Los Angeles Dodgers: Why you shouldn’t get excited about Bryce Harper
By Jason Reed
1. Scott Boras has too much pride to let Manny Machado win
Manny Machado was the first to budge this offseason and signed a 10-year, $300 million contract with the San Diego Padres. Even though Machado tried playing it off like he wanted to be a Padre all along, the Padres were obviously the only team that was willing to pay him that lucrative $300 million.
I mean c’mon. Every report we heard about Machado was that he did not want to play on the West Coast and that he was intent on playing shortstop. Not only is Machado not on the West Coast but he is going to be playing third base.
One of the primary reasons for the free agent freeze out is that Machado and Harper both wanted to be the one to sign the largest free agent contract in history. Right now that is Machado, which is exactly what Scott Boras wanted so he could see that number and add to it.
Even if it is $305 million over 10 years Boras’ job would be complete if he could get Harper a larger payday than Machado. That is what agents are for, after all.
If Boras gets anything less than $300 million then his job this offseason failed and it could hurt his relationship with future clients as well as Bryce Harper. The Dodgers are not going to offer $300 million.