Bryce Harper has great response to $400 million contract question

Bryce Harper had a pretty fantastic response to a question about possibly becoming baseball’s first $400 million player.

The reigning NL MVP was a guest on Grant Paulsen and Danny Rouhier’s show on 106.7 The Fan in DC Thursday. Paulsen told Harper an executive told him that the Nationals outfielder could be the first $400 million player. Harper’s response to that was great.

“I was talking to an executive this offseason,” Paulsen said. “At one point in time they said you could be the first $400 million player. Do you ever think about your future and what’s possible, in terms of you could break records for the money you make at one point in time?”

At first Harper was politically correct, but then the swag came out.

“Yeah, I mean I don’t really think about that stuff. I just try to play the years out and do everything I can to help my team win,” Harper said. “But don’t sell me short. That’s what you’re doing right now to me, so don’t do that.”

“I’m looking forward to just playing this year, just looking forward to playing the next couple years. And I think all that stuff will play out.”

It’s that “don’t sell me short” part of the response that we love. $400 million is a lot, and Harper apparently is thinking even bigger.

Harper is under the Nationals’ control for three more seasons. By that time, the market for top free agents could soar past where it is currently. The Marlins’ Mike Stanton is the highest-paid player in baseball in terms of total money at $325 million over 13 years. Harper is already well ahead of where Stanton was at the same age (19.8 WAR vs 12.4 WAR through their age 22 season per Baseball-Reference).

Given Harper’s age (he’s only 23) and production, he will be very similar to A-Rod in terms of the combination of youth and talent when he does hit the market. The Yankees are said to be interested in him, which would drive up the bidding tremendously. Because of that, we’re guessing he will make in excess of $400 million when the time comes. That would be bad news for the Nats, who have stated their plans to try keeping Harper for life.