Bryce Harper Defends Phillies Prospects and Team's Future Amid Kris Bryant Trade Rumors
The Philadelphia Phillies have become one of the biggest spenders in MLB. Bryce Harper leads the way at the top of the payroll that ranks sixth in all of baseball.
One position of immediate need remaining for the team is at third base, which has put the Phillies squarely in the middle of the ongoing Kris Bryant trade rumors. However, Harper has come to the defense of the young talent in the Phillies organization that would either be moved or benched in favor of Bryant, seeming to prioritize development over the acquisition of one of his close friends.
Bryce Harper was asked this morning about whether he'd like to see Cubs 3B and fellow Las Vegas native Kris Bryant on the Phillies and the luxury tax issues that could come with that: pic.twitter.com/9nSKqhnuiS
— Meghan Montemurro (@M_Montemurro) February 16, 2020
Harper goes into detail about how acquiring Bryant could lead to a short-term rental in exchange for top young talent. He mentioned Alec Bohm, who was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft.
Trading for two full years of Bryant would likely mean sending a top prospect like Bohm who plays the same position, or deemphasizing Bohm in the team's future plans.
ICYMI: The Phillies and Cubs discussed a trade for Kris Bryant a few months ago, but right now the teams don’t see themselves as a match, sources say. Why a deal is unlikely: https://t.co/GWpC35V9pIhttps://t.co/ZdUca5J5Wu
— The Athletic Philadelphia (@TheAthleticPHI) February 16, 2020
This is nothing personal between Harper and Bryant. In fact, the star outfielder has a nuanced take on the subject that isn't just "we should spend as much as possible."
There must be a balance between developing talent and spending big in the short-term. Harper knows that sacrificing the farm system will mean he could be on a bad team in the future as his 13-year deal plays out. That is just business, friendships aside.