When Manny Machado secured an opt-out after the fifth year of his 10-year/$300 million contract with the San Diego Padres, you had a pretty good idea of where negotiations between the Philadelphia Phillies and Bryce Harper were headed. At the very least, Harper would want an 0pt-out after the fifth year of any deal. The more likely scenario? His agent Scott Boras would demand an opt-out even earlier than after the fifth year, giving his client a chance to re-enter what may be a more favorable free-agent market in a few seasons.
According to Angelo Cataldi of SportsRadio 94 WIP, Boras is insistent that the Phillies include an opt-out after the third season of any free-agent contract with Harper.