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  4. title => "Building an A's roster for less than Bryce Harper's projected 2019 salary"
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  6. article_body => "<p>No one knows where Bryce Harper will end up next season, but one thing is for sure: He'll get paid. A lot. And that's an understatement.<\/p>\n<p>Many have speculated Harper could sign for as much as&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/sports\/2018\/11\/09\/some-laugh-million-bryce-harper-heres-how-scott-boras-plans-get-it\/?noredirect=on&amp;utm_term=.32ed7150bf04\">$400 million over 10 years<\/a>, translating to a whopping $40 million per season. By comparison, the A's entered 2018 with a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/bayarea\/athletics\/breaking-down-where-2019-payroll-stands-ahead-free-agency\">$63 million payroll<\/a>. For the entire team!<\/p>\n<p>Just for fun, here's a breakdown of Oakland's starting lineup last season, with their combined salaries, courtesy of Spotrac.com:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Catcher:<\/strong> Jonathan Lucroy ($6.5 million)<br><strong>First base:<\/strong> Matt Olson ($547,500)<br><strong>Second base:<\/strong> Jed Lowrie ($6 million)<br><strong>Shortstop:<\/strong> Marcus Semien ($3.125 million)<br><strong>Third base:<\/strong> Matt Chapman ($547,500)<br><strong>Left field:<\/strong> Nick Martini ($240,260)<br><strong>Center field:<\/strong> Ram\u00f3n Laureano ($172,870)<br><strong>Right field:<\/strong> Stephen Piscotty ($1,333,333)<br><strong>DH:<\/strong> Khris Davis ($10.5 million)<br><strong>Starting pitcher:<\/strong> Sean Manaea ($550,000)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Total: $29,516,463<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>That's the A's entire starting lineup, plus their ace, for more than $10 million less than Harper's projected $40 million per season.<\/p>\n<p>Let's keep going. Here are some other players you could add to an A's roster and still remain below $40 million:<\/p>\n<p>Blake Treinen ($2.15 million)<br>Edwin Jackson ($1.5 million)<br>Trevor Cahill ($1.5 million)<br>Brett Anderson ($1.5 million)<br>Ryan Buchter ($555,000)<br>Chad Pinder ($550,000)<br>Mark Canha ($518,144)<br>Lou Trivino ($474,660)<br>Daniel Mengden ($418,048)<br>Dustin Fowler ($341,504)<br>Franklin Barreto ($263,700)<br>Frankie Montas ($208,030)<br>Chris Bassitt ($167,010)<br>J.B. Wendelken ($164,080)<br>Beau Taylor ($87,900)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Total: $39,914,539<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>To recap, that's an entire 25-man roster for less than the $40 million that Bryce Harper could earn next season:<\/p>\n<p>Starting pitchers: Sean Manaea, Edwin Jackson, Trevor Cahill, Brett Anderson, Daniel Mengden<br>Relief pitchers: Blake Treinen, Lou Trivino, J.B. Wendelken, Ryan Buchter, Frankie Montas, Chris Bassitt<br>Catchers: Jonathan Lucroy, Beau Taylor<br>Infielders: Matt Olson, Jed Lowrie, Marcus Semien, Matt Chapman, Franklin Barreto<br>Outfielders: Stephen Piscotty, &nbsp;Ram\u00f3n Laureano, Nick Martini, Mark Canha, Chad Pinder, Dustin Fowler<br>DH: Khris Davis<\/p>\n<p>Unless Harper can play every position simultaneously, \u00e0 la Bugs Bunny, the A's appear to have the edge.<\/p>\n<p><em>Editor's note: This week across the NBC Sports Regional Networks, we'll be taking an in-depth look at some of the top free agents in baseball. Monday is dedicated to Nationals slugger Bryce Harper.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/bayarea\/giants\/how-giants-couldshould-use-bryce-harper-contract-money-free-agency\">Giants could use Harper money to fill numerous other needs<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/phillies\/phillies-could-use-bryce-harpers-personality-just-much-his-bat\">Phillies could use Harper's personality just as much as his big bat<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/nationals\/why-bryce-harper-sacrificed-home-runs-save-his-season\">Why Harper sacrificed home runs with Nationals to save his season<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/chicago\/white-sox\/white-sox-free-agent-focus-bryce-harper\">White Sox would have to pitch Harper on possibility of bright future<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/boston\/red-sox\/red-sox-wont-be-part-bryce-harpers-free-agent-journey\">World champion Red Sox not a part of Harper's free-agent journey<\/a><\/p>\n<iframe style=\"border: none; margin:0px; width:100%; height:250px;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.stanza.co\/@mlb-athletics?embed=true&banner=true&site=comcastsportsnet\"><\/iframe> \n"
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Athletics

Athletics

No one knows where Bryce Harper will end up next season, but one thing is for sure: He'll get paid. A lot. And that's an understatement.

Many have speculated Harper could sign for as much as $400 million over 10 years, translating to a whopping $40 million per season. By comparison, the A's entered 2018 with a $63 million payroll. For the entire team!

Just for fun, here's a breakdown of Oakland's starting lineup last season, with their combined salaries, courtesy of Spotrac.com:

Catcher: Jonathan Lucroy ($6.5 million)
First base: Matt Olson ($547,500)
Second base: Jed Lowrie ($6 million)
Shortstop: Marcus Semien ($3.125 million)
Third base: Matt Chapman ($547,500)
Left field: Nick Martini ($240,260)
Center field: Ramón Laureano ($172,870)
Right field: Stephen Piscotty ($1,333,333)
DH: Khris Davis ($10.5 million)
Starting pitcher: Sean Manaea ($550,000)

Total: $29,516,463

That's the A's entire starting lineup, plus their ace, for more than $10 million less than Harper's projected $40 million per season.

Let's keep going. Here are some other players you could add to an A's roster and still remain below $40 million:

Blake Treinen ($2.15 million)
Edwin Jackson ($1.5 million)
Trevor Cahill ($1.5 million)
Brett Anderson ($1.5 million)
Ryan Buchter ($555,000)
Chad Pinder ($550,000)
Mark Canha ($518,144)
Lou Trivino ($474,660)
Daniel Mengden ($418,048)
Dustin Fowler ($341,504)
Franklin Barreto ($263,700)
Frankie Montas ($208,030)
Chris Bassitt ($167,010)
J.B. Wendelken ($164,080)
Beau Taylor ($87,900)

 

Total: $39,914,539

To recap, that's an entire 25-man roster for less than the $40 million that Bryce Harper could earn next season:

Starting pitchers: Sean Manaea, Edwin Jackson, Trevor Cahill, Brett Anderson, Daniel Mengden
Relief pitchers: Blake Treinen, Lou Trivino, J.B. Wendelken, Ryan Buchter, Frankie Montas, Chris Bassitt
Catchers: Jonathan Lucroy, Beau Taylor
Infielders: Matt Olson, Jed Lowrie, Marcus Semien, Matt Chapman, Franklin Barreto
Outfielders: Stephen Piscotty,  Ramón Laureano, Nick Martini, Mark Canha, Chad Pinder, Dustin Fowler
DH: Khris Davis

Unless Harper can play every position simultaneously, à la Bugs Bunny, the A's appear to have the edge.

Editor's note: This week across the NBC Sports Regional Networks, we'll be taking an in-depth look at some of the top free agents in baseball. Monday is dedicated to Nationals slugger Bryce Harper.

Giants could use Harper money to fill numerous other needs
Phillies could use Harper's personality just as much as his big bat
Why Harper sacrificed home runs with Nationals to save his season
White Sox would have to pitch Harper on possibility of bright future
World champion Red Sox not a part of Harper's free-agent journey