St. Louis Cardinals: What is the right price for Bryce Harper?

Joshua McGee believes that the time is now for the St. Louis Cardinals to fill the superstar void that has been apparent on the team for years. However, he doesn’t think that the Cardinals should write a blank check for Harper’s services.

Ideal Contract: 10 years, $350M

Most I would pay: 12 years, $400M

Bryce Harper is no doubt a superstar player. What the Cardinals have been lacking is that superstar player, and guys like Bryce Harper don’t hit the market every year, so this is a major opportunity for Mozielak and co. Bryce Harper is only 26 years old, and with his resume, he is due for a huge payday. Harper is one of those guys who could jolt your team into playoff contention the second he puts the pen to the paper. He’s just that good.

More than ever, the St. Louis Cardinals need that superstar bat. Since Albert Pujols left for the Los Angeles Angels, the big bat has been a glaring hole in the Cardinals roster, and it might have cost them a World Series title or two. There’s been guys who have filled the void temporarily, but never panned out to be as expected.

With Harper, this is a generational talent we haven’t seen wear the birds on the bat since Pujols, and with three consecutive seasons without a playoff game, this seems like the perfect time to unload the cash truck for a superstar.

He’s also a client of Scott Boras, who is arguably the best agent in all of baseball. Boras can sell water to a well, and his tactics can help Bryce Harper get the biggest contract in MLB history.

10 years, $350M seems like a fair deal for both parties. Earlier this week, it was reported that Bryce Harper turned down a 10 year, $300M extension from the Washington Nationals, and it seemed obvious that he would as well. Since 2009, the Cardinals have signed only one contract above $100M, and that was awarded to slugger Matt Holliday. This would be a different approach for the front office, but with a guy like Harper, he has what it takes to be worth every cent.

With a guy like Harper, there will be other teams pursuing the superstar heavily as well. Teams like the Philadelphia Phillies, who are also that big bat away from contention, or the Chicago White Sox, who could drastically speed up their rebuild by adding Harper. Truth is, it will be an all out bidding war. The most I would shell out for Bryce Harper is a 12 year, $400 million megadeal.

Agent Scott Boras stated that he was looking for a $500 million contract for Bryce Harper. He’s insane. The only guy in sports who is arguably worth $500 million is Mike Trout. A $400 million deal is almost insane for Harper, though he has the big bat, he is a below average defender and is also coming off of a 1.4 WAR season.

So, if teams like the Phillies and White Sox decide to go over that $400 million hump, I believe the Cardinals should sit this one out, and not try to overpay and make other needs unaffordable in the future.