Post by Enter Nations on Feb 6, 2018 20:20:08 GMT
Manny Machado vs. Bryce Harper: Who Will Earn More Hundreds of Millions in 2018?
Here's a certainty to place alongside death and taxes: Manny Machado and Bryce Harper are going to sign massive contracts next winter.
Oh, sure, they could sign massive contracts before next winter if their current respective teams—the Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals—manage to lock them into extensions.
Who are we kidding, though? Two of the game's brightest young stars are going to test the market after the 2018 season. When they do, the deals will be gargantuan.
The only questions: How gargantuan, and which player will get more moola?
Let's begin with some fast facts. Machado will turn 26 in July. Harper will reach the same age in October. Hard as it is to believe, both are just coming into their primes.
In six big league seasons, Machado has made three All-Star teams, enjoyed three top-10 and two top-five American League MVP finishes, and compiled 26 fWAR. His peak season by fWAR came in 2015 when he posted a mark of 6.9.
Harper, too, has spent six seasons in the big leagues. He's made five All-Star appearances and won Rookie of the Year and a National League MVP Award. Harper's total fWAR (27.7) and peak fWAR season (9.5 in 2015) both edge Machado.
The parallels are striking.
On the durability front, Harper has battled a range of injuries and eclipsed 150 games only once in his career. Last season, he was limited to 111 games by a knee injury.
Machado has twice undergone season-ending knee surgery, once on each knee, and played only 82 games in 2014. Since then, however, he's played 162 games in 2015, 157 games in 2016 and 156 games in 2017, putting health concerns to rest.
Defensively, Harper has put up 28 defensive runs saved and a 19.9 Ultimate Zone Rating in the outfield. He's had years, however, where the defensive metrics rated him negatively.
Machado, on the other hand, has gotten consistently glowing marks, amassing 81 DRS and a 66.5 UZR for his play at third base. The Orioles recently announced Machado will play shortstop full-time this season, a move that should only boost his appeal to potential suitors who could eye him for either position.
Here's a certainty to place alongside death and taxes: Manny Machado and Bryce Harper are going to sign massive contracts next winter.
Oh, sure, they could sign massive contracts before next winter if their current respective teams—the Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals—manage to lock them into extensions.
Who are we kidding, though? Two of the game's brightest young stars are going to test the market after the 2018 season. When they do, the deals will be gargantuan.
The only questions: How gargantuan, and which player will get more moola?
Let's begin with some fast facts. Machado will turn 26 in July. Harper will reach the same age in October. Hard as it is to believe, both are just coming into their primes.
In six big league seasons, Machado has made three All-Star teams, enjoyed three top-10 and two top-five American League MVP finishes, and compiled 26 fWAR. His peak season by fWAR came in 2015 when he posted a mark of 6.9.
Harper, too, has spent six seasons in the big leagues. He's made five All-Star appearances and won Rookie of the Year and a National League MVP Award. Harper's total fWAR (27.7) and peak fWAR season (9.5 in 2015) both edge Machado.
The parallels are striking.
On the durability front, Harper has battled a range of injuries and eclipsed 150 games only once in his career. Last season, he was limited to 111 games by a knee injury.
Machado has twice undergone season-ending knee surgery, once on each knee, and played only 82 games in 2014. Since then, however, he's played 162 games in 2015, 157 games in 2016 and 156 games in 2017, putting health concerns to rest.
Defensively, Harper has put up 28 defensive runs saved and a 19.9 Ultimate Zone Rating in the outfield. He's had years, however, where the defensive metrics rated him negatively.
Machado, on the other hand, has gotten consistently glowing marks, amassing 81 DRS and a 66.5 UZR for his play at third base. The Orioles recently announced Machado will play shortstop full-time this season, a move that should only boost his appeal to potential suitors who could eye him for either position.
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