Philadelphia Phillies two-time MVP award winner Bryce Harper has been under heavy criticism during the past few months.
From Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski calling Harper “not elite”, to his early struggles in the 2026 season, it’s been rough for Harper.
Now, his agent Scott Boras wants to extend Harper beyond his current contract, according to Scott Lauber of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
“In my discussions with (Phillies owner) John (Middleton) and Dave (Dombrowski), they’re fully aware that Bryce has a legacy that he wants to fulfill in Philadelphia beyond the current contract,” Boras said. “And we’ve already had discussions about that as we go forward.”
What Does This Mean for Bryce Harper?
Harper is in the eighth year of his 13-year, $330 million contract with the Phillies. This contract will expire at the end of the 2031 season.
The thing is, Harper will be 38 when his contract is up. It was expected to be a lifetime contract of sorts for Harper.
Most MLB players do not play into their 40’s, especially when they debuted at 19. However, it seems Harper wants to keep playing past his current contract.
So far this season, Harper is batting .200 in 40 at-bats with two home runs and a .698 OPS, as of April 6’s game. While it’s early, Dombrowski’s “not elite” comments on Harper seem valid. For now.
This comes after a “down year” of sorts for Harper in 2025, hitting 27 home runs with a .261 average and .844 OPS. However, Boras believes Harper will prove himself worthy of an extension in 2026.
“I don’t think there’s any question in his mind (that) he’s in the best shape of his life,” Boras said. “He is a true two-way player at his position, one of the best players in the league, and he has all that skill, and there’s nothing that I can see — and we have so many metrics to look to — there’s nothing that I could see that in any way suggests that he’s not anything but ready for another premium season from what we expect from Bryce Harper.”
How Are the Phillies Doing Amid His Struggles?
The Phillies have won two of their first three series, as the team looks to win a championship. There hasn’t been much change to the roster.
Though the team swapped outfielders, retooled the bullpen and promoted two top prospects, it will once again be counting on veterans like Kyle Schwarber, JT Realmuto, Trea Turner, Aaron Nola, Zack Wheeler and Harper to perform at star levels.
The Phillies are currently atop the National League East with a 6-4 record. After losing its first series of the season to the Texas Rangers, the Phillies bested Harper’s former team, the Washington Nationals.
Then, they won a series in Coors Field against the Colorado Rockies. Philadelphia will take on the San Francisco Giants early this week after winning on April 6.
Harper is facing the most pressure on the team to show he can still play at an elite level. It’s up to him to prove he’s deserving of an extension.
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