The only people who get something big in life are the ones who are ready to take risks and do something others wouldn’t. And that is exactly what the Philadelphia Phillies are willing to do to fit Bo Bichette. The Phillies are now ready to risk Bryce Harper to fit in Bichette.

“Bichette seems to be really comfortable… There’s a good fit culturally there,” said Jon Morosi. “A significant question of what position Bryce Harper is going to play… if you have Bichette moving around the infield to a different position, does that then mean that Harper moves to the outfield?”

The Philadelphia Phillies have made Bo Bichette a top priority for 2026, scheduling multiple meetings to gauge his interest and fit.

Bichette brings a proven bat, hitting .298 with 21 home runs and 88 RBIs in 2025, making him an appealing addition to strengthen the lineup. With his connections to current players, the Phillies see a cultural and performance fit that could immediately impact their playoff chances.

Adding Bichette creates a roster challenge with Bryce Harper, who has primarily played first base since 2023 and last appeared in right field in April 2022. Harper posted a .844 OPS in 2025, ranking 11th in the National League, showing solid performance but not elite output.

The Phillies prefer Bryce Harper at first, but moving him to the outfield could allow both stars to coexist without compromising lineup power or infield defense.

Harper has expressed willingness to play the outfield if a strong first baseman joins the team, setting a condition for such a move. With Bichette expected to take a primary infield role, that condition is met, allowing Harper to shift positions for team balance.

The only concern remains Harper’s fitness, as he has undergone Tommy John surgery in 2022, but his offensive contributions and leadership remain intact for the upcoming season.

The Phillies are serious about Bo Bichette, even if it means challenging Bryce Harper’s comfort. Philadelphia believes roster boldness wins championships, and Harper shifting positions becomes a calculated, uneasy necessity. If health cooperates, Bo Bichette arrives, Bryce Harper adapts, and the Phillies test how far ambition stretches.

Could Bruce Harper use better protection in the Phillies’ lineup?

This feels like one of those moments where the room knows the answer before anyone says it out loud. The Phillies are staring at a familiar problem, and Bryce Harper is right in the middle of it again. Big swings, big stakes, and a lineup that keeps asking him to be everything, every night.

Bryce Harper finished 2025 without elite results, posting a 35.6% chase rate and reduced strike-zone pitches. He saw only 43% strikes, the lowest among qualified hitters, while wrist injury limited homers and walks. Those numbers explain why the Phillies president said Harper lacked elite impact last season overall.

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Protection in the lineup failed too, as Harper saw fewer strikes batting behind Kyle Schwarber. Schwarber hit 56 homers and finished second in NL MVP voting during the 2025 season. Even then, Harper’s zone rate dropped to 41.7%, showing pitchers still avoided him last year.

Improvement now depends on roster changes, not slogans, with right-handed protection under active review internally. Adolis García signed for 1 year and $10 million to replace Castellanos’ $20 million deal. If Bohm rebounds or another bat arrives, Harper may see better pitches and outcomes again ahead.

The Phillies cannot keep diagnosing Bryce Harper while refusing to change the lineup around him. Pitchers have shown respect, avoidance, and patience, and the numbers show Harper is paying. Until protection improves, Bryce Harper remains the Phillies’ solution and their unresolved problem still.