Bryce Harper agrees to $21.625 million deal with Nats for '18

— -- The Washington Nationals have agreed to terms with star right fielder Bryce Harper on a contract for the 2018 season, the team announced Saturday.

Harper will make $21.625 million next season, as first reported by FanRag Sports and confirmed by ESPN.

The agreement locks up Harper for his final arbitration-eligible year. He can become a free agent after the 2018 season.

"I think it's huge," Harper said, hours before the Nationals hosted? Philadelphia. "We're able to go into the offseason and worry about different things. We're able as a team and an organization to go out and not have to worry about me going into arbitration for another year or anything like that."

The four-time All-Star and 2015 National League MVP is hitting .372 this season with 10 home runs and 29 RBIs. His batting average is second in the majors to teammate Ryan Zimmerman.

Harper is making $13.63 million this season. After winning the MVP, Harper hit .243 with 24 home runs and 86 RBIs in 2016.

"I think it shows the comfort level Bryce has with the organization and that we have with him," Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said. "It does a lot of good things for us. It gives us cost-certainty going into the season next year and next year's payroll."

"I think most important, there's a comfort level, a comfortable player that doesn't have to worry about discussing a contract next year," Rizzo added.

Rizzo and Harper said discussions about the 2018 contract began during the last arbitration season.

"Couldn't get a two-year deal done at the time, but both sides always had open-mindedness of trying to put the five-plus arbitration season behind us," Rizzo said.

Both Harper and Rizzo said the two sides didn't discuss anything beyond 2018.

"I love walking into this clubhouse every single day and putting my Nationals uniform on, and I'm going to enjoy this year and next year and not really worry about anything beyond that," Harper said.

Said Rizzo: "We have a great relationship with Harp. We love having him around. He's our own. Drafted, developed, signed, been an MVP for us."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.?