Listen, we know it’s tough to catch up on everything happening in the baseball world each morning. There are all kinds of stories, rumors, game coverage, and Vines of dudes getting hit in the beans every day. Trying to find all of it while on your way to work or sitting at your desk just isn’t easy. It’s OK, though. We’re going to do the heavy lifting for you each morning and find the things you need to see from within the SB Nation baseball network, as well as from elsewhere. Please hold your applause until the end, or at least until after you subscribe to the newsletter.
May 13 was a great day to be Bryce Harper
Sunday’s Say Hey, Baseball talks about Bryce Harper’s lavish contract for 2018 and his massive walk-off homer on Saturday.
Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
* * *
May 13, 2017 is going to be a day that Bryce Harper looks back on with a huge amount of fondness. The day started with news that Washington’s star player had agreed to a one-year deal in 2018 that would see him make $21.625 million next season. That will be good for an $8 million pay raise from this season, and it’s also the largest one-year contract ever handed out to an arbitration-eligible player. It must be nice to be making $13.625 million already, and it’s even nicer to know that you’ll be making even more money at this time next year.
Bryce Harper decided to give his employers an instant reminder of why they wanted to make sure this contract was done early. Harper went into last night’s game against the Phillies with four walk-off home runs to his name. He added a fifth to his already impressive career resume and did so in stylish fashion. While all walk-off hits count the same as far as the end result of the game is concerned, it’s still way more fun to watch a 438-foot bomb fly over the fence in dead center field to win a game.
While there was absolutely no doubt about whether or not Harper’s monster shot was going to clear the fence to win the game for the Nationals on Saturday, there’s still a bit of uncertainty for Washington as to whether or not Harper will leave once he reaches free agency. He still has yet to sign a long-term contract extension and as nice as it is to have 2018 sewn up, it’s probably safe to say that the Nationals would like to eventually get him locked down for the foreseeable future, and a one-year deal doesn’t cut it. With that being said, the short-term future is looking bright for both Harper and the high-powered Nationals.
- It’s been a while, but Dylan Bundy is finally starting to deliver on the promise he made when he debuted as a prospect in 2012.
- Ian Happ will always remember his major league debut, especially considering that his first career hit was also his first career home run.
- It may be smooth sailing for the Nationals right now, but Michael Baumann of The Ringer has noticed that Washington may have a glaring weak link that could cost them later.
- Chris Iannetta had an awful day, as is the case whenever you get hit square in the face with a 93-mph projectile.
- The Cardinals have an abundance of pitching prospects, but where do they stack up when compared to other farms around baseball?
- The Yankees also have plenty of quality prospects in general, but there’s a sleeper prospect who nobody’s talking about just yet.
- Cleveland’s special uniforms for Mother’s Day are notable if only for the fact that there’s an extreme lack of Chief Wahoo on them.
- Angels GM Billy Eppler has hit on nearly all of his bullpen acquisitions this offseason, and it may be because they’re doing something “revolutionary” over there in Anaheim.
See More:
