Phillies Could Shop Bryce Harper, Trea Turner and Other Stars After Another Early Playoff Exit
After five consecutive postseason eliminations against five different opponents, the Philadelphia Phillies may be approaching a major turning point. The Atlanta Braves ended Philadelphia’s 2026 campaign in the Wild Card Series, and one MLB insider believes the team could respond by making some surprising moves involving its biggest stars.
Change has already been a major theme for the Phillies this season. The team fired Rob Thomson after a 9-19 start before Don Mattingly helped guide Philadelphia back to the postseason. However, MLB insider Bob Nightengale believes the next round of changes could reach much deeper into the roster.
According to Nightengale, even franchise cornerstones such as Bryce Harper and Trea Turner could potentially become available in trade discussions.
Speaking on 97.5 The Fanatic, Nightengale suggested that Philadelphia could explore the market for several of its veterans, including Harper and Turner. He was less certain about Kyle Schwarber, noting how important the slugger is to the team’s clubhouse.
The possibility of moving Harper is particularly notable because of the history between the star slugger and Phillies president Dave Dombrowski. Tension appeared to emerge last October when Dombrowski questioned whether Harper was still an “elite” player or had become more of a “good” player following an injury-affected 2025 campaign. Dombrowski later clarified that his assessment was specifically about Harper’s 2025 season rather than his overall ability.
Harper, however, put together a productive 2026 regular season. He finished with a .269/.380/.485 slash line, 29 home runs and an MLB-leading 107 walks. His postseason performance was considerably less impressive, as he hit just .231 with one home run.
His struggles were especially noticeable in the decisive Wild Card Series Game 3. With Philadelphia trailing Atlanta 6-2 in the eighth inning and two outs on the board, Harper swung and missed at a 1-2 pitch from Chris Sale. Believing he had struck out to end the inning, Harper immediately started removing his shin guard.
However, the pitch had gotten past the catcher, meaning Harper could still attempt to reach first base on a dropped third strike. By the time he recognized what had happened and started running, the opportunity was gone, and he was easily thrown out.
Harper is signed to a 13-year, $330 million contract that runs through 2031. While his overall 2026 season was solid, his postseason struggles could make his situation worth monitoring if Philadelphia decides to reshape the roster.
Turner could also become part of the conversation. Like Harper, he has a massive contract and experienced a significant decline in 2026.
Turner hit just .242/.297/.378 during the regular season, producing an OPS below .700. It was his weakest offensive season since his early days with the Washington Nationals in 2015. His defense was also a major concern, as his -17 Defensive Runs Saved tied him for the second-worst mark in MLB alongside Houston’s Jose Altuve and Los Angeles Angels catcher Logan O’Hoppe.
With Harper and Turner each earning roughly $27 million in 2026 and Philadelphia carrying a payroll of approximately $292 million, moving either player could create considerable financial flexibility for the organization.
Still, Nightengale does not expect owner John Middleton to authorize a complete rebuild.
Instead, the Phillies could look to reshuffle their roster while maintaining their status as contenders.
“They’re not gonna rebuild under John Middleton’s watch, but I think they’re willing to shuffle that deck,” Nightengale said.
Philadelphia could therefore prioritize younger talent heading into 2027. CJ Abrams, for example, is entering arbitration after producing a 30-home-run, 30-steal season in 2026.
If the Phillies were somehow able to move both Harper and Turner, they could potentially clear more than $50 million from their payroll while opening opportunities to bring younger players into the lineup.
The Phillies may not be ready for a full rebuild, but after another disappointing postseason exit, a significant roster shake-up could be on the horizon.
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