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3 Ways the Phillies are already building around Bryce Harper

By Gabrielle Starr |
Sep 17, 2021; New York City, New York, USA; Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Bryce Harper (3) watches from the dugout during the third inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2021; New York City, New York, USA; Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Bryce Harper (3) watches from the dugout during the third inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
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The Philadelphia Phillies need to build around Bryce Harper if they want to make a postseason run in 2022

Baseball isn’t basketball: one big superstar isn’t going to be enough. That doesn’t mean that Bryce Harper didn’t have an outrageously good season for the Philadelphia Phillies, but as the results indicate, he can’t do it alone.

After the Silver Slugger and Hank Aaron Award-winning season Harper just had, fans are begging the Phillies not to waste his best years. And the good news is that though the free-agent signings haven’t begun, the Phillies are already making short-term and long-term moves to improve the franchise that will set them up for success and make the most out of Harper’s wonder years.

Related Story. Everything you need to know about Bryce Harper’s MVP Phillies season in 5 minutes. light

Here are three things the Phillies are already doing:

1. The Phillies are expected to spend big this offseason

The Phillies will be one of several teams planning on throwing cash around this winter. They’ve got quite a bit of space under the luxury tax threshold, especially after buying out Andrew McCutchen and letting their most expensive arbitration player, Odúbel Herrera, hit free agency.

President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski has confirmed what most expected: the Phillies’ top offseason needs are a closer and some hard-hitting outfielders. Adding another starting pitcher would also be smart, but his priorities are definitely in order.

Despite discussions of spending big at the trade deadline, the Phillies have never exceeded the luxury tax threshold. However, with Dombrowski at the helm, it’s likely that will change; he’s got experience building postseason and even championship teams, but it’s pricey. If the Phillies want to win big, they should spend big.

Bryson Stott #73 of the Philadelphia Phillies (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
Bryson Stott #73 of the Philadelphia Phillies (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /

2. The Phillies are improving the minor leagues

When your own players are calling out your farm system or lack thereof, you’re probably in trouble. That’s exactly what Harper did at least once in the last few months. The Phillies’ farm system hasn’t been fruitful in a long time; they have several first-round picks who never amounted to anything, and more still languishing in Triple-A, unable to make the leap to the big leagues. They regularly rank between 19th and the bottom of the barrel, and only have a few prospects in the MLB Top 100, though the expected arrival of Bryson Stott in 2022 is something to look forward to.

During the regular season, the Phillies reassigned several front office folks, presumably to make room for offseason hires. So far, they’ve hired Preston Mattingly away from the Padres to be their new head of player development, and this week, they announced the hiring of Anirudh Kilambi from the Rays. The Padres and Rays have had two of the best farm systems in the game for years, clearly something the Phillies would love to replicate. By building a strong farm system, the Phillies can become a self-sustaining team for years to come.

Odubel Herrera (37) walks off the field after making the final out. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Odubel Herrera (37) walks off the field after making the final out. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports /

3. The Phillies are upgrading the offense

This one technically falls under “spending big,” but deserves its own section because of how it relates to Harper. He was one of the best batters in baseball this season, but to expect him to do it alone for 612 games (and hopefully a postseason run) is absurd.

Hiring hitting coach Kevin Long, who worked with Joe Girardi on the Yankees and coached Harper on the Nationals, definitely counts as adding bat power because he will be improving the team’s current bat power or lack thereof. Kyle Schwarber also credits Long with revamping his swing. Long has his work cut out for him with Alec Bohm, who struggled both offensively and defensively in his sophomore season, and Rhys Hoskins, who missed the end of the season due to injuries.

There are several free-agent sluggers available would be great fits for the Phillies, including Nick Castellanos, Kris Bryant, Starling Marte, and Schwarber. But one thing is certain: Harper can’t go at it alone, and he shouldn’t have to.

1 Free agent the Philadelphia Phillies can steal from each division rival. light. Trending

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