Philadelphia Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies have reportedly scouted San Francisco Giants ace Madison Bumgarner and Arizona Diamondbacks star Zack Greinke in anticipation of the 2019 MLB trade deadline July 31.

According to USA Today's Bob Nightengale (h/t Phillies Nation's Tim Kelly), Philadelphia scouted Greinke on Tuesday and Bumgarner last weekend.

After being limited to a total of 38 starts the last two years due to injuries, Bumgarner has gone 3-4 with a 4.10 ERA and a 1.191 WHIP through his first 11 outings of 2019. He has shown signs of improvement as the season has progressed, going 2-0 with a 3.86 ERA in five May starts.

He is coming off a six-inning, two-run effort against the Atlanta Braves on Thursday. After his previous start over the weekend, Bumgarner, per Nightengale, said, "I feel like I threw the ball as well as I ever have."

That's saying something considering Bumgarner's career accolades include four All-Star selections, three World Series rings, a World Series MVP award and an NLCS MVP award.

Bumgarner figures to be the top player on the trade market this summer as he is scheduled to be a free agent at the end of the season and the Giants (21-28) are currently in last place in the National League West.

Meanwhile, Greinke is having another strong season. The 35-year-old right-hander is 6-2 with a 2.89 ERA and a 0.865 WHIP in 11 starts, holding opponents to a .206 average.

Not only that, but the 2013 Silver Slugger recipient is hitting .320 with two home runs, two doubles, one triple and four RBI this season.

Unlike Bumgarner, though, any team that has interest in acquiring Greinke would likely have to be willing to add some salary to its payroll. The 2009 American League Cy Young award winner is making $31.5 million this season and is owed $32 million in each of the next two seasons, per Spotrac.

Of course, the Phillies have said they are willing to spend "stupid" money to win. They showed little hesitancy in opening up the checkbook during the winter, signing Andrew McCutchen to a three-year, $50 million deal and Bryce Harper to a record-setting 13-year, $330 million megacontract.

Philadelphia's rotation ranks 14th in the majors with a 4.12 ERA through 50 games, according to ESPN.com. That has been good enough to help the team lead the NL East at 29-21. 

While the Phillies have been among the best teams in baseball this season, they may look to make moves ahead of the deadline to further bolster their roster in hopes of winning their first World Series title since 2008.

The only way Chicago Cubs fans will receive a baseball from Bryce Harper will be if the Philadelphia Phillies outfielder hits a home run into the stands. 

In the sixth inning of Tuesday night's game at Wrigley Field, Harper caught the final out off the bat of Cubs left fielder Kyle Schwarber. Instead of tossing the ball up into the stands, he launched it with all of his All-Star might onto the stadium's rooftop. 

After making the final out in right field in the sixth inning, Bryce Harper trolls Cubs fans and LAUNCHED the ball out of Wrigley Field and on to the rooftop. 😂 pic.twitter.com/31Yec16lGe

— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) May 22, 2019

Harper's decision may have been fueled by Cubs fans splicing boos with "overrated" chants toward him throughout the evening, according to NBC Sports Philadelphia's John Clark. 

Don't boo the hand you wish to feed you. 

Harper foreshadowed his ability to make a baseball soar in Monday night's game at Wrigley, when he threw Anthony Rizzo out at home plate from 264 feet away: 

https://twitter.com/statcast/status/1130912583916171266

Entering Tuesday's contest, the 26-year-old held a .229 batting average with nine home runs and 31 RBI while leading the league with 63 strikeouts. 

Philadelphia sports fans are a notoriously grumpy group, with Bruce Willis appearing to be the subject of their scorn prior to the Phillies' game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday.  

When Willis bounced the ceremonial first pitch to Aaron Nola, the crowd at Citizens Bank Park let the actor hear about it:

Bruce Willis threw the first pitch at tonight's Phillies game. It bounced.

The Philly faithful gave him a "warm" reception. pic.twitter.com/EQlBAglbIi

— Cut4 (@Cut4) May 15, 2019

If you want to be charitable to the Phillies fans, it wouldn't be unreasonable to suggest they were chanting "Bruuuuuce" after the pitch. 

But considering Bryce Harper heard some boos during his first home game with the Phillies, giving them the benefit of the doubt is difficult. 

Of course, Willis didn't help himself by bouncing the pitch when he wasn't even standing on the mound. Despite the boos, Willis can take solace in the fact his first pitch wasn't close to being the worst in MLB history. 

The Philadelphia Phillies announced the death of chairman David Montgomery on Wednesday morning at the age of 72.

Montgomery, a Philly native who was diagnosed with cancer in his jaw bone in 2014, joined the Phillies' sales staff in 1971 and became a minority owner in 1981. He'd served as chairman since early 2015, when he returned from a leave of absence for cancer treatment.

Commissioner Manfred issued the following statement today regarding the passing of @Phillies Chairman David Montgomery: pic.twitter.com/UlAcCbl8Mh

— MLB Communications (@MLB_PR) May 8, 2019

Incredibly sad news about the passing of one of a kind: David Montgomery. The @Phillies & Philadelphia have lost a great man, one who gave his heart to the team & the city and to anyone he met. I was honored to know him. He will be missed but his presence will be felt forever. ❤️

— Amy Fadool Kane (@amyfadoolNBCS) May 8, 2019

RIP, #Phillies chairman David Montgomery, who passed away this morning after a five-year battle with cancer.
Montgomery elevated the game with his class and sheer decency. No executive was more beloved by his employees.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) May 8, 2019

The University of Pennsylvania and Wharton Business School alumnus took on a reduced role following his 2015 comeback, a decision he said took a little convincing from former Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell, per Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia.

"Why be stubborn and egotistical and say I can still do what I did? To be honest, that's what happened to me," Montgomery said. "I'm not the guy that started here at age 24. Why not be helpful in areas I can help and allow others to do more?"

David Montgomery had been very sick & in hospital

Phillies wanted to make sure 2026 All-Star game was announced so early he could see all of his hard work to bring it back here came to fruition.

David was one of the kindest men you could ever meet. He knew everyone’s name #RIP pic.twitter.com/A7sEMHExqj

— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) May 8, 2019

Montgomery also served as team president, among other roles, during his nearly five-decade stay with the organization, and he told Salisbury he was proud of his rise up the Phils' ladder.

"I'm so lucky," he said. "I started with the Phillies as a salesman and got to work in a job I loved. That's how I want to be remembered."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuSMqmfW4sE

Philadelphia won five National League pennants and two World Series titles, the most recent coming in 2008, during Montgomery's time with the club.

Montgomery leaves the Phillies in position to contend for more championships with a roster led by Bryce Harper, Rhys Hoskins, J.T. Realmuto, Andrew McCutchen and one of the league's deepest rotations.

The Philadelphia Phillies paid $330 million to sign Bryce Harper in March. His is a 13-year deal, so it'll be a good long while before the Phillies' investment can be properly appraised.

One month in, however, it looks like the Phillies have indeed bought themselves a Bryce Harper.

Just as it was for the Washington Nationals—who averaged 91 wins and made four postseasons between 2012 and 2018—the Harper experience has generally been a good one for the Phillies. The six-time All-Star and 2015 National League MVP boasts a solid .841 OPS and six home runs. To boot, the Phillies have the early lead in the NL East.

And early though it may be, it's occasionally been difficult to remember that Harper hasn't always been a Phillie. From his playful interactions with the Phillie Phanatic to his rousing post-homer curtain calls, there have been times when the 26-year-old has looked like a longtime fan favorite phan phavorite.

But then there are the less-than-ideal aspects of Harper's opening act in the City of Brotherly Love.

The most concerning one at the moment is his ongoing batting slump. Harper peaked with a .333 average, a 1.299 OPS and four homers through April 10. In 23 games since then, he's hit just .195 with a .659 OPS and two home runs. 

Harper also hasn't been fielding his position well, as both his defensive runs saved and outs above average are in the red. When combined with his good-not-great offense, his wins above replacement (Baseball Reference version) comes out to just 0.1. 

Harper's low point came in a 3-1 loss to the Detroit Tigers at Citizens Bank Park on April 30 wherein he went 0-for-4 and made a key error. That effectively ended his honeymoon phase with Phillies fans, who let him know what they thought by showering him with boos.

Unless, of course, Harper's real low point actually came at Citi Field on April 22. He was ejected from a 5-1 loss to the New York Mets, for which he was taken to task by teammate Jake Arrieta:

Jake Arrieta on Bryce Harper getting ejected from the dugout:

"We need him in right field. I don't care how bad [the umpire] is. I need him in right field. I need him at the plate. And he wasn't there."

— David Adler (@_dadler) April 23, 2019

In short, Harper's first month as a Phillie has been full of good times, bad times and all sorts of high drama. 

You know, the usual Bryce Harper experience.

If nothing else, the Phillies have no right to be surprised at Harper's performance.

They surely hoped that he would begin earning his $330 million by recapturing his MVP form of 2015, when he posted a 1.109 OPS, 42 homers and 10.0 WAR. But they also signed him in the wake of an extremely poor defensive season, and his offensive output has always fluctuated wildly from month to month, much less season to season.

As for the whole lightning-rod thing Harper has had going on, well, there's inevitably going to be bad noise whenever a star player shrinks in the spotlight. And Harper had one of those all to himself long before he became the most expensive free-agent signee in Major League Baseball history.

Even as a 16-year-old up-and-comer in Las Vegas, Harper aimed to be "considered the greatest baseball player who ever lived." Rather than tone down his personality to a Mike Trout level of blandness since turning pro, he's maintained an unrelenting confidence and an unabashed willingness to express himself.

This has helped Harper achieve a celebrity status that few (if any) other active major leaguers have, yet it's always meant living with a huge target on his back. He's a schadenfreude magnet for fans and the press. Judging by his 12 career ejections, his particular style doesn't do him any favors with umpires. And if they're not literally attacking him, his peers tend to attack Harper by lobbing sour grapes.

To wit, the recent player poll by The Athletic that resulted in Harper being voted baseball's most overrated player was not the first of its kind. One player said: "It's marketing. It's star power. But what has he done besides have one year?"

Still, there have always been avenues from which to come to Harper's defense.

For instance, Bill Baer of NBC Sports laid out a compelling case for why Harper is actually underrated, not overrated. The ejection that earned him Arrieta's ire was as much an #UmpShow as anything. And while the headlines naturally put the focus on Harper, Arrieta's postgame remarks concerned the whole team.

"I don't think our guys were ready to play," Arrieta said, according to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com. "We were flat. The dugout was flat. The defense wasn't good. We didn't throw the ball well as a staff overall. We got beat."

And for a guy who's easy to dismiss as being a self-obsessed dingbat, Harper has actually given every indication that he's truly committed to being the guy for the Phillies. 

He spoke at his introductory press conference about "digging my roots" in a place "where fans and blue-collar people thrive on winning and thrive on being a family." He's reveled in being an ambassador for the team, including at the big announcement the 2026 All-Star Game will be played at Citizens Bank Park. Even his two low points were swiftly followed by him taking accountability.

"That can't happen," Harper said after his fateful ejection, per Zolecki. "I've got to stay in that game and be there for my team, the fans and this organization. I've got to be better."

And of the jeers on April 30, also per Zolecki: "I'd do the same thing. It's not fun to lose, it's not fun to watch when you're playing that way. [I was] 0-for-4 with two punchies; I'm probably thinking the same thing walking back to the dugout."

Ultimately, all will be forgiven if Harper gets back to walking the walk as well as he talks the talk. A certain degree of anxiety is warranted to this end. He doesn't get many strikes to hit as a general rule, so it's not a good sign that he's now struggling to make contact against the strikes he's swinging at.

Yet there are also signs that Harper isn't fundamentally broken. His .475 xwOBA—a Statcast metric that measures expected production based on contact quality—on balls in play is even better than what he had in his MVP-winning 2015 season. He's also saved his best hitting for high-leverage situations. 

In the meantime, the Phillies can rest easy knowing that having Harper around is at least good for business. His signing triggered a surge in ticket sales, which resulted in the Phillies being MLB's biggest gainer in April attendance compared to a year ago, according to Craig Edwards of FanGraphs.

Between this and the team's first-place standing in the NL East, nobody can claim that Harper's first month as a Phillie has been any sort of a disaster. It's been more of a wild ride.

And, let's face it, anyone who didn't expect as much simply hasn't been paying attention.

                         

Stats courtesy of Baseball Reference, FanGraphs and Baseball Savant.

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Andrew McCutchen batted leadoff Sunday against the Washington Nationals and scored the game's first run, but he wasn't the only member of his family to make their presence felt at the game.

The veteran's mother, Petrina McCutchen, took the field for the seventh-inning stretch to sing "God Bless America:"

Awesome moment at the park as Petrina McCutchen, @TheCUTCH22's mom, sang God Bless America.

Bravo! pic.twitter.com/R3qWEmIQWq

— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) May 5, 2019

Petrina had showcased her vocals at baseball games in the past, singing the national anthem multiple times at PNC Park while her son was a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

She even kicked off the Pirates' first playoff game in 21 years when she sang "The Star Spangled Banner" at the 2013 National League Wild Card Game.

With Andrew McCutchen in his first season playing with the Phillies, it seems his mother was just as welcomed at Citizens Bank Park.

Bryce Harper is one of the most famous players in MLB. He's a former National League MVP in the midst of his prime. But in 2019, he hasn't even been the best hitter on his own team.

That title belongs to Rhys Hoskins.

The 26-year-old Philadelphia Phillies first baseman has mashed in the early going. Through 29 games, he leads the Phillies in home runs (nine), is tied for the lead in RBI (25) and owns a 1.011 OPS.

Those nine dingers in 29 contests put him on pace to reach the still-hallowed 50-homer mark. He cracked another one Wednesday in a 7-3 win over the Detroit Tigers.

He's raised his hard-contact rate from 34.5 percent in 2018 to 43.7 percent this season. He's also lifted his walk rate from 13.2 percent to 16.4 percent.

He's stinging the ball with increased authority. He's been more discerning at the plate. And he's also getting the beanball treatment from opposing pitchers, an ostensible sign of "respect."

On April 23, New York Mets reliever Jacob Rhame twice went way up and in on Hoskins, including this scary offering:

👀 pic.twitter.com/u0HGUMGGVi

— SNY (@SNYtv) April 24, 2019

Rhame was later suspended for two games, but not before Hoskins got the last laugh with a booming two-run tater and this epic, 34-second slow-trot against Rhame:

Thrown at last night, homer tonight!

Hoskins hits a 2-R HR and his slow trot around the bases is a thing of beauty. pic.twitter.com/nh8PGnvL2r

— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) April 25, 2019

That's top-shelf trolling that surely made bat-flipping Bryce as proud as a papa bear.

"A couple of guys kind of said the phrase, 'Don't poke the sleeping bear,'" Hoskins told reporters after his two-run blast. "Seemed to be the last couple innings was a pretty good indication that may have happened."

Hoskins finished fourth in NL Rookie of the Year voting in 2017 by posting a 1.014 OPS with 18 homers in 50 games. He hit 34 home runs and tallied 96 RBI last season.

It wouldn't be accurate to call his 2019 surge a breakout. But it could be a breakthrough to the next level of stardom.

His skipper seems to think he's already there.

"He's one of our leaders," manager Gabe Kapler told reporters in early April. "He is in many ways the heartbeat of our club."

That's high praise, especially considering the Phils signed Harper to a record-breaking 13-year, $330 million pact over the offseason.

Lately, the infamous Philadelphia boo birds have chirped at their shiny, high-priced superstar. Harper hasn't been horrible. He has six homers, 20 RBI and an .848 OPS through 108 at-bats as a Phillie. But he hit only .232 while striking out 35 times in April.

If Hoskins keeps swatting like he has been, he could soon shed the label of Harper's sidekick. Yes, Harper has the hardware, six All-Star appearances and name recognition. So far, though, Hoskins has the numbers.

Rather than Robin to Harper's Batman, he could become Batman to his other Batman. Or maybe Mickey Mouse to his Donald Duck:

Bryce Harper gave Rhys Hoskins a pair of magical Mickey Mouse socks that Rhys wore tonight for good luck. It worked pic.twitter.com/uLRL8FbARn

— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) April 9, 2019

The fan goodwill should flow toward Hoskins. While Harper is the new guy with the swollen bank account and stratospheric expectations, Hoskins is a homegrown product and 2014 fifth-round pick making $575,000 in 2019.

"I don't feel like that's a responsibility," Hoskins told reporters when asked about being a club leader and lineup anchor. "An opportunity and a privilege, sure. But again, I don't feel like any guys feel like they have to do it all or be the guy. Because if you don't, somebody else will."

Entering play Thursday, the Phillies sat in first place in the deep NL East, two games up on the New York Mets. It'll be a dogfight to the end in a crowded division that features viable contenders in the Mets, Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals.

If Philadelphia prevails, it's a near certainty Hoskins' bat and burgeoning "heartbeat" leadership will play a pivotal role.

Goodbye sidekick; hello squad-leading, possible 50-homer star.

      

All statistics and contract information current entering play Thursday and courtesy of Baseball Reference and FanGraphs unless otherwise noted. Some advanced stats current entering play Wednesday.

A rough opening month has Bryce Harper understanding why Philadelphia Phillies fans have started to vent their frustration with the former National League MVP. 

After being booed during Tuesday's 3-1 loss to the Detroit Tigers, Harper told reporters fans are right to be upset with his early-season performance. 

"I'd do the same thing," he said. "It's not fun to lose, not fun to watch when you're playing that way. (I was) 0-for-4 with two punchies. I'm probably thinking the same thing walking back to the dugout."

In addition to going 0-for-4 in the batter's box against the Tigers, Harper committed an error when he misplayed a routine fly ball from Niko Goodrum in the top of the eighth. 

Harper's first full month in Philadelphia has been erratic. He is hitting a respectable .240/.388/.490 with six homers and is tied with teammate Andrew McCutchen for the NL lead with 23 walks. 

Per FanGraphs, Harper's 29.5 percent strikeout rate in 2019 is the highest of his MLB career. 

Most players would be happy to have an OPS of .878 through 29 games, but Harper has the second-largest contract in MLB history. That is going to put a larger spotlight on everything he does, for better and for worse. 

It's still very early and Harper's track record suggests things will improve as the season goes on. The Phillies are leading the NL East at 16-13 despite not having their best player on top form. 

Bryce Harper was able to knock off the likes of Freddie Freeman, Max Muncy and Kyle Schwarber en route to winning the 2018 Home Run Derby title, but the Philadelphia Phillies outfielder is unable to defeat talk-show host Jimmy Fallon.

At least in MLB The Show.

Harper and Fallon recently went head-to-head in the game's Derby mode, with the cover star using himself and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon host using New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge. After Harper put up a respectable number, Fallon came through in the clutch to pull out a dramatic victory:

Just like that, Harper got beat at his own game.

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon airs weeknights at 11:35 p.m. ET on NBC.

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jake Arrieta had some strong words for his teammates—especially Bryce Harper—on Monday night.

Arrieta not only called out his team's lack of energy following a 5-1 loss to the New York Mets in a game that featured a 95-minute rain delay, but he also criticized Harper for putting himself in a position to be ejected:

"Look, I mean, he's got to understand we need him in right field. I don't care how bad the umpire is. He wasn't great for either side. I'm out there trying to make pitches, and he misses some calls. So What? We need him out there. We were flat from start to finish. Two-hour delay, it doesn't matter. We have to be ready to play. We weren't and it showed.

"The dugout was flat. The defense wasn't good. Didn't throw the ball well as a staff overall. We got beat. We started at 8:45. I don't think our guys were ready to play. We've got to come out tomorrow ready to play. It's troubling, yeah. I'm out there doing everything I can to win a game. I need my guys behind me, and they weren't."

Arrieta was charged with four runs (three earned) on seven hits in six innings of work, striking out seven while walking just one. Meanwhile, the Phillies managed to commit as many errors (three) as hits recorded.

Steven Matz and the New York bullpen retired 16 consecutive Philadelphia batters to close out the victory.

The Phillies offense was dealt a blow when Harper got himself thrown out of the game in the top of the fourth inning after being rung up on strikes earlier in the frame (1:58 mark):

Harper exited having gone 0-for-2 with two strikeouts.

With high expectations in the City of Brotherly Love this season, the Phillies ace had no problem calling out the $330 million man.

Arrieta's resume includes a 2015 National League Cy Young award, three top-10 Cy Young finishes, a 2016 All-Star selection, a 2016 Silver Slugger, a 2016 World Series title and two no-hitters. He is in the second and final guaranteed season of a deal that could reach five years and $135 million.