Thanks for that chart, very informative.
That offer was so pathetic that it really wasn't an offer. Harper doesn't owe the Nationals a courtest of refusal, nor are they entitled to his attention. When they go that bad on lowballing, they have failed to earn those things.
I have to say that this is just wrong. The rumors are that Harper and Boras wish they would have TAKEN the Nats offer if they could go back in time as they did not expect the market to be like it was, despite the eventual signings by Manny and Bryce. There is nothing pathetic about offering 300m for 10 years last fall. The supposed deferrals and back end structure allowed the Nats to deal with other players and signings (like getting Corbin and instantly making the pitching rotation better). Have you run the tax consequences and present values? Probably not so do not say the offer was pathetic as neither of us know the actual details. Plus then you go back and say this is what I don't like about the offer, I want this instead etc.
Moreover there is this thing in the world called common courtesy. Harper did say no thank you, that they wanted to test the free agent market. And the Nats are not entitled to his attention? He was drafted by them, lived in (and loved) DC and was given a lot of free reign here. They have an existing relationship and btw a very good one with Boras who represents multiple other Nats. The Nats do not need to earn anything from Bryce it is JUST THE OPPOSITE. He needs to earn his salary -- they are/were his BOSSES. He was given a very good starting offer (if you look at the chart, the differences between Machado and Harper in terms of net present value are $2 m) and decided to move on, as his right. But no need to be rude, which he wasn't. Some sources in DC are saying they regret not signing so there you go.