Insights On Bryce Harper's Performance And Future With Phillies

We are back once again with the 97.3 ESPN Phillies Mailbag. Each week we take your questions and answer them on The Sports Bash with Mike Gill. Tune in each week to hear your questions answered on the air.

How did the Phillies manage to bungle the Nick Castellanos situation so badly?
~Matt

The Phillies ultimately released outfielder Nick Castellanos on Thursday, after an offseason in which he was not moved to another team via trade. Did the Phillies show their hand too much by letting it be known that they were going to trade or release Castellanos in the offseason? I actually think no.

Todd Zolecki on The Phillies Show explained that the Phillies not only tried to trade Castellanos this past offseason, but they tried to trade Castellanos both after the 2023 and 2024 seasons as well. After two offseasons with no real interest, the Phillies went into this offseason hoping to get someone to take him for next to nothing.

The New York Yankees reportedly were a team that had interest. But after doing their homework, they decided that they would re-sign Paul Goldschmidt instead.

So I think it's pretty clear that there was not a lot of interest.

The San Diego Padres, meanwhile, were known to be shopping for a right-handed bat that would not cost them more than the minimum. They were not going to trade prospects or spend money.

Castellanos may have to accept a role that he would have not accepted if he stayed in Philadelphia. Perhaps the situation humbled him some.

But I don't think the Phillies could have done anything to create more interest in Castellanos this offseason.

Why didn't the Phillies re-sign Walker Buehler? He just got a minor league deal with San Diego.
~Dan

Former Phillies starter Walker Buehler just joined the San Diego Padres on a minor league deal. He was one of the remaining starters on the market, and the Padres (again) were looking to fill out their roster with low-cost pieces.

The word on the street was that Buehler was looking for a stronger rotation guarantee compared to a team like the Phillies. The Phillies have Cristopher Sanchez, Jesus Luzardo, Aaron Nola, Taijuan Walker and Andrew Painter set for the five rotation spots, which Zack Wheeler on the mend.

While Painter is far from a guarantee to succeed, the imminent return of Wheeler probably made the Phillies less than his preferred destination.

Of course, Buehler made much of his success in Southern California, which could have led to this choice, too.

But the Padres currently have Nick Pivetta at the top of their rotation depth chart. That should tell you all that you need to know about opportunities in San Diego.

Do you think that Bryce Harper is "elite?"
~Chase

The buzz around some season-end comments from Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski continues to spread around the Phillies as the players returned to camp. After Bryce Harper joined Philllies camp the other day, he admitted the comments were "wild."

So what did Dombrowski say? The exact comments, as transcribed on ESPN were:

"He didn't have an elite season like he's had in the past. I guess we only find out if he becomes elite or he continues to be good."

Last season Harper was not "elite" with a 3.1 WAR.

But he was very good.

After Harper made comments about Aaron Judge hitting behind him in the World Baseball Classic, it's clear that he could benefit from someone hitting behind him.

I think that is on Dombrowski to provide for Harper, who does not see many pitches to hit.

That in itself, has me thinking the opposition still find him to be elite.