Spring Training: Bryce Harper addresses Phillies’ championship window, contract extension, playing first base and losing Rhys Hoskins

Bryce Harper and the Philadelphia Phillies are all reporting to Clearwater, Florida for the start of Spring Training and earlier today, we heard from the seven time All-Star and two-time NL MVP about the rumored contract extensions, the Phillies’ World Series Window, and making the full-time move to first base for the 2024 season.

Harper has seven years and $196 million left on his initial $330 million, 13-year contract. There is no question that’s a team-friendly deal, with the two-time NL MVP making just $25.4 million AAV which ranks just 19th among active players. 

Harper will be under contract with the Phillies until he turns 38-years old however, after long rumored rumblings of a new contract, he addressed his concerns to the media down in Clearwater, Florida.

“I want to be here for a long time, and understand, playing into my 40s, that’s the biggest thing for me,” the 31-year-old said Sunday in the Phillies’ spring training clubhouse. “So I wanted to get that done.” [Fox Sports]

Look, I get it. Is this something Harper should be worried about right now? Absolutely not. At the same time, we’re talking about Bryce Harper. He’s a career .281 hitter with 306 home runs, 889 RBIs, and a .912 OPS – which ranks No. 5 in the MLB behind Mike Trout, Aaron Judge, Juan Soto, and Ronald Acuna Jr. 

“I understand there’s other guys to take care of, right? Understanding that Wheels is a big one for us right now,” he said, a reference to Wheeler entering the last season of a $118 million, five-year deal. “Contract negotiations can happen throughout the season and things like that. So, we’ll see what Scott and Dave can come up with.” [Fox Sports]

I wouldn’t even consider it an extension, but an opportunity to restructure and add more money to the contract is something John Middleton and the Phillies organization should and most likely will consider. 

Bryce Harper on Phillies’ World Series Window:

“We’ve got to win more games and understand this is a window that we got to win in… we’ve got to play Phillie baseball”

-Bryce Harper arrived and says Phillies fans and ownership deserve a championship and he believes they have a window to do it pic.twitter.com/hXVKo2rq1n

— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) February 18, 2024

This will be the first time in Harper’s 11-year career he’ll play first base full time. Harper spoke with the media about the move to first this season after undergoing Tommy John Surgery last year.

“We had a pretty good conversation, me and Dombo; we sat down, and he said this would be great for our organization, and I said, OK,” Harper said. “I wanted them to know that I was on board with anything that they wanted to do. I said if you want me in right field, I’ll play right. If you want me at first, I’ll play first base, and I think as a collective they said first base is where we want you, and I said, OK, I’m going to do anything I can to be there.” [Fox Sports]

He also touched on the departure of former Phillies’ first baseman Rhys Hoskins, who signed a 2-year contract with the Milwaukee Brewers last month. 

Bryce Harper on Rhys Hoskins:

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