Reading the Athletic piece right now. Its gripping.
This part was especially interesting
The first offer was 15 years and $330 million. The Phillies made it Feb. 24. It started, during internal brainstorming, as a 20-year deal. Twenty years! Just an idea, one too insane and probably illegal because Major League Baseball would have viewed it as a circumvention of the competitive balance tax. The Phillies had their number — $330 million — and that was the number. They were flexible on the years.
Then the Dodgers flew to Las Vegas and the Giants followed. The Phillies knew Boras would create options. They countered with their choose-your-own-adventure. They offered a three- or four-year deal with a record $40 million average annual value. Then, they offered a middle-ground solution — a six- or seven-year deal with a $35 million average annual value. Those offers were designed to combat the Giants’ and Dodgers’ strategies.
Harper’s camp wanted the long-term deal, but at a higher figure than $330 million. They wanted a record length, a record overall total and a record average annual value. If you can get that from someone else, the Phillies said, take it. A $22 million average annual value in the 15-year offer was far too low, Boras said. Something had to give. It was almost March and the two sides were just repeating arguments. It was emotional.
On Thursday morning, when Klentak engaged Boras, there was traction. Rather than asking to raise the overall guaranteed total to bump the annual average value, Boras requested a shorter term. The Phillies lowered to 14 years. Still no deal. They went to 13 years. That bumped the average annual value over $25 million. It was a compromise for both sides.