The Philadelphia Phillies had their two-game winning streak snapped by the St. Louis Cardinals. As in recent years, their success has been driven by a dominant starting rotation, which currently leads Major League Baseball in total strikeouts. However, the offense hasn’t quite lived up to expectations despite being loaded with big-name hitters. Kyle Schwarber is aging gracefully and Trea Turner is having a strong bounce-back season, but the team overall ranks middle-of-the-pack in key offensive stats — and star slugger Bryce Harper is off to a sluggish start.
Through his first 155 at-bats, Harper is batting just .232 with a .351 on-base percentage and .419 slugging percentage, tallying 36 hits and 39 strikeouts. In an apparent effort to change his fortunes, Harper recently shaved his head. While a new haircut might signal a reset, FanSided’s Nick Halden suggested the Phillies consider a more serious move: trading for former first baseman, now with the Milwaukee Brewers.
Top prospect, in the second year of a two-year, $34 million deal with an $18 million mutual option for 2026, has looked like his old self at the plate this season, hitting .276/.384/.423. Though his numbers dipped last year after returning from a major injury, his current form suggests he could give Philadelphia’s offense a significant boost — and even serve as a potential platoon or insurance option at first base for Harper.
“Adding Hoskins to the lineup would give the Phillies much-needed depth,” Halden wrote. He also noted a reunion is possible if the Brewers decide to unload veteran contracts at the trade deadline.
Still, while such a move would surely excite the fanbase, the Phillies seem to be betting on Harper breaking out soon — and may be reserving trade resources for help in the outfield instead.