Phillies Now 10/1 to win World Series, 3/1/19 Odds Improve with Bryce Harper

Phillies Now 10/1 to Win World Series

On Thursday afternoon, the Philadelphia Phillies landed one of the biggest prizes on the MLB free agent market by signing Bryce Harper to a massive contract. To no one’s surprise, their World Series odds in 2019 improved significantly within a few hours. Here are the details.

MLB Network’s Jon Heyman was the first to report that Harper had agreed to terms with the Phillies. Shortly after Heyman reported the news that Harper was on his way to Philly, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported the contract was for 13 years and $330 million. The deal includes no opt-outs and it became the new North American sports record for overall dollars committed to one player.

According to oddsmakers from online sports book BetNow.eu, the Phillies are now 10/1 to win the 2019 World Series following the Harper signing. The team opened with 20/1 odds to win the World Series back in October of 2018 and were 14/1 to win the Fall Classic before signing Harper on Thursday. Oddsmakers had anticipated that Harper would sign with the Phillies.

Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports that Harper will undergo a physical on Friday and is scheduled to be introduced by the Phillies at a press conference this Saturday. Team owner John Middleton sent his plane to Las Vegas to pick Harper up and fly him to Philadelphia.

Harper joins a Philadelphia offense that also includes newcomers J.T. Realmuto, Andrew McCutchen and Jean Segura. Some publications project Harper hitting third behind McCutchen and Segura, while Realmuto is expected to hit cleanup, followed by Rhys Hoskins. Maikel Franco is projected to hit sixth, followed by Odubel Herrera seventh and Cesar Hernandez eighth.

As of this writing, the Phillies are not favored to win the National League Pennant in 2019, although they do have the next-best odds behind the Dodgers (4/1) at 9/2. The Cubs (11/2), Cardinals (13/2) and Harper’s former team, the Nationals (7/1), are also in the mix. Philadelphia beat out the Dodgers and Giants for Harper’s services after several reports noted earlier this week that the free agent had met with San Francisco on a handful of occasions.