The Philadelphia Phillies have started their regular season schedule with an Opening Day 7-3 win over the Washington Nationals. We're only one game into 2025, but it's never too early to look ahead to this summer's trade deadline.
Every offseason has questions, especially for a playoff-contending Phillies team. Free agency has molded this current core and will continue to be an option as long as current ownership is willing to spend. The flip side of that financial commitment is what the club endured this past offseason: lower-budget signings meant to fill holes rather than a dramatic change to the team's identity.
The trade deadline could be the best option for the Phillies in their quest to remain in contention and to provide a much-needed boost heading into the MLB playoffs. The Phillies' obvious need is the outfield, but first baseman Bryce Harper could be the team's focal point for a more extensive search for outside help.
Bryce Harper's willingness to play outfield again could impact Phillies' trade deadline decisions this summer
Harper has manned the outfield most of his career before Tommy John surgery in 2022 forced a new approach to his game and subsequently landed him at first base. Last season was Harper's first full season at the position and was capped off with a Gold Glove nomination. He's found a home there, but is still willing to make another position change to help the Phillies, per MLB.com's Todd Zolecki.
"They’ve told me multiple times: ‘You’re our first baseman.’ They’ve told you guys multiple times," Harper said during spring training, per Zolecki. "But if they were to come up to me and tell me, ‘Hey, we're going to get this guy at the Deadline,’ or, ‘The best thing for us is for you to move out there for a half-year or year,’ I would do it. Obviously, I love playing first base. It’s been great. I think I have the trust in my teammates to play there, too. But obviously, if there's a guy in the market that they want to go get at the deadline and I'm the easiest one to move back, I’m in. The main goal is to win the World Series.”
Harper has been candid about his relationship with the club and what he is willing to do to get them in the best position to win. A move back to the outfield opens the door for a slugging first baseman such as the Toronto Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who could be a target at the end of July. Harper also offered to make the change over the offseason, but the team never found a rightful suitor.
There's no certainty that the Phillies will unload some of their farm system stock to get a player of Guerrero Jr.'s magnitude on a rental deal, but the increase in options makes the front office's job a little easier.
Harper knows that change is needed to adapt to a new way of thinking and that it's not always ideal. He has a .924 OPS in his six seasons with the Phillies, and the team's outfield production has suffered recently. With another position in play, it gives them a substantial chance at bringing in a name that can propel the Phillies to the top of a loaded National League.
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