Before the season began, Bryce Harper expressed a willingness to return to the outfield if the Phillies added a true first baseman. Whether the team’s front office and ownership agree with that idea—especially considering Harper’s injury history—is still up for discussion. While elite first basemen are hard to come by across the league, Harper has arguably been the best at the position despite only playing it for the first time last year following Tommy John surgery.
If a reliable first baseman becomes available—ideally a veteran with strong plate discipline and low strikeout numbers—the Phillies could be a natural suitor. Tim Kelly of Bleacher Report recently identified Josh Bell as one of the top 10 players most likely to be dealt at the trade deadline, and he could be a great fit in Philadelphia if Harper remains open to shifting back to the outfield.
“Now in his second stint with the Nationals, Bell is a veteran switch-hitter who can play both first base and DH,” Kelly wrote. “Washington has some promising young talent but is likely still a year or two away from contending. Bell signed a one-year, $6 million deal, likely knowing he could be traded again this summer—his fourth straight deadline move.”
Bell, a seasoned bat who’s played for several teams in recent years, has seen some statistical decline but was still an above-average hitter in 2023. He posted a 114 OPS+ in the second half with the Marlins. While his defense leaves something to be desired, Bell could be a solid addition to the Phillies’ lineup, especially if he can return to the form he showed in 2022—when he ranked in the 83rd percentile for strikeout rate.
