Bryce Harper will be the Phillies’ everyday first baseman going forward, Dave Dombrowski revealed Wednesday afternoon at the GM meetings in Arizona.
The Phillies’ president of baseball operations told reporters that there was a conversation with Harper, who expressed a willingness to play first base or corner outfield. The Phils say now is the time for him to fully transition to first base.
Dombrowski stated that he spoke to free agent Rhys Hoskins about the decision. That doesn’t completely close the door on Hoskins’ return to the Phils, but it’s a major setback now. The Phillies want to use Kyle Schwarber as their everyday hitter after seeing how much this defensive improvement means after the All-Star break in 2023.
With Harper at first base and Schwarber at DH, there is no everyday spot for Hoskins. If Hoskins ends up signing a short-term deal to restore his value as a free agent for next year, he will want to do so in a situation that offers the greatest opportunity for playing time, which wouldn’t be the case here. It looks like the Phillies’ longest-tenured position player is on his way out, possibly along with their longest-tenured player overall, free agent Aaron Nola.
Harper had never played first base before 2023. He brought the idea to the Phillies in the first month of the season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. You thought about it and tried it. He quickly adapted to the position, with his instincts and athleticism often standing out and taking over. He remarked several times how good it felt to have the dirt under his feet as a professional for the first time.
Harper, like Phillie, has struggled with a variety of injuries so far – elbow, back, thumb, face, forearm. The games he missed per season as a Phillie were 5, 2, 21, 63 and 36. Playing first base could be a way to keep him healthier for the remaining eight seasons of his 13-year contract.
With the decision to keep Harper at first base, the only change to the Phillies’ 2024 lineup could come in left or center field. The Phillies aren’t giving center field to Johan Rojas, they want him to earn it. On Opening Day, it could be Brandon Marsh clearing left field. So that spot, left field, would be the one the Phillies should target this offseason. Possible free agent options include Joc Pederson, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Tommy Pham, Teoscar Hernandez, Hunter Renfroe, Jorge Soler and Adam Duvall.