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Bryce Harper Reveals Surprising Long-Term Plans for Phillies Contract

Two-time NL MVP Bryce Harper just made a surprising revelation regarding his long-term plans with the Philadelphia Phillies as spring training continues.
ByDevon Platana|
Philadelphia Phillies first base Bryce Harper (3) celebrates after the game against the New York Mets during game two of the NLDS for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Citizens Bank Park.
Philadelphia Phillies first base Bryce Harper (3) celebrates after the game against the New York Mets during game two of the NLDS for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Citizens Bank Park. | Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

The 2025 MLB season is almost here, and all eyes are on the Philadelphia Phillies to see if they have what it takes to compete with baseball's best teams again.

Although last year's playoff run disappointingly ended in the Division Series, the Phillies were two wins away from a World Series title just three seasons ago. Assuming that all of manager Rob Thomson's best players live up to expectations, Philadelphia has a good shot at making another deep playoff run in the fall.

One of the Phillies' most important players is none other than Bryce Harper, who's been dealing with injuries throughout spring training. While the two-time NL MVP is still on pace to be healthy for Opening Day, he's also on track to spending the remainder of his career in the City of Brotherly Love.

Phillies News: Bryce Harper Wants to Finish MLB Career in Philadelphia

On Tuesday, Harper spoke with The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal about his MLB future. The eight-time All-Star is entering Season 7 of the 13-year, $330 million contract he signed with the Phillies and made it clear to Rosenthal that he can't imagine playing elsewhere even after his current deal ends.

"Halfway through (the contract), that’s pretty crazy," Harper said. "Obviously, I want to play longer than what I’ve got left. I think everybody knows that."

Harper will be 39 years old when his contract finally expires at the end of the 2031 MLB season. He plans to play "until his early 40s, somewhere in there," according to Rosenthal, and that the former 2010 first-overall pick "wants to spend all of those years with the Phillies."

Harper has lived up to the hype and even exceeded expectations since moving to Philadelphia. Throughout the last six seasons, the perennial MVP candidate has mashed 152 home runs, 455 RBIs, 450 walks, 65 stolen bases, a 23.3 WAR, and a .285/.391/.533 slash line in 726 games.

Unsurprisingly, the Las Vegas, NV native racked up a plethora of accolades during that stretch, including three Silver Slugger awards, two MLB All-Star nods, and 2021 NL MVP honors.

With Harper still ranking among baseball's best players in his 30s, Phillies fans will have no issue with his wanting to spend the rest of his career with the team. The 2024 campaign saw him tally his most HRs (30) and RBIs (87) since his MVP campaign, meaning there isn't a reason to expect that any sort of major regression is around the corner.

Additionally, Harper currently holds the fifth-best 2025 NL MVP odds (+1500) on FanDuel Sportsbook, indicating that oddsmakers have a positive view of his outlook.

After the last half-dozen years, it's hard to imagine the Phillies with Harper's name in the lineup. The Philadelphia faithful won't have to experience that feeling for at least another decade if the superstar fan-favorite has his way.

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