WASHINGTON (AP) - Bryce Harper and the Washington Nationals agreed to a $13,625,000 contract for 2017, avoiding arbitration and more than doubling the slugging outfielder’s salary two years before he can become a free agent for the first time.
The Nationals also reached one-year deals with their three other arbitration-eligible players on Friday, the day players and teams were to exchange proposed salary figures ahead of hearings.
Third baseman Anthony Rendon will earn $5.8 million next season, right-hander Tanner Roark gets $4,315,000 and new catcher Derek Norris agreed to $4.2 million.
Harper was paid $5 million by the NL East champion Nationals last season, when he struggled with injuries and took a big step back after becoming the youngest unanimous MVP in baseball history in 2015.