Phillies’ Bryce Harper Packs His Bag With Trade Deadline Move In Mind

CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 10: A closeup position of the Rawlings mitt worn by Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies during the 2nd inning against the Cleveland Guardians astatine Progressive Field connected May 10, 2025 successful Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images)

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The Philadelphia Phillies person made small concealed of their intentions up of this year's waste and acquisition deadline, pinch a top-heavy roster successful request of immoderate reinforcements.

Sitting firmly successful the National League playoff picture, the nine is mostly expected to prosecute upgrades that could fortify its chances of returning to the World Series.

The biggest questions halfway connected wherever those reinforcements will travel from. Industry observers person linked the Phillies to everything from right-handed bats to bullpen help, and the anticipation of adding different effect hitter has go 1 of the ascendant storylines surrounding the organization.

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Philadelphia Phillies Superstar Bryce Harper Makes Addition To Travel Bag Before Trade Deadline

If Philadelphia lands different middle-of-the-order bat, franchise slugger Bryce Harper appears fresh to adjust.

“The Phillies are convinced first guidelines is wherever Harper, 33, should remain,” Matt Gelb wrote for The Athletic. “Still, he stuffed an aged point successful his recreation container this week. ‘I brought my glove,’ Harper said, ‘just successful lawsuit they make a trade.’ Harper has not utilized that outfield mitt successful a crippled since April 16, 2022.”

The study highlights Harper's willingness to prioritize roster building complete individual penchant if the beforehand agency identifies an upgrade astatine first base, a connection he has sent before, though president of shot operations Dave Dombrowski has virtually ruled retired a move backmost to the outfield.

Harper’s other mitt mightiness beryllium much of a totem than a applicable need, but there’s small logic to uncertainty that the franchise slugger would spell to awesome lengths to unafraid a career-first World Series championship.

“Harper is prepared for anything,” Todd Zolecki wrote for MLB.com. “So, if the Phillies someway find a slugging first baseman successful the adjacent fewer days, he said he is fresh to move to correct section again. He has been consenting to move location successful the past.”

Bryce Harper Sends Philadelphia Phillies’ Front Office A Trade Message Ahead Of Deadline

Harper mightiness not really expect a caller first baseman, but he was nonstop that Dombrowski and the beforehand agency should beryllium looking to adhd win-now talent.

“Everybody successful shot benignant of knows what we need,” Harper added, per Gelb. “So there’s players retired location that are available, and I deliberation we person a bully opportunity to spell get the guys we need.”

Few stars of Harper's stature unpaid to alteration positions successful the mediate of a pennant race, but his comments propose winning remains the privilege and the anticipation for Dombrowski. Harper added that he had not had a nonstop speech astir the looming deadline pinch the executive.

Whether the Phillies yet get a first baseman aliases reside different area of need, Harper has already made 1 point clear: he's preparing for each imaginable scenario. Packing an outfielder's mitt for the roadworthy travel whitethorn look for illustration a mini gesture, but it besides serves arsenic a reminder that Philadelphia's roster could look importantly different erstwhile the Trade Deadline passes.