{"id":92597,"date":"2019-03-01T11:31:06","date_gmt":"2019-03-01T16:31:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.crossingbroad.com\/?p=92597"},"modified":"2019-03-01T11:31:06","modified_gmt":"2019-03-01T16:31:06","slug":"the-9-most-important-things-from-tom-verduccis-excellent-piece-on-the-harper-negotiation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.crossingbroad.com\/2019\/03\/the-9-most-important-things-from-tom-verduccis-excellent-piece-on-the-harper-negotiation.html","title":{"rendered":"The 9 Most Important Things From Tom Verducci’s Excellent Piece on The Harper Negotiation"},"content":{"rendered":"

Similar to how Jayson Stark penned the definitive account on the Cliff Lee signing in 2010<\/a>, it would appear Tom Verducci has provided us\u00a0the<\/em> inside look at the Harper signing.<\/p>\n

Here are the highlights.<\/p>\n

Bryce Harper valued length above all else<\/h2>\n

According to Verducci, Harper gave Scott Boras one mandate: length of contract. He wanted to remain in one place for the rest of his career, and wasn’t interested in opt-outs, despite prior reports<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was not only important not to have an opt out, he refused to allow me to do it,\u201d Boras said. \u201cHe said, \u2018I want to be with one team.\u2019 I tried to talk him out of it. He gave me my marching orders.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

John Middleton is a Philly F-ing GOAT<\/h2>\n

John Middleton has emerged a dick-swinging owner. With “stupid money” and “I want my fucking trophy back” quotes attributed to his name, Middleton is the kind of win-at-all-costs owner every sports fan wants. And better yet, he’s a genuine ambassador for Philly.<\/p>\n

He and his wife, Leigh, met with Harper and his better half, Kayla, twice last week in Las Vegas during the famed trip -once for dinner on Friday, and again for lunch on Saturday. Much of the time was spent talking about the ancillary benefits to calling this town home:<\/p>\n

Middleton spent most of the time giving his best Chamber of Commerce speech. He talked up the Philadelphia area\u2019s schools, hospitals, restaurants and general quality of life. When the Phillies began their courtship of Harper back in December, they kicked it off with a slickly-produced video in which the club found as many prominent Philadelphians as possible\u2014athletes, politicians, restaurateurs, coaches, business owners, etc.\u2014and had them speak directly to Harper to join them in the city. The video also included marquees of local arenas with his name in lights.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Odds on appearances in that video:<\/p>\n

Doug Pederson -120<\/p>\n

Mayor Kenney even<\/p>\n

Jay Wright +180<\/p>\n

Chase Utley +190<\/p>\n

Carson Wentz +200<\/p>\n

Joel Embiid +220<\/p>\n

Ed Rendell +300<\/p>\n

Claude Giroux +420<\/p>\n

Michael Rubin +500<\/p>\n

Jeffrey Lurie +600<\/p>\n

Cole Hamels +20000<\/p>\n

I was right<\/h2>\n

This is what I tweeted earlier this week… and last week:<\/p>\n

\n

My not-so-hot-take theory on Harper-Phillies: Boras is trying to extract every last drop and Phils are actually doing a decent job of not blinking. With no other sizable offer, Boras pulling out all the stops and \u201creports\u201d to see if Phils panic. Middleton not as stupid as thought<\/p>\n

— Crossing Broad (@CrossingBroad) February 20, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n