in Miami. So in that sense, these were record breaking contracts. 

However these contracts did not break the record for highest annual average value (AAV) for a contract. Machado’s deal averages $30 million a year and Harper’s is only at $25.4 million. The highest AAV contract is that of Zack Grienke, whose 6 year, $206.5 million deal has an AAV of $34.4 million. 

Then there is the question of “Is Free Agency Broken”?  At first glance the answer would seem to be no. The two biggest total value free agent contracts were just signed. They will be making a stupid amount of money. All seems well. However there are still two top quality free agents still unsigned in Dallas Keuchel and Craig Kimbrel (most likely a future Hall of Famer). How could star players still be unsigned at this time? Not to mention the dozens of other quality mlb players who should be on someone’s roster.  So is free agency broken?  That’s still unclear. 

So what I think of Machado and Harper’s deals?  First off, finally!  Months and months of waiting and speculation and waiting and rumors and waiting and waiting, finally over. I’m just glad to see them finally signed somewhere. Machado signing with San Diego was a surprise. They have not been good for a while and LA and Colorado will offer some pretty steep competition in that division. But money talks.  Harper to Philly is not as much a surprise. They said they wanted to spend “stupid money” this offseason. Looks like they have.  Unpopular opinion, but I wish the Cardinals would have signed Harper still. His contract goes through age 38. I feel he will be productive through most of that contract. And there will probably be the DH in the NL by then, so that would have helped. I wonder how much beyond the $330 million St. Louis would have had to go in order to get him.  I’m disappointed I missed both my predictions for where they would sign. You can see the full list here. I had Machado to Philly and Harper to the Dodgers. Would have gotten Harper had he taken the 3/4 year, $45 million a year deal they reportedly offered him. Darn.  

So that’s it. Harper and Machado have signed. Finally. For lots and lots of money. With the wrong teams. Still waiting on Keuchel and Kimbrel to sign. And Bartolo Colon. Come on guys.  Someone has to give Big Sexy a contract.