Bryce Harper Back to the Outfield?

When the Phillies signed Bryce Harper to a 13-year deal, it seemed like he would occupy right field for many years to come.  But after needing Tommy John surgery and serving as a designated hitter at first, Harper took over first base in the absence of the injured Rhys Hoskins to get him back on the field quicker.  It seemed that would be where Harper would reside for the foreseeable future.

Or maybe not?

An interesting report emerged on Wednesday from The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal.  Rosenthal did a deep dive on Harper's career (worth reading for Athletic subscribers) after an interview conducted on Tuesday.  One nugget from that interview was the "most newsworthy".

The reason?  Pete Alonso was a free agent.

The Phillies did not add an impact offensive player this past offseason.  Max Kepler is a nice outfielder, but far from the impact that an Alonso would bring to the team.

For a while, it appeared there was no market for Alonso.  He ended up going back to the Mets for a two-year, $54 million deal, with an opt-out after 2025.  He will make $30 million this season.

Could the Phillies have found a way to sign Alonso?  There is money coming off the books next offseason should free agents-to-be Kyle Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto, and Ranger Suárez go elsewhere.

The Phillies have the third-highest payroll in Major League Baseball in 2025.  The New York Mets are second, spending about what Alonso will make more than the Phillies.

It would have been exciting for Phillies fans to have Alonso leave New York for Philadelphia on the heels of Saquon Barkley's trip down 95 en route to an Eagles Super Bowl victory.

Going forward, it would be interesting to see how the Phillies move forward as some of their veterans move out of the lineup and young players move in.  Could Harper still move?  That remains to be seen; the Phillies have resisted that idea thus far, even as Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto need to find a place on the field.

Time will tell.