WASHINGTON – Bryce Harper put up another big number Saturday without taking another swing.
Harper and the Washington Nationals reached a $21,625,000 deal for the 2018 season, a contact that covers the slugging outfielder through his last year before he can become a free agent.
Harper, 24, would have been eligible for salary arbitration next year. The four-time All-Star was the unanimous NL MVP in 2015.
"I think it's huge," Harper said, hours before the Nationals hosted Philadelphia. "We're able to go into the offseason and worry about different things. We're able as a team and an organization to go out and not have to worry about me going into arbitration for another year."
Harper is making $13.63 million this season. After winning the MVP, Harper hit .243 with 24 home runs and 86 RBI in 2016. This season, he is hitting .372 with 10 home runs and 29 RBI in 31 games for the team with the National League's best record.
"I think it shows the comfort level Bryce has with the organization and that we have with him," Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said. "It does a lot of good things for us. It gives us cost-certainty going into the season next year, and next year's payroll."
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