By most fans’ standards, the Philadelphia Phillies didn’t have a big offseason. They made some key and much-needed additions, but nothing that made a big splash in the national headlines.
Trading for left-handed starter Jesús Luzardo was easily the most underrated move by Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski. But the addition of right-hander closer Jordan Romano in the bullpen is nothing to sneeze at, either.
The only position player added to the roster this winter was outfielder Max Kepler. He signed a one-year, $10 million contract in December, and will be counted on as the everyday left fielder — a plan we hope pans out. Fans wishing for the addition of a bigger offensive bat were left disappointed.
Bryce Harper told Phillies he'd move back to outfield to add a slugger at first base
However, as Bryce Harper tells it, he gave the Phillies the flexibility to add a big power bat at first base. Despite Harper now being accustomed to playing first after moving in from right field following his Tommy John surgery in 2022, he recently told The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal that he informed the Phillies this winter that he would be more than happy to move back out to the outfield (subscription required).
“I talked to [the Phillies] this offseason about that, just in case a guy was available [at first] that we needed to have, needed to get,” Harper said, per Rosenthal. “I’d be more than open to it if we had a guy like that, who was going to change our lineup or change the demeanor of our team. They like me at first base. But I’d go out there to have a guy who was going to play first base and hit 35 or 40 homers.”
A first baseman who could hit 35 to 40 home runs? It sure sounds like he was talking about a specific player. One such first baseman, Pete Alonso, sat on the free agent market for most of the offseason before eventually finding enough common ground for a return to the New York Mets on a two-year deal for $54 million with an opt-out ahead of earning $24 million in 2026.
“When Pete [Alonso] was on the block still, I kind of sat there and was like, ‘Hey, why not?’” Harper told Rosenthal. “When we talked about it, I kind of just reiterated to [the Phillies] and Scott [Boras] that I’m willing to move out there if it’s going to help us. I love playing first base. It’s been great. But if it’s going to help us win, I’d go back out there.”
Obviously, the Phillies didn’t sign Alonso. Even with Harper willing to move off first, it would be hard to imagine the front office shelling out $30 million even for one season for Alonso, not to mention the $10 million signing bonus he got and the potential $24 million second-year. The combination of a payroll already eclipsing the top luxury tax threshold and a hitter profile that many don’t think will age well would have quickly steered the Phillies away from that choice if their thoughts ever ventured there.
Now that we know how flexible Harper is, it makes one wonder who else the Phillies may have missed out on this winter. Gold Glove slugger Cristian Walker, formerly of the Arizona Diamondbacks, landed a three-year, $60 million contract in Houston. He’s probably not a player the Phillies “needed to have,” considering he’ll turn 34 as the regular season gets started.
As for next offseason, there’s a certain first baseman in Toronto who will be the coveted free agent teams will be chasing come November. While still an unlikely match, with Harper willing to play outfield again, Phillies fans can perhaps dream a little about signing Vladimir Guerrero Jr.