The Philadelphia Phillies should seriously consider shifting All-Star first baseman back to the outfield. With Juan Soto now signed by the New York Mets and Kyle Tucker traded to the Chicago Cubs, the pool of elite outfielders is shrinking as the offseason progresses. Addressing the outfield is one of the Phillies’ most pressing needs, especially after their 2024 outfielders collectively posted a 97 wRC+ (18th in MLB) and a .708 OPS (16th in MLB). Improving offensive production from the outfield is essential for the team moving forward.
Although Matt Gelb of The Athletic reported that Harper won’t be returning to the outfield, the idea deserves reconsideration. Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski has done little to revamp the roster so far, with the signing of relief pitcher Jordan Romano to a one-year deal being the team’s only notable move. This roster needs a shake-up, but Dombrowski has yet to deliver. Fans have little reason to believe the front office will acquire a high-impact bat for the outfield, and simply running it back with a similar lineup from 2024 is not a viable solution. Time is running out for Dombrowski to act, and the Phillies’ 2025 lineup must look substantially different from last year’s if they hope to compete. Patience with this front office is wearing thin, as their inaction suggests they are asleep at the wheel.
Phillies Need To Consider Moving Bryce Harper Back To The Outfield
Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Scott Lauber floated the idea of moving Bryce Harper back to the outfield a few weeks ago, before Juan Soto signed with the Mets and Kyle Tucker was traded to the Cubs. With those two top-tier options off the board, it’s now evident that the idea warrants serious consideration. Ideally, the Phillies could sign Jurickson Profar to fill the hole in left field, but that doesn’t seem likely at this point. According to MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki, Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski is expected to focus on trades rather than free agency to improve the roster. If this is the path Dombrowski chooses, trading for Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki should be a priority. However, given the team’s lack of significant moves so far, it’s difficult to expect this scenario to materialize. If the outfield is not directly addressed, Harper moving back there may be the team’s best option.
One intriguing trade possibility involves St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado, a player the Phillies are reportedly interested in. Acquiring Arenado could result in Alec Bohm shifting to first base, which would allow Harper to return to the outfield. However, Bohm has been part of trade rumors this offseason, and reports from Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic suggest the Phillies have set a high asking price for him. As a result, a Bohm trade appears less likely now than it did before the Winter Meetings.
Another possibility is signing free-agent first basemen Pete Alonso or Christian Walker. This move would push Harper to right field and Nick Castellanos to left field. Among these scenarios, the Arenado trade seems the most plausible, but the Phillies’ offseason inactivity has left their plans unclear.
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