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PHILADELPHIA — Sure, Bryce Harper is quite appreciative that commissioner Rob Manfred personally selected him to be in the All-Star Game in his home ballpark, but to think that his gesture would even remotely soften his opinion on whether the players should accept a salary cap, sorry, he’s not budging.
When asked Monday if he could foresee any scenario that the players union accepts a cap, Harper looking straight ahead, forcefully said: “No."
Harper, who shouted and swore at Manfred a year ago when he visited the Phillies clubhouse, telling him that he should leave if he even mentions a salary cap, insisted it’s up to the players to stick together and remind each other of previous generations that fought for them.
“I think the opportunity for players to get paid is what this is all about,’’ Harper said. “You know, that's why we have no cap, and what we we've done for so long, starting with Curt Flood. So, we owe it to the guys that have come before us to do the same thing, and all the young guys that are going to go through everything else.
“So, we're going to give it the best chance we can and give it the opportunity that we can to keep it safe."
And, sorry, no matter how much Harper appreciated Manfred’s gesture, it has zero to do with the upcoming labor negotiations. Harper not only wants nothing to do with a salary cap, but is vehemently opposed by MLB’s proposal that high school players would be ineligible for the draft until turning 20.
This is coming from a guy who was on the cover of Sports Illustrated at 16, signed with the Washington Nationals as the No. 1 pick as a 17-year-old, and was in the big leagues at 19.
“Obviously, I think if you're in the top three rounds as a high-school kid," Harper said, “I think you should be able to do whatever you want. It would really be tough for a guy like [Baltimore Orioles infielder] Jackson Holliday to be the No. 1 pick and not get a chance to go to the big leagues at 19 or 18 if he gets the opportunity.
“I think each player should have the chance to make that decision based on them or their family."
Harper will gladly express that sentiment to Manfred if asked, saying that his All-Star selection has nothing to do with his views on the CBA.
“I think both of those things are so separate,’’ Harper said. “Obviously, CBA, ownership, players, things like that, it's very separate than what's going on in the season. I don't think any of us are really thinking about that [labor talks] right now.
“So, I think he just saw that I was having a great year, and he put me in. I'm definitely grateful for that. But I feel like also I deserve to be here, and I'm glad he saw it that way."
Harper, who was questioned by Dave Dombrowski, Phillies president of baseball operations after last season whether he could ever become an elite player again, has answered in a big way. He’s producing his best season since 2021. He hit .260 with 20 homers and 57 RBIs the first half with an .862 OPS, playing in a league-leading 97 games.
Harper has helped the Phillies recover after opening the season with a 9-19 record and falling 10 ½ games behind Atlanta in May. They now are just two games back with a 54-43 record. The Phillies are expected to be aggressive at the deadline looking for a right-handed bat and pitching, and if it makes things easier at the deadline, Harper has volunteered to move back to right field.
Harper has plenty of accolades in his career with nine All-Star Game appearances, two MVP awards and four Silver Sluggers, but never has he won a World Series. The Nationals won the World Series the year after he departed Washington for a 13-year, $330 million contract with the Phillies, but the coveted championship still eludes him.
“It's funny to hear Nats fans yell at me," Harper says, “and say, 'Hey, you know, you don't have a ring yet. we have one. Blah-blah.’ But I couldn't be more happy for the guys that I played with that got them. So, I understand fan bases. I understand what they're going to be like and all that. But I had fun there. I had success there. But it's built me to be a different player here in Philly as well.
“I'm glad I made the move here. I feel like it's helped me in my career playing in a place like this, and I just can't thank the Phillies for giving me that chance.’’
Harper has been in Philadelphia for 7 ½ years now, and despite being ringless, has no regrets. He loves being in Philly, embraces the tough fan base, and agreed to participate in the Home Run Derby one final time simply since it’s at Citizens Bank Park. His last appearance was in 2018 when the All-Star Game was played at Nationals Park in Washington.
“That's the reason why I wanted to do it,’’ he said. “I just wanted to enjoy it, just have fun. In 2018, I never wanted to do it again. But obviously, being here in Philly kind of changed my mind on that.
“So, this this will be my last one, no matter what."
In the meantime, he plans to spend the All-Star break as an ambassador for the city, privately recruiting potential free agents, and there to answer questions if anyone wants to be traded to the Phillies.
“I hope they really enjoy the city and really see what it's all about,’’ Harper said. “Obviously, it's a place not many guys want to come to because the fans are tough and they're all over you and stuff like that. But they're going to see how much love they get from these fans too, and so I hope they enjoy that.
“I hope everybody understands how great of a place Philly is, take it all in, and sees what Philly's all about. I’ll try to talk to some possible free agents and see what they think about this. Even guys that have no-trade clauses that are on the trade market right now, if they come up to me, I'll talk to them. I'm not going to go out of my way and do that. I don't think that's fair. But if they have questions, obviously I'm all ears."
Why stop with baseball? Why not recruit LeBron James for the Philadelphia 76ers?
“I mean, they got an opportunity,’’ Harper said. “They’ve got four guys who are really good. Got a great fan base.
“But I think he's going to go back to the [Cleveland] Cavs."
Harper, who’s still only 33 after nearly 14 years in the big leagues, took time to reminisce about his career during the All-Star Game media availability. He still vividly remembers his first All-Star Game being the last for Hall of Famer Chipper Jones, who he emulated, and now he’s with future Hall of Fame pitcher Justin Verlander, who also is appearing in his last All-Star Game.
“I actually asked for a jersey this past weekend when we were in Detroit," Harper said, “so I got one of his jerseys. He signed one for me, so I'm super appreciative of that. He's one of the best to ever do it. You know, three-time Cy Young, one-time MVP, 3,500 punchouts. I mean, just an incredible career. I mean, he's going to be a first-bound Hall of Famer, I'd imagine.
“Obviously, the game is going to miss him."
He talked about watching Juan Soto break into the big leagues with him and become one of the greatest hitters in the game, and even listed his favorite players’ swings of all time:
Kevin Youkilis: “I thought it was very different and weird, but he could bang.
Barry Bonds: “Obvious."
Sammy Sosa: “Really cool because he did his gallop to first base, which was awesome."
Mark McGuire: “His swing was so rear-legged, which was unbelievably cool.’’
Robinson Cano: “He just had one of the prettiest swings."
Ken Griffey Jr.: “Just a pretty swing."
And, yes, there is Soto, who became a star before his own eyes, and now is the highest-paid player in the game with his $765 million contract.
“He's one of the best ever to do it,’’ Harper said. “His swing, his talent, I think his eyeballs really played to his advantage. So, he gets in really good counts.
“I love watching him hit. It's crazy, lefty or righty (pitcher), doesn't matter. He's just very, very good at what he does.’’
And one day, well, Harper is going to find himself as one of those esteemed veterans at upcoming All-Star Games who everyone wants to gather around, too.
“I’ve got a long time to play, a long time to go," Harper says. “I think the reflection is more of just trying to enjoy each All-Star game because you never know when it's going to be your last one. I hope all the young guys really enjoy it because you know it goes really quick.
“I can't even think about being there at 19 years old in Kansas City, and being here at 33 years old in Philly. It's pretty incredible.’’
And before his carer ends, he not only wants that World Series ring, but also participate in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, too. He thoroughly believes that MLB and the union will permit major-league players to play for the first time, and he can’t wait to be part of it.
“I think it'll happen,’’ Harper said. “To tell you the truth, I think that's a big thing for baseball. If you want to keep growing this game internationally, which they do, being able to kind of do that at the highest level is the Olympics.
“I don't think there's any crowds or eyes that are bigger than the Olympics, TV-wise and everything else. I think it'd be great for the game.’’
And how can there be a USA Olympic Team without Harper?
“This is something I’ve always wanted,’’ Harper says. “It would be a dream come true."
Yep, just like the entirety of his baseball career.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bryce Harper says Home Run Derby will be his last 'no matter what'
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