The Philadelphia Phillies missed the World Series once more this season, prompting Dave Dombrowski to openly question whether Bryce Harper can regain his elite status as a star player.
MLB insider Joel Sherman recently indicated that a trade involving Harper wouldn’t be entirely shocking, though it remains improbable. Still, the mere whisper of such a possibility might spur teams to contact the Phillies to test their willingness.
Christopher Kline of FanSided proposed that the Boston Red Sox could be a potential destination for the superstar.
“Boston’s lineup has always been full of lefties and Fenway Park should treat Harper extremely well,” Kline wrote. “He’s quite possibly cheaper than Bregman, with more slugging to complement Boston’s up-and-comers. Roman Anthony can certainly learn a thing or two from having Harper around the clubhouse. Boston is already within striking distance of winning the division and the pennant. Harper, whether he’s there to effectively replace Bregman or to play alongside him, gives the Red Sox a lot more juice in that highly competitive corner of the baseball map.”
The Red Sox parted ways with their high-priced star Rafael Devers this season, trading him to the San Francisco Giants. With six years remaining on Harper’s $330 million contract, he could fill the void left by Devers as the centerpiece of Boston’s lineup.
While the Red Sox have financial flexibility, acquiring Harper might limit their ability to make significant moves in the rest of the offseason.
Despite missing out on an All-Star nod this year, Harper posted an impressive .844 OPS and hit 27 home runs, numbers that would have ranked second in OPS on the Red Sox behind Roman Anthony’s 71-game stint and led the team in homers.
Boston’s roster boasts an abundance of young talent, particularly outfielders, which the Phillies could target in a potential trade to address their own needs in that area.
Harper being traded would still be a major surprise, but if he is made available on the trade market, Boston would be a team to watch. It will be interesting to see what the upcoming offseason has in store.
