Bryce Harper’s future with the Philadelphia Phillies is being questioned, leading to speculation about potential trade destinations. The Chicago Cubs have been mentioned as a possible landing spot for the first baseman.
Harper’s Situation in Philadelphia
Harper’s situation came about after he was upset over comments by Dave Dombrowski. Dombrowski suggested that Harper wasn’t quite a superstar for the team in 2025. The Phillies have had a difficult start to the 2026 season. Rob Thomson has already been sacked as manager.
It would seem that the Phillies are headed toward being sellers at the deadline. Harper’s name is bound to come up. A list is already being compiled of teams that make the most sense for the 33-year-old first baseman.
Cubs’ Potential Interest and Needs
The Cubs’ primary need ahead of the deadline is pitching. It is surprising that the North Siders were ranked as the second-best fit for Harper this season.
Michael Busch’s struggles were cited as a reason why the Cubs could be interested in Harper. Jaxon Wiggins could be the prospect who gets the conversation started.
Evaluating Busch and Wiggins
There’s some context needed when it comes to the struggles of Busch. The 28-year-old has 55 home runs over the past two years and is an ascending fielder at first base. The better value for the Cubs may be rolling with Busch as their cost-controlled first baseman, especially if the team isn’t concerned with his slow start.
There’s reason to believe Busch is emerging from his slump. Entering the weekend, he was slashing .254/.356/.381 with a wRC+ of 114 over his last 73 plate appearances.
Wiggins remains sidelined with elbow inflammation. It’s hard to imagine any team will view him as the key piece in any trade as long as there’s vagueness surrounding his status.
There have been plenty of years when Harper would have looked great in the Cubs’ lineup. In 2026, that may no longer hold.