Latest news with #BryceHarper
Forbes
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Forbes
Who's The Real Bryson Stott And Could The Phillies End Up Trading Him?
The Bryson-Stott-leadoff-hitter experiment appears to be dunzo. And it's a bit of a surprise considering how it began. When the Phillies slotted Stott into the leadoff spot on April 11, it looked like they found their guy to bump previous leadoff hitter Kyle Schwarber to cleanup to protect Bryce Harper. From his first day leading off to April 30, Stott batted .306 with an .832 OPS. But then Stott slipped into a protracted slump, batting .197 since May 1 with an unsightly .284 slug over that span. And by June 9, Stott's leadoff role ended indefinitely. Over the past 10 games, he's batted near the bottom of the order, mostly in the No. 7 spot. Philadelphia Phillies' Bryson Stott has struggled at the plate this season. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) Beyond the whole leadoff thing, the Phillies must reassess what they got in Stott, who looked like a bedrock piece after batting .280 with 15 home runs and 31 stolen bases in his first full MLB year in 2023. It was believed that an elbow injury hindered his 2024 season. He said his elbow felt great this spring but the results have been the same, if not worse. He has slashed .244/.313/.352 over 854 plate appearances while playing Gold-Glove-caliber second-base. So will the real Bryson Stott please step forward? Is he the dynamic 2023 guy? Or the inconsistent slap-hitter over the past 800-plus plate appearances? Yeah, probably the latter, considering the sample size. Now, let's pose the difficult question — difficult because Stott is so popular in Philly: Could the Phils include him in a trade-deadline deal to obtain a big bopper or lights-out closer? Stott is a commodity that could lure a buyer who wants to dump salary and/or get younger. At 27 years, Stott is still young enough that a team could invest in his future potential but here's what really makes him enticing: He's a low-cost option (making $3.2 million this season before arbitration) and remains under team control until after the 2027 season. It's a scenario — to dangle Stott as trade bait — that Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski could/should consider, if he hasn't already. Hypothetically, let's say Philadelphia trades Stott as part of a deal to get their impact bat — centerfielder Byron Buxton, anybody? — then who would play second? Maybe rookie Otto Kemp, whose bat looks capable and has played 72 games at second in the minors, but he also has looked a little awkward in the field. Or maybe the team gives super-sub Edmundo Sosa a full-time gig but, in reality, Sosa's greatest value lies in his versatility. Inquirer baseball scribe David Murphy makes a great point that shipping out Stott for a more dangerous hitter may not be worth 'sacrificing his defense and shaking up the clubhouse to that degree.' However, the pressure is on Dombrowski to find the magical ingredient that gets this team back to the World Series for one more shot at a title, so it wouldn't be inconceivable if Dombrowski were to do something drastic and move Stott before the deadline. And if he leaves, Philly fans will never forget this incredible moment that he gave them:
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Phillies' Rob Thomson Announces Bryce Harper News Before Marlins Game
Phillies' Rob Thomson Announces Bryce Harper News Before Marlins Game originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Philadelphia Phillies have put together another strong season, currently sitting at 43-30 trailing the New York Mets by a narrow margin of two games in the highly competitive NL East standings. Advertisement As the All-Star break approaches, the Phillies' offensive core has shown consistent production currently tied for sixth in runs scored per game at 4.7, with a team batting average of .257, good enough for second overall in MLB. However, the lineup took a massive hit when Bryce Harper was placed on the 10-day injured list on June 7 due to right wrist inflammation, adding a layer of uncertainty to their offensive strength. Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper (3)Eric Hartline-Imagn Images Ahead of Wednesday's game against the Miami Marlins, Phillies manager Rob Thomson delivered an important update on the status of Harper and starter Aaron Nola. Thomson announced that Harper's range of motion and strength continue to improve, and he is getting close to throwing. He further noted that while signals point to sufficient recovery from Nola's ankle sprain, the veteran right-handed starter will now shift focus to his rib injury. Harper, an offensive force for Philadelphia since signing with them in the 2021 offseason, has seen a dip in his usual numbers during the regular season. He is batting .258 with nine home runs, 34 RBIs, and an OPS of .814 across 57 games this year, well below his career averages. Advertisement An eight-time All-Star and two-time National League MVP, Harper has consistently been among the elite hitters in baseball and his injury progress is a positive sign for the Phillies. As for Nola, his 2025 season has been challenging thus far, as the Phillies' starter has registered a 6.16 ERA in 49.2 innings over nine starts, with a WHIP of 1.51. The surge in earned runs has been attributed partly to his recent rib injury, which now appears to be the focus of his recovery efforts. Related: Giants Turn Heads With Justin Verlander Announcement on Wednesday Related: Dodgers Send Andy Pages Message After Incident With Padres Manager This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Pressure Mounts at MLB Trade Deadline for Phillies' Dave Dombrowski
Pressure Mounts at MLB Trade Deadline for Phillies' Dave Dombrowski originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Philadelphia Phillies have won four straight post-Bryce Harper's most recent wrist injury, placing them solidly in contention as a team ready to "buy" at the MLB trade deadline. Advertisement Before, they were nine games above .500, but a team that was at risk of sliding and becoming "sellers" at the deadline. With a solid footing beneath them as the sixth-best record in baseball, ESPN's Buster Olney believes Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski is under serious pressure at the deadline. "The Phillies need bullpen help, just as they did last season, and Dombrowski will need to augment that group before the deadline," Olney said. Former Philadelphia Phillies president Dave Dombrowski during Phillies Alumni Weekend and the 20th anniversary of Citizens Bank Park before game against the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Hartline-Imagn Images The reason for the pressure? An aging core of star position players and two starting pitchers who are in their prime. "With Bryce Harper in year seven of the 13-year deal he signed and Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto in the last years of their respective contracts. The team's window is now," Olney says. Advertisement That leaves questions around what Philadelphia will have to do to bolster its bullpen. Could top pitching prospect Andrew Painter, who reached Triple-A early this season, be a candidate for promotion? Or will he instead become a trade piece along with the much-rumored Alec Bohm? Olney's not sure who goes in a deal to improve the major league roster. A source of his who knows Dombrowski believes the pressure is something the veteran executive is used to, indicating a move is inevitable. "'He's been through this plenty of times before,' one of his peers said. 'He'll make deals. He always does,'" Olney writes. Related: Phillies Reportedly Among Most Active Teams Leading up to MLB Trade Deadline This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Phillies Share Bryce Harper Injury Update Amid Trade Rumors
Phillies Share Bryce Harper Injury Update Amid Trade Rumors originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Unlike former Boston Red Sox slugger Rafael Devers, Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper shouldn't be concerned about finding a new home this summer. Advertisement At least, that is the case when discussing uniforms. Harper and the Phillies are a perfect match, and there is absolutely zero indication the Phillies will part ways with the two-time NL MVP anytime soon. It'll still be a bit before we see Harper back in the lineup, though. Harper, who has been out since late May with a right wrist injury, took ground balls at first base over the weekend. Phillies manager Rob Thomson told reporters that Harper will travel with the team for their four-game road set against the Miami Marlins this week. However, Harper still isn't hitting, and there is no timetable for his return. Harper's injury update comes as the trade season begins in full force and rumors swirl about the Phillies' potential lineup changes. Philadelphia's outfield has battled inconsistency all season, raising questions about Harper—a full-time outfielder from 2012-21—possibly leaving first base. Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper after his injury on May 27, 2025Eric Hartline-Imagn Images Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran has been linked to the Phillies in recent weeks, and we expect such speculation to ramp up after Boston traded Devers to the San Francisco Giants. Advertisement Until further notice, though, we can assume Harper will resume full-time first-base duties upon returning. He hasn't played the outfield since 2022, and all but one start this season has come at first; he started at DH during a May 4 loss to the Atlanta Braves. Harper hit the IL batting .258 with nine home runs, 34 RBI, and a .814 OPS over 253 at-bats. He's posted 1.5 bWAR for the second-place Phillies, who enter Monday trailing the New York Mets by 2 1/2 games in the NL East. Related: Phillies Make $800,000 Announcement During Win Over Cubs Related: Former Red Sox All-Star's Rafael Devers Trade Comments Go Viral This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
MLB Makes Bryce Harper Announcement After Injury Update
MLB Makes Bryce Harper Announcement After Injury Update originally appeared on Athlon Sports. As it stands, Philadelphia Phillies fans likely won't have to worry about first baseman Bryce Harper suffering an injury setback in the All-Star Game. Advertisement Harper, a two-time NL MVP, just keeps getting bad news. First, the Phillies reversed their decision to have Harper travel with them to Miami; instead, the eight-time All-Star remained in Philadelphia while recovering from a right wrist problem. If that wasn't enough, Major League Baseball announced on Monday that Harper ranks fourth among NL first basemen in All-Star voting. Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Freddie Freeman had 1,136,389 votes as of Monday afternoon, by far the most among NL first basemen. Harper had 276,647 votes, narrowly trailing Chicago Cubs first baseman Michael Bush's 286,931 votes. New York Mets star Pete Alonso (895,900) has a considerable lead over both players. Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce HarperJohn E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images That's not to say Harper necessarily deserves an All-Star nod. Harper hit the IL batting .258 with nine home runs, 34 RBI, and a .814 OPS over 253 at-bats. He's posted 1.5 bWAR for the second-place Phillies, who trail the Mets by two games in the NL East. Advertisement It's nonetheless surprising that Haper doesn't have more votes, though, especially given his name and reputation. He's certainly more recognizable than Busch, a third-year first baseman hitting .265 with 11 home runs, 39 RBI, and a .861 OPS for the NL Central-leading Cubs. No Phillies player ranked higher than third at their position. However, each team must have one representative, and ace Zack Wheeler (7-2, 2.76 ERA) appears on track to earn his third All-Star selection. Wheeler is already worth 3.0 bWAR, and he's recorded a brilliant 110-19 K-BB ratio in 88 innings. Related: Phillies Share Bryce Harper Injury Update Amid Trade Rumors Related: Cubs Share Kyle Tucker Injury Update After $600 Million Contract Rumors This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
