This wasn’t what anyone anticipated when Bryce Harper jumped ship for $330 million.
The Phillies were supposed to be baseball’s next powerhouse after Harper left the Nationals in free agency, joining a Philadelphia squad which added J.T. Realmuto, Jean Segura, Andrew McCutchen and David Robertson.
But Harper and the Phillies didn’t take the baseball world by storm as expected as they’re on the brink of a .500 season after being swept by the Nationals Tuesday in a doubleheader, the second win punching Washington’s ticket to the playoffs.
“I’ve got no hard feelings towards them at all. They’re a great team. They’re a great organization,” Harper said of the Nationals. “That’s why they’re at where they’re at right now.”
Entering Wednesday, the 26-year-old Harper — who was booed at Nationals Park throughout Tuesday’s doubleheader — had 34 home runs, 109 RBIs, 34 doubles and 95 runs with a slash line of .258/.374/.505. While the numbers are good, Harper didn’t produce the transcendent season expected of him when he inked his record-breaking 13-year contract.
Add in the season-ending injuries to McCutchen and Robertson, lackluster starting pitching aside from Aaron Nola, and this Phillies season turned out to be a bust.
Meanwhile, the Nats went on a huge run after starting 19-31 to secure a wild-card spot and reach the postseason for the fourth time in six years.
“At the end of the day they’re still doing what they’re doing,” Harper said, “and we’re going to go on a bus to go home.”
— with AP