Finding folks like Bryce Harper is rare. A tidbit about Harper is that the Los Angeles Dodgers approached him with a huge offer during his free agency right before he signed the deal with the Phillies. But why did Harper turn down big money and a great team? Did the Dodgers not fulfill his requirements? 

The personality that this 31-year-old holds resonates only with long-term commitment and growth. The 13-year contract with the Phillies is a testament to that. That said, the story behind why he chose not to go with the Dodgers is quite an interesting one. 

Bryce Harper’s Pre-Philly Interaction With the Dodgers

Back in 2019 when the (then) 27-year-old was a free agent, many teams apart from the Phillies eyeing him. The New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, and San Francisco Giants to name a few. The Yanks, however, were quick to omit him from the list. Which had the Giants and Dodgers fight the tug of war. But Harper had other plans, he said “I wanted to be able to go through the ups and downs with a city. I wanted to build my family in a city. I wanted to be instilled into a city, the community, and really let that city know that I’m part of them”. 

Though the Dodgers presented a 4-year-$160 Million opportunity to him, Bryce gracefully declined. He was not one to opt-out or be involved in a trade, rather he wished for growth and commitment. He valued the emotion of being associated with a city rather than earning more. So much so that he said, “I have all the money in the world, to do whatever I want with it”. For this right fielder, emotion weighed much more than the dead. Rightly so, he is a Phillie in his heart and his fan base is proof. With that, he secured a 13-year-$330 Million contract with Philadelphia.  

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Had Harper taken the Dodger’s deal, he would have been a free agent again at the age of 30, which would be his prime. He would have barely needed to make $150 over the following nine years to get to his current contract value. But the Las Vegan wanted long-term security. Despite his emergence from a different city, he has an unmatched sentimental connection with Philadelphia. That is exactly what he wanted to build before signing his contract in 2019, and it was Philly that gave him that. 

San Francisco Giants Almost Had Bryce Harper

Right before Harper decided to move ahead with the Phils, there was a brief moment when the San Francisco Giants almost bagged him. Right when the Showman and his spouse, Kayla, prioritized looking for a city to raise their kids, San Fran gave Harper a call, but they were a tad bit late. 

By that point, the explosive Phillie already knew where he belonged. He went on to add, “By that point, it was kind of like, ‘I’m already a Philadelphia Phillie.’ In my heart, I was already a Philadelphia Phillie”. Though he thoroughly respected San Francisco as an organization, he was decisive about his pick. And good for Philly, Harper is nothing short of an unmatched asset to them. 

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