![]() “His work ethic, I mean, the best in the game. “Being able to watch Bryce day in, day out for the last couple of months, through the ups and downs, he's stayed the same,” Marsh said. ![]() He quickly realized Harper’s work behind the scenes was different. Phillies outfielder Brandon Marsh played with Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani on the Angels before he was traded to Philadelphia in August. Harper continued supplying elite power production in his first three seasons and winning the NL MVP award last year. He’s been an All-Star the last two seasons. That fall, Betts helped lead them to their first championship in 32 years. Five months later, Betts and the Dodgers agreed to a 12-year, $365-million contract extension.Įffectively, in a roundabout way, the Dodgers chose Betts over Harper. But Cole agreed to a nine-year, $324-million contract with the New York Yankees, leaving the Dodgers empty-handed in the free-agent superstar aisle until they acquired Mookie Betts from the Boston Red Sox in February 2020. That next offseason, however, the Dodgers were willing to adjust their strategy after losing in the NL Division Series, offering starting pitcher Gerrit Cole an eight-year, $300-million deal with deferrals. Harper didn’t nudge them in a new direction. The Dodgers to that point hadn’t signed a free agent to a contract longer than four years under Friedman. Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Bryce Harper bats during Game 2 of the World Series against the Houston Astros on Saturday. He was, somehow, living up to the dizzying hype that followed him from high school to his major league debut as a 19-year-old wunderkind at Dodger Stadium in 2012. He had a knack for big moments, supplying two significant home runs in his postseason career and winning the home run derby at his home stadium, Nationals Park, in 2018. Harper was a one-time MVP and six-time All-Star in seven seasons with the Washington Nationals. The group included Dodgers majority owner Mark Walter, president Stan Kasten, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and manager Dave Roberts. In February 2019, with Harper inexplicably still on the free-agent market after players reported for spring training, a contingent of Dodgers officials traveled to Las Vegas, Harper’s hometown, to meet with the outfielder. He’s a member of the Dodgers, nearing the end of a four-year contract before hitting free agency again this winter for another huge payday. In an alternate universe, one where this city would be still thirsting for a World Series appearance, the 30-year-old Harper isn’t Philadelphia’s favorite transplant. Long before I walked up the steps,” Harper said after the game, “I said: ‘Let's give them something to remember.’ ” Harper smashed a go-ahead, two-run home run, Citizens Bank Park exploded and the Phillies advanced to the World Series for the first time since 2009 to face the Houston Astros on Harper’s broad shoulders. Long continued: “I just thought to myself: 'Something special can happen here.' ”
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