Phillies outfielder Bryce Harper teases he wants to join the Eagles
Just days after saying he guaranteed a 2020 season, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred reversed his optimism on Monday, saying he is “not confident” games will be played. Philadelphia Phillies players are not remaining silent on social media in regards to their frustration surrounding negotiations between the league and players union.
Left fielder Andrew McCutchen has kept his views short, but telling, frequently tweeting “lol.” First baseman Rhys Hoskins mirrored the 2013 National League MVP’s approach, before posting that he “could not agree more” with fans that the current state of the league is “not funny.”
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“But,” Hoskins says, “it’s getting to the point where it’s laughable. We want to play. We are ready. We have been ready! Unfortunately this has come at the expense of the fans and the game … which flat out sucks. We just want to play.”
Fellow slugger Bryce Harper has been vocal as well. Last month, he defended Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Blake Snell for “speaking the truth” about his comments on players taking large pay cuts amid risk and uncertainty of the pandemic.
On Friday, Harper joined Philadelphia Eagles star offensive lineman Lane Johnson on his video podcast series, and joked, “I was thinking, ‘If baseball doesn’t come back, I’ll go play for the Eagles!'”
Bryce Harper sent this out on IG after Rob Manfred said he is not confident there will be baseball #Eagles #Phillies
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) June 16, 2020
🎥 @bryceharper3 pic.twitter.com/yIpUw4t5uq
https://twitter.com/bryceharper3/status/1272650723189157888?s=20
Could Harper be serious in wanting to don midnight green after all? After hearing Manfred’s latest comments, the six-time All-Star shared a photoshopped photo on his Instagram story that has him sporting an Eagles uniform.
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In conversation with Johnson, Harper said he played fullback and outside linebacker while growing up in Las Vegas. Ultimately, of course, he baseball talents quickly overshadowed; Harper even dropped out of high school early to get a GED and enroll at a junior college to fast-track his eligibility for the MLB Draft.
The Phillies would never let Harper play at Lincoln Financial Field this season, considering he still has 11 more seasons on his contract. But, the fact of the matter is, Harper and his Phillies teammates are frustrated and simply want baseball to return on mutual terms with the league.