The Philadelphia Phillies are, by most accounts, a likely World Series contender in 2025 barring major setbacks. ESPN Bet lists them tied with the rival New York Mets for the fourth-best championship odds (10-to-1) and a projected win total of 91.5 games.
Bryce Harper should again be a major piece of the puzzle after hitting 30 home runs and playing in at least 140 games for the first time last season since 2021. However, it’s a long season, and the Phillies could find themselves
CBS Sports writer Mike Axisa shared his bold predictions for every MLB team this season and he foresees a July deadline deal that could send Harper back to his old full-time position in the outfield.
The reason? The potential acquisition of St. Louis Cardinals All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenado.
“Where will Arenado land?” Axisa wrote before indirectly naming the Phillies as a potential landing spot this summer.
“I won’t be specific, though there’s a certain all-in NL East team with a core that’s starting to get older and wouldn’t have to try hard to find a way to make things work on the infield corners (by moving a certain outfielder-turned-first baseman back to the outfield). Point is, I’m predicting Arenado moves at the trade deadline rather than waiting until next offseason.”
Harper, 32, has alternated between first base and designated hitter for the past two seasons and has only logged 16 starts in the outfield since 2021.
An Arenado-to-Philadelphia would also require third baseman Alec Bohm to shift across the infield to first base to clear room for the 10-time Gold Glover at the hot corner. Bohm has split time at both positions since his MLB debut in 2020, though 85% of his 557 career starts have come at third base.
Arenado enters his age 34 season on a statistical decline in recent years. Still, he posted a respectable 16 home runs, 71 RBI and 70 runs scored across 635 plate appearances in 2024 while slashing .272/.325/.719. He has three years remaining on the eight-year, $260 million contract he signed in 2019 while with Colorado.
