This Week in Baseball – Harper Joins Phillies, Arenado Extension, Perez Injured, Bregman Dream, MLB Experiment
Phinally…
Bryce Harper officially signed with the Philadelphia Phillies on a 13-year megadeal that should keep him in red until the end of his career. Harper’s deal doesn’t include any opt-outs and has a full no-trade clause. The contract’s $330 million salary is a new record for overall dollars, topping the $325 million of Giancarlo Stanton. Oh, man, Stanton must be SO bummed out now.
Rocky Mountain High…
While most teams are squeezing player contracts, the Rockies have decided to go the other way as they signed Nolan Arenado to an eight-year extension worth $260 million. The $32.5 million average annual value is the most ever for a position player. Arenado was due to make $26 million this season, but will instead make $35 million. The team also gave him an opt-out clause after three years AND a full no-trade clause. He will also be allowed to invoke Prima Nocta on anyone in the organization.
Testees…
The independent Atlantic League agreed to a deal that will allow MLB test experimental new rules. Robot umpires, pitch clocks and pitching mound variations are all expected to be tried out. The teams will be renamed to The Lab Rats, The Guinea Pigs, The Human Test Subjects and The Unfortunate Side-Effects.
Thrown Out…
Royals catcher Salvador Perez has been diagnosed with damage to the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow and he will need Tommy John surgery to repair it. Perez is expected to miss the whole season which changes the Royals playoff chances from “No Way” to “Hell NO!”
Dream a Little Dream…
During the night before his spring debut, Alex Bregman had a nightmare about being hit by a pitch. When game time came around, he was still thinking about his dream and asked a teammate to borrow a guard to cover his elbow. He was then hit by a pitch. And he’s lucky that was the dream that came true and not the one where he’s back in school taking a test and naked.
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