Bryce Harper’s Nationals career ended in a 12-0 loss to the Rockies on September 30, 2018. The fitting conclusion to a disappointing season where the star-studded Nats missed the playoffs despite a bloated payroll. The shutout also signaled the end of Harper’s career in the Nation’s Capital. When Harper rejected the last-ditch $300 million offer to finish his career in DC, he hopped on a NetJet bound for his hometown of Las Vegas to begin 5 months of uncertainty.

5 months. That’s how long it took baseball super agent Scott Boras to secure a similar deal for Harper. With Spring Training well underway, it was the Philadelphia Phillies who shelled out $330 million for 13 seasons of Harper. A team-friendly deal no doubt, the Phillies can spread out his salary over the timeframe of a Jewish newborn becoming an adult, a Bar Mitzvah-type deal for Harper.

But now Harper is committed. For the long haul. In an era where a 26-year-old often can’t commit to a spouse, a home or a even a career, Harper has no way to escape Philadelphia until age 39. That’s an eternity in sports. Hell, it’s an eternity in life.

The mistake Harper made was instructing Boras to consummate a deal without any opt-outs. All teams in the Bryce-bonanza were willing to include opt-outs at key points, after years 3, 5, 8. As the league changes, media deals evolve and inflation occurs, a 13-year deal is career suicide, providing zero flexibility.

Harper did it to attract other stars to play with him in Philly. But for those of us who have spent time in the city of Brotherly Love, that could prove to be a tough sell.

What if Bryce and his family don’t like Philadelphia? (Likely) What if Bryce struggles early and the fans turn on him? (They’ve turned on Santa before) What if the Phillies struggle and they must rebuild in the final years of Bryce’s prime? What if the league advances so much in 5 years, his deal is considered a steal for the franchise?

Millennials are constantly developing and never committing. The world around us is shifting too fast. But Bryce chose a different route. He’s 26 and locked into Philadelphia for the next 13 years. For better or far more likely, for worse.

Jeremy Garrison can be heard on The Sports Hangover podcast and found on twitter @JeremyGarrison