The Philadelphia Phillies are on record saying they do not want to move former MVP Bryce Harper from first base back to the outfield.

However, Scott Lauber of the Philadelphia Inquirer wonders whether they should.

Harper’s bat — .898 OPS last season, .911 for his career — plays at every position. But given the outfield offensive landscape and the class of free agent first basemen (Pete Alonso, Christian Walker, even Paul Goldschmidt on a potential one-year deal) and possible trade candidates (Tampa Bay’s Yandy Díaz, Cleveland’s Josh Naylor, Boston’s Triston). Casas and Nathaniel Lowe of Texas), one can argue that Harper is even more valuable in the outfield, at least in 2025.

That may all be true, but the team probably doesn’t want to let down their most important player, especially at 32 years old. The team also wants to keep Harper and his surgically repaired elbow healthy, so playing first base and limiting his throwing is certainly a way to do that.

Harper is coming off a season in which he hit .285 with 30 home runs as the Phillies won the National League East. One of the best players of his generation, Harper is a two-time MVP, four-time Silver Slugger and eight-time All-Star.

Harper is a .281 hitter with 336 home runs. He just finished his 13th year in the major leagues with the Nationals and Phillies.

The Phillies were eliminated in the National League Division Series by the New York Mets, who lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS.

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