$400 million? Don’t sell Bryce Harper short

At age 23, Bryce Harper already is Major League Baseball's youngest MVP. And he could be baseball's first $400 million man. But don't tell him that.

In a wide-ranging interview with a Washington sports radio station, The Nationals' slugger was asked about his financial future in the game.

"I was talking to an executive this offseason," said 106.7 The Fan's Grant Paulsen. "At one point in time they said you could be the first $400 million player. Do you ever think about your future and what’s possible, in terms of you could break records for the money you make at one point in time?”

Harper replied: “Yeah, I mean I don’t really think about that stuff. I just try to play the years out and do everything I can to help my team win. But don’t sell me short. That’s what you’re doing right now to me, so don’t do that.

"I'm looking forward to playing this year, just looking forward to playing the next couple years," Harper continued. "And I think all that stuff will play out."

Harper, a product of Las Vegas High School and the College of Southern Nevada, batted .330 and slammed 42 home runs in his 2015 MVP season. Since his April 2012 MLB debut, he's hit .289 with 97 homers, clearly establishing himself as one of the best players in the game. 

While it may seem he has nowhere to go but down after last year, it's not a stretch to think Harper may be entering his prime when his current contact ends in 2018. If that's the case, his next deal could easily surpass the 13-year, $325 million contract Giancarlo Stanton signed in 2014, currently the richest in sports.

Is $400 million out of the question? Not in the least. Especially for a guy who approaches at-bats to the Frank Sinatra tune "The Best Is Yet To Come."

Listen to Harper's entire interview below. The contract talk starts around 8:50.

Brett Steidler is the Online Communities Manager at the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Contact him at bsteidler@reviewjournal.com or on Twitter @bsteid