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Bryce Harper Signs Big Extension With Under Armour

By Nick Fustor

Apr 29, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) signs autographs for fans prior to the game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 29, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) signs autographs for fans prior to the game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /
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The legend of Bryce Harper continues to grow.  The 23-year-old reigning MVP signed the largest endorsement deal ever by an MLB player with Under Armour on Tuesday.

Another move was made by Under Armour to further establish themselves as a major player in athletic wear alongside brands like Nike and Adidas on Tuesday.  Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper signed a 10-year extension with Under Armour for an undisclosed amount, but sources indicate it is the largest endorsement deal ever signed by an MLB player, per ESPN.

The reigning MVP has been with Under Armour since 2011, and the company will begin selling his first signature cleat, the Under Armour Harper One, this summer.  Under Armour said Harper will continue to play a large role in their marketing campaigns and casual clothing lines.

Harper has garnered headlines for his outspoken remarks regarding baseball’s popularity.  The 23-year-old, who was the 2012 NL Rookie of the Year and last year’s NL MVP, publicly wears a shirt with the phrase “Make Baseball Fun Again”.

While terms of the deal may never be disclosed, it’s yet another step in MLB’s quest to market its players to compete with NBA and NFL stars.  James Wagner of The Washington Post noted that this is the second major endorsement deal in baseball this year, as Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa signed with Adidas in February. However, sources close to the deal indicate Harper’s deal far surpasses the amount Correa will earn.

As of 2015, not one MLB player was in the top 50 of the highest paid athletic endorsement deals, according to OpenDorse.com.  David Ortiz is 57th on the list, raking in just around $4 million a year, but he’ll be retiring after this season.  The next highest player was Seattle Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano, who is 64th with around $3.5 million a year in endorsement deals.

The Harper and Correa deals signal a shift in the mindset of MLB, as commissioner Rob Manfred will look to compete with the NBA and its abundance of endorsement deals.

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Under Armour has slowly built up quite the collection of talent.  Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry, PGA Tour Player of the Year Jordan Spieth and NFL MVP Cam Newton are just a few names the brand currently has under contract.  With Harper leading their baseball marketing, Under Armour will likely draw more of an influence in the baseball world as time goes on.

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