The Philadelphia Phillies’ franchise player had a .357 on-base percentage and a .487 slugging percentage, which are his worst numbers since 2016. This leaves both Bryce Harper and manager Rob Thomson with tough questions. Now, as the offseason kicks into high gear, the Phillies face a critical need: Bolstering their outfield depth with another legitimate contributor.

Dave Dombrowski’s honest comments at Harper’s end-of-season press conference on October 16 shocked the baseball world. The Philly prez mentioned “only time will tell” if Harper will be an elite player again. But Dombrowski later made his point clearer by stressing the team’s dedication to Harper while also admitting the hard truth. This season didn’t live up to the standards set by one of baseball’s best players.

Now, the grim reality check comes through the numbers. Bryce Harper only faced pitches in the zone 43% of the time, the lowest rate in baseball. From .680 (fifth-best in baseball through 2024) to .591 this season, his slugging percentage on those strikes dropped. His slugging percentage against curveballs and sliders fell to .438, down from .495 in 2022. The harsh truth came out in a pointed reference.

Unless Ryan Howard, who hit a franchise-record 58 home runs and led the league with 149 RBIs in 2006, comes out of retirement to bat cleanup, history shows that Harper will keep getting fewer good pitches than almost any other hitter in baseball. He must rediscover his ability to crush the limited opportunities he receives, or the decline may become permanent.

Yet, Thomson remains optimistic about Harper’s response to adversity.

“I think he’s highly motivated to have the best season of his career next year.” The manager noted that Harper’s competitive nature usually pushes him to get ready for the offseason. But even his confidence can’t hide the truth that Philadelphia is facing.

The Phillies’ cleanup hitters were 20th in slugging and OPS, which left Harper alone in the order. If the organization doesn’t improve the talent around him, history shows that Bryce Harper will keep getting fewer good pitches than almost any other hitters in baseball. He needs to remember how to hit them hard when they come.

In fact, the 33-year-old outfielder, who had a .261 average, 27 home runs, and 75 RBIs in 132 games, admitted that his numbers had gone down.

“It’s disappointing to hear that my contribution is being questioned. It hurts me a lot because I love this city,” Harper shared with The Athletic.

But Bryce Harper’s desire to win the championship needs more than just words and personal will. The group needs to make real changes to the roster that will turn Philadelphia from a contender into a champion. That search for more troops leads directly to one interesting possibility coming from Cleveland.

Steven Kwan could be the answer to Bryce Harper’s isolation

The Philadelphia Phillies need to fix some enormous holes in their roster during the offseason if they want to help Harper win the championship. The outfield needs to be fixed right away because Dombrowski has been going through different platoon options for years instead of sticking with full solutions.

After rumors about trades, Steven Kwan became a very interesting target.

The Cleveland Guardians are said to have received offers for their best outfielder, which is surprising given how well he hit. Matt Grazel of FanSided pointed out how important it was. 

“Rumors surfaced leading up to the trade deadline that the Cleveland Guardians were considering trading outfielder Steven Kwan. The idea that the team would trade one of its best offensive players is surprising. After José Ramírez, Kwan is the team’s next best hitter.”

Kwan’s defensive credentials match his offensive contributions.

The 28-year-old captured three consecutive Gold Glove Awards, establishing himself as an elite outfielder.

“Kwan, who will be 28 in September, is an exceptional defensive player, winning a Gold Glove Award in each of the last three seasons,” Grazel wrote. “The Phillies have had issues finding a left fielder who can be effective on both offense and defense, who is not part of a rotation. Kwan would solve that ongoing problem.”

Cleveland’s organizational problems, such as legal issues with closer Emmanuel Clase and a disappointing team performance, could lead to trade opportunities. So, if the Guardians say they are available, Philadelphia should go after Kwan.