Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper said he is prepared to shift to right field if the team acquires a slugging first baseman before the Aug. 3 trade deadline.
Harper spoke before the Phillies defeated the Miami Marlins 7-5 on Monday night at loanDepot park. He noted the team needs a starting pitcher, a late-inning reliever and offensive help, as the club ranks 29th in on-base percentage.
The 23-game stretch before Monday saw Harper bat .157 with a .581 OPS. He described July as a difficult month marked by a high chase rate and poor contact on pitches in the zone.
Harper has played every game this season and said he feels healthy. He will serve as designated hitter on Tuesday and hopes the team acts aggressively at the deadline to add complementary pieces.
