The Philadelphia Phillies are widely considered strong contenders for the 2025 World Series, barring any major setbacks. ESPN Bet currently has them tied with the New York Mets for the fourth-best championship odds at 10-to-1, with a projected win total of 91.5 games. Bryce Harper is expected to play a key role once again after hitting 30 home runs and appearing in at least 140 games last season — his first time doing so since 2021.
However, the MLB season is long, and changes could be on the horizon. CBS Sports writer Mike Axisa shared bold predictions for every team, forecasting a potential midseason trade that could move Harper back to his old full-time outfield spot. The reason? A possible deal for St. Louis Cardinals All-Star third baseman Nolan Arenado. Axisa hinted at the Phillies as a likely destination, referencing an “all-in NL East team with an aging core” that could easily shift positions to accommodate Arenado at third base by returning Harper to the outfield. Axisa predicted Arenado would be traded at the deadline rather than waiting until the offseason.
Harper, now 32, has mostly alternated between first base and designated hitter over the past two seasons, logging just 16 outfield starts since 2021. Acquiring Arenado would also prompt third baseman Alec Bohm to move to first base, clearing room for the 10-time Gold Glover at the hot corner. Bohm has primarily played third base, with 85% of his 557 career starts coming at that position since his 2020 MLB debut.
Despite a statistical decline in recent years, Arenado remains productive. He recorded 16 home runs, 71 RBIs, and 70 runs scored across 635 plate appearances in 2024 while slashing .272/.325/.719. He is under contract through 2027 on an eight-year, $260 million deal signed with Colorado in 2019. The 2025 MLB trade deadline is set for July 31 at 6 p.m. ET.