3 Perfect OF replacements for injured Phillies star Bryce Harper in 2023

2. Andrew McCutchen

A fan-favorite for his contributions on and off the field, the Phillies bringing back outfielder Andrew McCutchen would create much excitement.

It had to have been difficult for McCutchen to be on the outside looking in during the 2022 World Series. After all, he had just spent three seasons in red pinstripes on teams that came up short time and time again under then-managers Gabe Kapler and Joe Girardi. To make things worse, the Phillies outlasted McCutchen’s Milwaukee Brewers for the third and final National League Wild Card spot in the 2022 postseason.

Now 36 years old, McCutchen is likely looking at his final chance to become a champion before he retires. The former MVP, five-time All-Star, four-time Silver Slugger, and Gold Glove Award winner seems to have every career accolade under his belt except a World Series title.

National League favorites — such as the Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves and New York Mets — probably won’t be signing a player like McCutchen, so the next-best option for the veteran would be a reunion with the 2022 National League champions.

McCutchen’s home runs and RBI totals dipped compared from 2021 (27, 80) to 2022 (17, 69), but he actually produced one more double and a better batting average this past season.

Spanning 153 innings playing right field last season, McCutchen did not commit a single error while notching an assist across 31 total chances. A reunion between the outfielder and the Phillies surely would be welcomed by many. And when Harper is hopefully ready to return to the right field by the end of the 2023 season, McCutchen won’t have any problems letting the 2022 NLCS MVP shine.