The Chicago Cubs have drawn fresh speculation as a possible landing spot for Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper after both clubs exited the playoffs earlier than expected.
The Cubs were swept in the National League Wild Card Series by the San Diego Padres. Chicago managed just one run across the series as its offense stalled despite the presence of center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, widely viewed as a leading candidate for NL MVP.
Philadelphia also fell in the Wild Card round, losing to the Atlanta Braves. The early departure has prompted talk that the Phillies could explore moving veterans this winter.
Nick Ziegler of Philadelphia Phillies on SI listed the Cubs among three early potential trade destinations for Harper in an Oct. 8 piece. He pointed to Chicago’s status as an NL contender that finished short of its goals.
“Another team that was eliminated earlier than they would have liked to be was the Cubs,” Ziegler wrote. “As a contender in the NL, they would be a desirable destination for Harper in that sense.”
Harper, 33, played all 162 games in 2026. He hit .269 with 155 hits, 29 home runs, 87 RBIs and 93 runs scored, according to StatMuse. He also drew a league-leading 107 walks and posted an .865 OPS.
Ziegler suggested Harper could pair well with Crow-Armstrong in the middle of the order. The Cubs would likely slot the left-handed hitter as a primary power bat and protection behind their young center fielder.
“This is a team with a lot of talent, and adding Harper with the likely NL MVP Pete Crow-Armstrong would be a nice duo,” Ziegler wrote. “Chicago is a great baseball town, and Harper playing at Wrigley Field would be a treat.”
Any deal would face hurdles. Harper holds full no-trade protection on the 13-year, $330 million contract he signed before the 2019 season. Roughly five years and $125 million remain.
USA Today’s Bob Nightengale said on 97.5 The Fanatic that the Phillies are expected to shop players this offseason.
“I think they’ll shop guys and I think they’ll put guys out there whether it’s a Bryce Harper, you know, throwing Turner out there,” Nightengale said.
The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal has also written that the Phillies should at least consider trading Harper or Kyle Schwarber after another early October exit. Rosenthal noted the difficulty created by Harper’s no-trade clause and owner John Middleton’s attachment to the player.
Chicago faces its own roster questions. Outfielder Seiya Suzuki is eligible for free agency after a five-year deal signed before the 2022 season. He has averaged 22 home runs, 73 RBIs and an .823 OPS during that span.
Suzuki, now 32, sits among the stronger position-player options in a thin free-agent class. The Cubs may choose between retaining Suzuki or teammate Ian Happ, with Happ projected to cost less.
A weak free-agent market overall has increased interest in trade targets such as Harper. The Cubs have payroll flexibility after several contracts come off the books, though much of that room is expected to address pitching.
