The Philadelphia Phillies have a big choice to make about Bryce Harper’s future with the team as they think about making big changes to improve their chances of winning the World Series. With six years and $144 million left on his contract, Harper’s future in Philadelphia is the subject of a lot of speculation among league insiders and people who work in the front office.

The MLB Tonight host started a lot of arguments when he quoted comments from Ruben Amaro Jr., who used to be the general manager of the Philadelphia Phillies. Amaro said that the Phillies “are going to trade a massive contract off the books,” and the host pointed out that Harper’s deal is movable in today’s market.

Harold Reynolds says that Harper’s potential for power makes him appealing to a number of contenders: “I’ll take 30 home runs, put him in the middle of a Yankee lineup, put him in Queens with the Mets, put him in Chicago, Cubs, number of places.” Reynolds further emphasized Harper’s versatility, noting that “the other thing Bryce can do, he can still go back out to the outfield. He fits your club in the outfield, so he gives you two options, three options in case you want to DH him.”

Harper’s stats from his season showed worrying trends that make it harder for the Phillies to see a bright future. Harper’s .261/.357/.487 batting average was probably the worst of his career, which made people within the organization wonder if they could build a team around a star player who is getting worse that could win the World Series. The contract structure, which requires at least $23 million a year for six years, is a big financial burden that limits payroll flexibility.

Reynolds further noted that when examining today’s market conditions, “$700 million players” exist, making Harper’s remaining deal comparatively manageable. The Phillies were open to Harper returning to the outfield, where he had played before getting hurt, but Dave Dombrowski made it clear that the team would rather not have him do that. “I’d prefer not to do that,” Dombrowski stated, indicating management’s reluctance to shift Harper defensively.

Instead, the front office is looking for other ways to improve the roster, with a focus on making the bullpen stronger through bold moves. In an interview with The Athletic’s Starkville podcast, Dombrowski made it clear that he was willing to go all out for the championship: “We may have to give more than we would like in other circumstances.” This position shows that management is serious about making big changes to the roster, and Harper’s contract could be the financial basis for these moves.

In the Philadelphia Phillies’ strategic calculus, trading a franchise cornerstone, which was once unthinkable, is now a real possibility. The Yankees, on the other hand, are watching from the Bronx, fully aware that a once-in-a-lifetime player could become available.

Bryce Harper to the Yankees: a trade that could reshape baseball

Things are starting to come together for something big. As the front office looks into ways to improve its pitching, Harper’s availability opens up opportunities that seemed impossible just a few months ago. Dombrowski’s words make it clear that Philadelphia is ready to take big risks, even if that means changing their star player.

The Yankees are at the front of the line of people who might be interested in this situation. New York needs more offense to compete in October, and Harper’s 30-home-run power from the left side is exactly what the Bronx Bombers need. He can play either designated hitter or outfield, which gives any team that wants to acquire him more options for building their roster.

Philadelphia’s situation makes it hard to make decisions. The team is in first place in the NL East, but its bullpen has a 4.63 ERA, which means that management has to put getting new pitchers ahead of keeping the current ones. Moving Harper’s contract creates the financial flexibility Dombrowski desperately needs to address those fundamental weaknesses. The math gets interesting: trading one star for a bunch of relief arms could make the team better able to compete for a long time.

In this ever-changing situation, nothing is official. But the path forward seems clear. As the trade deadline gets closer and Dombrowski has shown that he is willing to spend more than usual, baseball’s landscape could change a lot. If Philadelphia goes through with it, one of the most shocking trades in recent memory will happen because of their championship hopes being reset.