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Bryce Harper Willing to Switch Positions if Phillies Swing Trade for Two-Time All-Star
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- Bryce Harper Willing to Switch Positions if Phillies Swing Trade for Two-Time All-Star
Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
Philadelphia Phillies superstar Bryce Harper is willing to move off first base if the team can pull off a blockbuster trade for a two-time All-Star slugger.
Harper told MLB.com's Todd Zolecki he would go back to the outfield if the Phillies end up acquiring Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Eugenio Suarez , who has 36 home runs on the season. In that scenario, Alec Bohm would slide over to first.
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"If it ever gets to that point, I'm willing," Harper explained to Zolecki. "Whenever [Dave] Dombrowski gives me a call or if that right player comes aboard, yeah.
"I played it for a long time. Obviously, I haven't in a long time as well. If we did have that communication, obviously on days where Bohm or Suárez don't play, I'd like to stick at first just for reps and things like that. I don't want to lose first base, just the way I play over there."
This isn't the first time Harper told the Phillies he would switch positions for the betterment of the team. While recovering from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in 2023, Harper learned how to play first base after Rhys Hoskins went down with a season-ending knee injury in spring training. Since May of that year, Harper has been the everyday Phillies first baseman.
Harper also offered to move off first base in the offseason while Pete Alonso was still a free agent.
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"If it's even a possibility, I'll do anything for this team to win games," Harper said. "I don't think [Dombrowski] would move me just to move me. I would think they would get the right player. I don't think it's going to be something that's not right for our team."
Dombrowski has previously said he didn't envision moving Harper back to right field following his elbow surgery, but if they're able to add a bat like Suarez, things could change.
Suarez, a free agent at the end of the season, suffered an injury scare Monday night when he was hit in the right hand by a 96 mph fastball by Detroit Tigers reliever Will Vest and left the game. X-rays, CT scans and an MRI all came back negative, but he's not in the lineup for Tuesday's game.
If the Diamondbacks third baseman lands in Philadelphia at the trade deadline, the Phillies would have a strong one through four in Trea Turner , Kyle Schwarber , Harper and Suarez.
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