PHILADELPHIA – Bryce Harper made it possible.The Phillies’ first baseman’s willingness to return to his old position, right field, opened the door for the Phillies’ acquisition of Giants second baseman Luis Arraez on Aug. 3.Obtaining Arraez, who has won three batting titles and presently leads the National League with a .324 average, will set off a position shuffle for the Phillies.Regular second baseman Bryson Stott will move to third base and third baseman Alex Bohm will replace Harper at first base. Bohn has periodically manned first base but Stott has played little at third base, though Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly is confident he’ll be fine there.“I’ve said it in years past,” said Harper, who moved to first base in 2023. “I know everybody thinks it’s crap when I say it but it’s not. I think any chance that we have an opportunity to win, I’d do anything for this organization and they know that.”Harper added that he texted Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski Sunday night reminding him.“That was the key to doing anything,” Mattingly said before the Phillies opened a 4-game series at Citizens Bank Park against Washington.”He wants to win,” Mattingly added referring to Harper.Harper said “arm care,” such as adjusting to the longer throws, and having to run more will be the major adjustments. With Arraez on a one-year contract, Harper will likely return to first base next year. Harper, 33, could be seen throwing the baseball in the outfield before Monday’s game.“I’m at a spot in my career where, obviously, I don’t have to do that,” Harper said. “ . . .I’m very comfortable at first base. I love first base. I love being in the infield. It’s something I’m doing just for the team.” The Phillies have basically been platooning players in all three outfield positions and had been seeking improvements. Harper’s move to right helps alleviate that need.There was no consideration, Mattingly said, of moving shortstop Trea Turner to center field, which has been speculated by some.Stott was a shortstop in college and the minors before playing second base when he came up to the Phillies. He’s appeared twice for the Phillies at third base.“I don’t envisioning platooning Stott,” Mattingly said. “He’s been good.”As for Bohm at first base, ex-first baseman Mattingly said “I’m really comfortable with him over there.” Arraez and reliever Caleb Kilian came from the Giants in a swap for minor-league pitchers Ramon Marquez and Marty Gair.The Phillies also obtained reliever Brooks Raley from the Mets in exchange for minor-league prospects Luke Gabrysh, a pitcher out of Concord High graduate, and outfielder John Spikerman. “Without putting to much pressure on him,” Mattingly said about Arraez, “he’s kind of like the modern-day for me Tony Gwynn, Wade Boggs, a guy who just hits, has always hit. Has won batting titles and just continues to do it. Obviously, a
Content Source: Yahoo News
Image Credit: Getty Images
All rights to the news content and images belong to their respective copyright owners.