Bryce Harper - baseball

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The Washington Nationals say they have reached an agreement with No। 1 overall draft pick Bryce Harper on a major league contract in washington। Clubs faced a deadline of midnight EDT Monday to come to terms with players picked in June's amateur draft. The Nationals agreed to a record-breaking $15.1 million, four-year contract with top pick Stephen Strasburg a little more than a minute before the deadline. Strasburg made his big league debut June 8, a day after Harper was drafted. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound Harper is a 17-year-old power-hitting junior college catcher the Nationals plan to convert to an outfielder. He's the first JUCO player taken with the first overall selection. Major League Baseball clubs had until midnight EDT as Monday turned to Tuesday to reach agreements with players picked in June's amateur draft. If there's no contract by then, teams lose the rights to those players, who go back into next year's amateur draft.



As of 10 p.m., the Nationals hadn't made an announcement on Harper. The team did say it came to terms with second-round choice Sammy Solis, a left-handed pitcher from the University of San Diego, and fourth-round pick A.J. Cole, a right-handed high school pitcher. The Washington Nationals have agreed a deal Bryce Harper. It has been reported by Kendall Rogers of Yahoo Sports that the deal is worth $9.9 million. This has been confirmed by Jim Bowden. It appears as if the Nationals will be a force to be reckoned with in the future. With Stephen Strasburg already dominating in the majors and Bryce Harper on his way to the Nationals organization, the team appears to be on the rise. The Mets have the best farm system in the National League East, but that may soon change. It also appears that the Mets have reached a deal with their top pick,Matt Harvey. Jon Heyman is reporting that Harvey will get slightly more than $2.5 million.

Harper's deal is a record total for a non-pitcher signed out of the draft who had not become a free agent. Current New York Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira set the previous record for a major league deal for a position player, getting a $9.5 million, four-year deal from the Texas Rangers in 2001. Harper, Strasburg and Teixeira all are represented by Scott Boras.Harper's contract calls for a signing bonus of $6.25 million in five equal payments of $1.25 million: 30 days after approval and each July 1 from 2011 through 2014. He receives salaries of $500,000 each in 2011 and 2012, $750,000 in 2013, $900,000 in 2014 and $1 million in 2015. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound Harper is a 17-year-old power-hitting junior college catcher the Nationals plan to convert to an outfielder. He's the first JUCO player taken with the first overall selection.